Ohio State became the first team to win the College Football Playoff after running over Alabama in the semifinal and then Oregon in the championship game.
It should be no surprise that the Buckeyes are well represented on ESPN.com's All-Bowl team with four selections. Leading the way is tailback Ezekiel Elliott, who ran for a combined 476 yards with six touchdowns against the Crimson Tide and Ducks.
Quarterback Cardale Jones, linebacker Darron Lee and safety Tyvis Powell also made the team.
Elliott was one of four running backs to make the squad, along with Georgia's Nick Chubb, Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon and LSU's Leonard Fournette, who was an all-purpose selection.
Here's the ESPN.com All-Bowl team:
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Cardale Jones, Ohio State
Jones, who started the season as Ohio State's third-string quarterback, was an unlikely hero in the College Football Playoff. First, he completed 18 of 35 passes for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Buckeyes' 42-35 upset of No. 1 Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day. Then he had 242 yards with one touchdown and one interception on 16-for-23 passing in a 42-20 win over No. 2 Oregon in the College Football Playoff Championship Presented by AT&T. Jones, a sophomore from East Cleveland, Ohio, also ran for 38 yards and one score against the Ducks. After replacing the injured J.T. Barrett before the Big Ten championship game, Jones won each of his first three starts.
Running backs
Nick Chubb, Georgia
Only one other Georgia player ran for more yards in a game than Chubb did against Louisville in the Belk Bowl. Herschel Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, ran for 283 yards against Vanderbilt as a freshman in 1980. Chubb ran 33 times for 266 yards with two touchdowns in a 37-14 win over Louisville, which came into the game with the No. 2-ranked run defense in FBS. Chubb finished the season with 1,547 yards -- second only to Walker's freshman record of 1,616 yards at UGA -- after carrying the ball only 31 times in the first five games.
Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
What a way for Gordon to finish his brilliant college career. He ran 34 times for an Outback Bowl-record 251 yards with three touchdowns in the Badgers' 34-31 win over Auburn on New Year's Day. Gordon finished the season with 2,587 yards, which was 41 yards shy of breaking former Oklahoma State star Barry Sanders' FBS single-season record of 2,628 set in 11 games in 1988. Gordon also joined Sanders and former UCF tailback Kevin Smith as the only FBS players to run for 2,000 yards and score 30 touchdowns in the same season.
Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer called Elliott the most underrated running back in college football. No one is overlooking him now, after Elliott ran for more than 200 yards in each of his last three games. In Ohio State's win over Oregon in the College Football Playoff Championship, Elliott ran 36 times for 246 yards with four touchdowns and was named the Offensive Player of the Game. Eleven days earlier, Elliott ran for a Sugar Bowl-record 231 yards in Ohio State's win over Alabama in the semifinals. Elliott, a sophomore from St. Louis, finished the season with 1,878 yards, second most in Ohio State history.
Wide receivers
Tommy Shuler, Marshall
Shuler and his former Miami Central High School teammate Rakeem Cato had quite a homecoming in their final college game, hooking up 18 times for 185 yards and one touchdown in the Thundering Herd's 52-23 victory over Northern Illinois in the Boca Raton Bowl. Shuler caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Cato in the third quarter, which extended the quarterback's FBS record of 46 consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass. Shuler also set the Conference USA record with 322 career receptions, which is fourth most in FBS history, and his 18 catches were third most by a player in a bowl game.
Deontay Greenberry, Houston
Greenberry helped the Cougars complete one of the most improbable comebacks in bowl history, wiping out a 31-6 deficit in the fourth quarter by scoring three touchdowns in the final 3:41 of a 35-34 victory over Pittsburgh in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Greenberry caught an 8-yard touchdown with 3:41 left, and, after the Cougars scored again and then recovered a second straight onside kick, he hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass with 59 seconds left. Trailing 34-33, Greenberry made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion, which lifted Houston to the largest comeback in a bowl game that wasn't decided in overtime.
Offensive linemen
Jacob Gilliam, Tennessee
Talk about leaving everything on the field. After tearing the ACL in his left knee in the opener against Utah State, Gilliam returned to the lineup 49 days later and played the rest of the season with an injured knee. Then Gilliam hurt his left hand in practice before the Taxslayer Bowl, but still started at right tackle and played with a heavily bandaged hand. He helped the Volunteers score touchdowns on their first four possessions in a 45-28 victory over Iowa. Gilliam, a former walk-on from Knoxville, Tennessee, provided the Volunteers with all the inspiration they needed in winning their first bowl game since 2008.
