Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State and Oregon are established winners, and any of those teams could win the first College Football Championship.
But who has the best quarterback? The best coach? The best track record? The best traditions?
We’re glad you asked. Here’s a look at the best of the best of the four programs.
Best quarterback
1A. Jameis Winston, Florida State
1B. Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Blake Sims, Alabama
Cardale Jones, Ohio State
Verdict: How could you put Winston ahead of Mariota? Or vice versa? Winston has a Heisman Trophy, too. He’s 27-0 as a starter, and despite all those interceptions there might not be a better quarterback in clutch situations. Mariota, however, has the numbers, including 101 TD passes and 12 interceptions for his career. Who’s better? We’ll find out in the Rose Bowl.
Best running back
Royce Freeman, Oregon
Dalvin Cook, Florida State
Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
T.J. Yeldon, Alabama
Verdict: Freeman turned it on in the second half of the season, finishing with 1,299 yards and 16 TDs. Elliott (1,402 yards, 12 TDs) had the most yards, and Yeldon (932 yards, 10 TDs) fought through injuries. Cook (905 yards, 8 TDs) might have the best NFL potential.
Best receiver
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State
Byron Marshall, WR, Oregon
Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
Verdict: This group would make an excellent four-wide set in the NFL in a few years. Cooper is a complete receiver, Greene set the ACC record for career receptions, Marshall is a dual-threat player, and Smith continues to be a home-run hitter for the Buckeyes.
Best defensive player
Joey Bosa, Ohio State
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
Landon Collins, Alabama
Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
Verdict: Bosa finished with 14 sacks this season and is a future first-round talent in the mold of J.J. Watt. Oregon suffered a blow when Ekpre-Olomu was lost for the playoff with a knee injury. Collins and Ramsey are impact safeties with a knack for making the big play at the right time.
Best coach
Nick Saban, Alabama
Urban Meyer, Ohio State
Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
Mark Helfrich, Oregon
Verdict: On the field, look at the records of these coaches at their current schools: Saban (91-16), Meyer (36-3), Fisher (58-10), Helfrich (23-3). That’s a combined record of 208-32 and a winning percentage of .867.
Best record since 2009
Oregon: 59-7, .894
Alabama: 58-8, .879
Florida State: 58-10, .853
Ohio State: 54-11, .831
Verdict: These are the four best records among Power 5 schools the last five seasons. It’s more than appropriate that these four schools are represented in the first College Football Playoff.
Best mascot
Puddles, Oregon
Osceola and Renegade, Florida State
Brutus, Ohio State
Big Al, Alabama
Verdict: Yeah, it’s just a duck, but Puddles has taken advantage of the fame through commercials on ESPN, and he’s the most-active with all those push-ups. Give the advantage to the mascot with the most personality.
Best fight song
Ohio State
Alabama
Oregon
Florida State
Verdict: It’s catchy, classic and the TBDBITL is played in every corner of Ohio at least once a day.
Best coaching icon
Bear Bryant, Alabama
Woody Hayes, Ohio State
Bobby Bowden, Florida State
Chip Kelly, Oregon
Verdict: These four coaches combined to win 996 games on the field and claimed 13 national championships. Bryant, however, still remains the quintessential coaching figure in college football.
Best uniform
Ohio State
Alabama
Oregon
Florida State
Verdict: This is the old school vs. new school debate. Ohio State and Alabama have two of the more classic looks, Oregon picks a new uniform every week and Florida State switched its look this year. As far as the playoff uniforms go, the Buckeyes have the sharpest look.
Best chant
“War Chant”
“Rammer Jammer”
“O-H-I-O "
“Go Ducks!
Verdict: Nothing gets buried in your brain more than three hours of the Florida State War Chant. Nothing. How’s it go again?
Best Heisman winner
Archie Griffin, Ohio State
Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Charlie Ward, Florida State
Mark Ingram, Alabama
Verdict: Ohio State has more Heisman winners than the other three schools combined, including the game’s only two-time Heisman winner in Archie Griffin (1974-75). Easy call here.