College football teams to go 15-0: Indiana's CFP semifinal win over Oregon puts the Hoosiers in exclusive company

College football teams to go 15-0: Indiana's CFP semifinal win over Oregon puts the Hoosiers in exclusive company originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Indiana Hoosiers are just one win away from their first national title in school history. Set to face the Miami Hurricanes in the CFP national championship game, Indiana also has the chance to become the first team in the CFP era to finish 16-0.

While other teams have gone undefeated to win a national title in the playoff era, none have done so with a 16-game season. The Hoosiers, now 15-0, join a short but elite list of teams with such a record.

Here’s a look at how Indiana’s run compares to previous undefeated teams and how it stacks up against other 15-0 squads.

MORE: Indiana's blowout of Oregon helps Hoosiers crack list of most points scored in a CFP game

How many teams have ever gone 15-0?

There have been just four teams to go 15-0 and finish as national champions. Those include the Clemson Tigers in 2018,  the LSU Tigers in 2019, 2022's Georgia Bulldog team and the 2023 Michigan Wolverines. 

Thanks to the expanded 12-team CFP field, the Hoosiers get the benefit of an extra game to finish a historic 16-0. 

Here's a brief look back at the previous unbeaten national champions, which Indiana could join next week.

MORE: Oregon QB Dante Moor unravels in CFP semifinal vs. Indiana 

2018 Clemson Tigers (15-0) 

The 2018 Clemson Tigers featured one of head coach Dabo Swinney's most talented rosters. It included future first-rounders such as quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne, cornerback A.J. Terrell, and defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.

At the start of the season, Lawrence, a true freshman and the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2018, began the season behind Kelly Bryant. Swinney named Lawrence the starter by the fourth week, and the Tigers finished the regular season undefeated. Clemson then beat Pittsburgh 42-10 in the ACC title game to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff. The Tigers had no trouble against No. 3 Notre Dame in the semifinal, winning 30-3 in the Cotton Bowl.

In the national championship game, Clemson dominated Nick Saban’s Alabama team, winning 44-16. The victory marked Swinney's most recent national title.

2019 LSU Tigers (15-0)

Speaking of talented teams, the 2019 LSU Tigers was absolutely loaded. It had Joe Burrow at quarterback, Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson at receiver and Clyde-Edwards Helaire at running back. The defense had the likes of Derek Stingley Jr., Grant Delpit and Patrick Queen. 

Burrow won the Heisman Trophy that season as LSU beat just about every one that season, including No. 9 Texas, No. 7 Florida. No. 9 Auburn, No. 3 Alabama and No. 4 Georgia in the SEC Championship. The Tigers defeated Oklahoma and Clemson in the playoff by a combined margin of 105-53. Head coach Ed Orgeron brought LSU its first national title since 2007 that season.  scores 

2022 Georgia Bulldogs (15-0)

Georgia won a second consecutive national title in 2022. The team was led by returning starter Stetson Bennett at quarterback, as well as receiver Ladd McConkey and tight end Brock Bowers. Typical of a Kirby Smart-coached team, the defense was loaded with talent, including linebackers Smamel Mondon Jr. and Jamon Johnson, and a secondary with Malaki Starks, Kelee Ringo and Kamari Lassiter. Oh yeah, and a defensive line with Jalen Carter and Nazir Stakhouse. 

The Bulldogs started the season as the preseason No. 3 team in the country. But Georgia cruised into the SEC title game undefeated, with a 27-13 win over No. 1 Tennessee in early November and ranked wins over Oregon. The Dawgs beat LSU 50-30 in the SEC Championship, and had a thrilling victory over Ohio State in the Peach Bowl in the CFP semifinal. The Dawgs ended TCU's Cinderella run with a 65-7 victory over the Horned Frogs in the national title game. 

2023 Michigan Wolverines (15-0)

Jim Harbaugh's last season at Michigan was one filled with controversy, but it ended with a national championship. Yes, this Michigan team was overshadowed with the Connor Stallions sign-stealing scandal that rocked college football. Harbaugh himself was even suspended for six games, three for recruiting violations from 2020, and the last three as a result of the Stallions scandal. 

Despite all the distractions, Michigan went undefeated, including a 30-24 win over No. 2 Ohio State to send the Wolverines to the Big Ten title. The Wolverines defeated Iowa 25-0 in that one. Michigan then defeated No. 4 Alabama 27-20 in overtime in the Rose Bowl semifinal, which ended up being Nick Saban's last game of his illustrious career. Michigan then took down Washington 34-14 in the national title game to win Michigan its first national title since 1997. Michigan outscored its opponents by a total of 538 to 156. 

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It's hard to put into words how remarkably special this Indiana team is. The Hoosiers built off of a CFP appearance and historic 11-win season from 2024 and took it to heights that Indiana fans thought impossible. Over the last two seasons, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti led the Hoosiers to its first Big Ten title since 1967. 

Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza became the school's first-ever Heisman Trophy winner, and the Hoosiers have dominated just about every team it has faced. What was once the losingest program in all of college football is just one win away from its first-ever national title in school history.  

 2025 Indiana results

In this year's CFP, Indiana is out-scoring its opponents 129-32.(!)