The expanded CFP expanded the national spotlight to more programs than ever before, but one glaring flaw remains

Ohio State captured its first national championship since 2014 with a win over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship, but the Buckeyes' path to a preseason No. 1 ranking in 2025 won't be easy.

It started with some blowouts, ended with some nailbiters and gave fans plenty to look forward to in future editions.

Ohio State came out on top in the national championship on Monday, outlasting a late Notre Dame comeback push to win 34-23. The game brought an end to the first edition of the expanded College Football Playoff, which features 12 teams vying for the title instead of four.

The 12-team college football playoff provided a chance for 2025 NFL draft prospects to improve their stock. Here are four who did and four who didn't.

The CFP will never likely surpass the NFL in the attention economy, but the march through the first 12-team Playoff has been a positive one.

Brown entered the transfer portal in December but stayed with the Buckeyes through their run to the national championship that ended with a win Monday night over Notre Dame. Cal announced Tuesday that Brown would be joining the Golden Bears for next season.

Notre Dame players were angry after their loss to Ohio State in the title game. But there was motivation after its College Football Playoff run.

When it came to the NFL Draft, there used to be this phenomenon called "bowl-game bias," when a prospect would see massive movement in his draft stock based on one game to end the season. It was pretty foolish.

The College Football Playoff is in uncharted territory and injuries are piling up, forcing teams to manage a survival of the fittest gauntlet.