Ohio State’s successful journey to secure its first national title in ten years resulted in the Buckeyes making a significant impact on the Associated Press’s all-College Football Playoff team. This season marked a shift in the AP’s approach to creating postseason all-star teams, as college football adopted a new 12-team playoff structure, allowing some teams to participate in as many as four postseason games.
On January 7, the AP unveiled an all-bowl team consisting of players who participated in non-playoff bowl games. Following that, they introduced an all-playoff team dedicated solely to athletes from the 12 teams that participated in the College Football Playoff. With only four teams claiming victories in playoff games this season, nearly all players on the all-playoff team hail from these four squads.
Employing a diverse defensive setup, the AP formed a defense comprising four linemen, four linebackers, and five defensive backs to accommodate the varying defensive strategies utilized across teams.
Will Howard from Ohio State stood out as a quarterback, completing over 75% of his passes and amassing 1,150 yards, with eight touchdowns and two interceptions during the playoff season. His performance in the championship game earned him the Offensive Most Valuable Player honor, where he completed 17 of 21 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns, alongside 57 rushing yards in a 34-23 victory against Notre Dame.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson also made a name for himself in the playoffs, scoring two touchdowns in each of Ohio State’s first two victories and contributing a remarkable 75-yard catch and run in the Buckeyes’ Cotton Bowl win over Texas. He finished the playoffs with a total of 265 rushing yards on 36 carries, scoring four touchdowns, in addition to 149 receiving yards from eight catches and one touchdown.
Quinshon Judkins, another running back from Ohio State, performed impressively against Notre Dame, accumulating 100 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, along with two receptions for 21 yards and another touchdown. Judkins concluded the playoffs with a rushing total of 255 yards and seven overall touchdowns, reinforcing his place on the all-playoff team.
Wide receiver Matthew Golden from Texas played a pivotal role in staving off playoff elimination by catching a crucial 28-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-13 play that resulted in a 39-31 win over Arizona State. Over three playoff games, he amassed 11 receptions for 249 yards, highlighted by seven catches for 149 yards in the crucial game against Arizona State.
Jaden Greathouse of Notre Dame made a significant impact, surpassing the 100-yard mark in his last two games after a quieter season. He caught seven passes for 105 yards and netted a tying 54-yard touchdown in a 27-24 victory against Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Subsequently, he tallied six receptions for 128 yards, including touchdowns of 34 and 30 yards, in the championship match.
Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State wrapped up his freshman season remarkably, securing 19 catches for 381 yards and five touchdowns throughout the playoffs. He had noteworthy performances, including two touchdowns in a first-round win against Tennessee and seven receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns during the Rose Bowl against Oregon.
Tyler Warren from Penn State, the John Mackey Award winner, made an impact by scoring two touchdowns against Boise State during their Fiesta Bowl win. Warren helped maintain the offensive momentum by catching six passes for 74 yards in the Orange Bowl, finishing with a total of 16 catches for 171 yards and additional rushing yardage in the playoffs.
All-purpose player Cam Skattebo from Arizona State fueled his team’s Peach Bowl comeback, amassing 143 rushing yards along with two touchdowns and catching eight passes for an impressive 99 yards.
On the offensive line, Texas’s Kelvin Banks achieved an impressive record without allowing any sacks, supported by a consistent blocking performance throughout Texas’s playoff journey. Ohio State’s Carson Hinzman shifted positions throughout the playoffs, providing crucial support in opening gaps for his running backs. Meanwhile, Donovan Jackson of Ohio State transitioned to left tackle due to a team injury, maintaining a steadfast performance without conceding a sack throughout the playoff series.
Penn State’s left tackle Nolan Rucci and Notre Dame’s right tackle Aamil Wagner further fortified their teams’ offensive lines, contributing to a solid performance with minimal quarterback pressures and allowing very few sacks in their playoff appearances.
Defensively, Abdul Carter from Penn State received accolades for his relentless effort, even while playing through injury. He and teammate Dani Dennis-Sutton significantly influenced games with their collective sack totals. Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer also delivered one of the playoffs’ most thrilling moments with a strip sack returned for a touchdown.
Notre Dame’s Drayk Bowen and Cody Simon from Ohio State both culminated their seasons with noteworthy tackle counts, demonstrating their disruptive presence throughout crucial playoff matchups. Additionally, Sonny Styles helped boost Ohio State’s defense with key tackles and sacks against Texas and Notre Dame.
In the secondary, players like Jahdae Barron from Texas, Caleb Downs from Ohio State, and Leonard Moore from Notre Dame made instrumental contributions to their respective teams’ defensive strategies in key playoff games. Their performances included interceptions, pass breakups, and essential tackles to thwart opposing offenses.
Kickers Mitch Jeter and punter James Rendell from Notre Dame showcased their special teams prowess, contributing valuable points and field position throughout their playoff run. Finally, Jayden Harrison from Notre Dame exhibited an explosive performance with a standout kickoff return for a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl, further enhancing his team’s playoff highlight reel.
