Ranking every College Football Playoff team in history

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney holds up the National Championship trophy after the 2017 College Football National Championship Game between the Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide on January 9, 2017, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Clemson defeated Alabama 35-31. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: Jake Browning #3 of the Washington Huskies runs against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

12. Washington Huskies – 2017

Result: Lost to Alabama in Semifinal (Peach Bowl), 24-7

Yes, I’m fully aware that the Washington Huskies only managed to put up seven points in their Peach Bowl loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide a year ago. Yes, I’m also aware that an offense that looked so dynamic and explosive throughout much of the year looked inept when put up against an SEC defense. That’s why this Washington team isn’t going to crack the top 10 of these rankings. Having said that, it’s a fool’s errand to say that they were overall better than that showing might indicate.

For one, let’s not discount the fact that Washington’s defense held the Crimson Tide to just 24 points in that Peach Bowl loss. Moreover, the defense actually only allowed 17 points as one touchdown came off of a pick-six thrown by Jake Browning. That defense was absolutely elite featuring premier talents like Sidney Jones, Budda Baker and Vita Vea that all proved their salt in handling the Alabama offense that put up points at will against most opponents.

Really, the fatal flaw of the Huskies was that their offensive line just couldn’t match up with a front like Alabama’s for 60 minutes. Yes, that’s part of building a complete team and no one is denying that. However, that was truly the only weak link of this unit, and it wasn’t all that weak — it just couldn’t hang with a historically fearsome defense. If that’s the worst thing you can say about this team, then they were doing quite alright.