Toa Lobendahn, USC
One of three true freshmen who started on USC's offensive line against Nebraska in the National University Holiday Bowl, Lobendahn helped hold Cornhuskers pass-rushing specialist Randy Gregory without a sack in the Trojans' 45-42 victory in San Diego. In fact, Lobendahn, who opened the season as the starting left guard and then moved to left tackle after Chad Wheeler was hurt, helped limit Gregory to only four tackles in the game. The Trojans had 515 yards of offense, including 194 rushing, and quarterback Cody Kessler was sacked only twice while throwing for 321 yards with three touchdowns.
Shaquille Mason, Georgia Tech
Mason, a 6-foot-1, 311-pound guard, helped the Yellow Jackets run for a Capital One Orange Bowl-record 452 yards in a 49-34 win over Mississippi State on New Year's Eve. With Mason paving the way at right guard, the Bulldogs never figured out a way to break the Yellow Jackets' triple-option spread offense, which averaged 7.4 yards on 61 rushing attempts. After leading 21-20 at the half, Georgia Tech gained 208 yards in the third quarter -- all on the ground -- and started to pull away with a 42-20 lead. The Yellow Jackets set a school record with 4,789 rushing yards this past season.
Hroniss Grasu, Oregon
How do you know when an offensive line completely dominated an opponent? When the opposing defense's best two linemen don't even show up in the box score. After missing more than a month with a leg injury, Grasu returned to the lineup in the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual and helped Oregon's offensive line overmatch Florida State's vaunted defensive front in a 59-20 victory. Grasu, a three-time All-Pac 12 selection, helped limit FSU tackle Eddie Goldman and end Mario Edwards Jr. to zero combined tackles. The Ducks didn't have as much success against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff Championship, but their performance against FSU was certainly memorable.
Kyle Costigan, Wisconsin
When Wisconsin interim coach Barry Alvarez was asked about Costigan's performance in the Badgers' 34-31 victory in overtime against Auburn in the Outback Bowl, he said, "That's how legends are made, you know?" Hobbled by ankle, knee and back injuries, Costigan fought through the pain to help the Badgers run for an Outback Bowl-record 400 yards, averaging 7.4 yards on 54 attempts. After Wisconsin lost center Dan Voltz to a broken leg in the first half, Costigan refused to come out and played the rest of the game while hobbling on one leg.
DEFENSE
Defensive linemen
Houston Bates, Louisiana Tech
Playing against his former team in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, Bates had six tackles, 5½ tackles for loss, 4½ sacks and one quarterback pressure in Louisiana Tech's 35-18 victory over Illinois. Bates, from Covington, Louisiana, transferred to Louisiana Tech after graduating from Illinois in May so his mother could attend his games. He was a one-man wrecking crew against the Illini, matching his season total in sacks and his three-year total while playing at Illinois. His 4½ sacks and 5½ tackles for loss were third most by a player in a bowl game. Afterward, Bates told reporters, "If I die tomorrow, my life will be complete."
Markus Golden, Missouri
Minnesota didn't have any answers for Missouri's one-two pass-rushing punch, as Golden and Shane Ray caused havoc early and often in the Tigers' 33-17 victory in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl. Golden was named the game's MVP after finishing with 10 tackles, a career-high four tackles for loss, 1½ sacks and a forced fumble. Golden and Ray finished the 2014 season with 24½ sacks combined, and they're the first Missouri teammates to have at least 10 sacks each in the same season. "Without him, there can be no me. Without me, there could be no him," Ray said. "We've always fed off of each other."
Kamalei Correa, Boise State
Correa, a sophomore from Honolulu, led the Mountain West Conference with 12 sacks in his first season as a starter. None was bigger than his final sack, which came on the last play of the VIZIO Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve. With the Broncos clinging to a 38-30 lead, Arizona had the ball on third-and-goal at the Boise State 8. Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon rolled to his right with time running out, but Correa brought him down for a 2-yard sack to end the game. Correa finished the game with 10 tackles, including seven solos, and two sacks. Boise State, which had eight sacks in the game, improved to 3-0 at the Fiesta Bowl.
Grady Jarrett, Clemson
The Tigers showed Oklahoma why they were ranked No. 1 in FBS in total defense, holding the Sooners to only 275 yards of offense in a 40-6 rout in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Jarrett, a 6-foot, 290-pound senior, helped the Tigers dominate the line of scrimmage, totaling four tackles, a career-high 3½ tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one quarterback pressure. The Tigers held the Sooners 32 points under their season scoring average and forced five turnovers.
Linebackers
Eric Kendricks, UCLA
Kendricks, who won the Butkus Award as the country's top linebacker, sure looked the part during the Bruins' 40-35 win over Kansas State in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Kendricks sacked quarterback Jake Waters on the Wildcats' first play from scrimmage, setting the tone for UCLA's sack-happy defense. The Bruins finished with seven sacks, after totaling only 22 in the first 12 games. Kendricks was once again a tackling machine with 10 stops, including a career-high three tackles for loss and two sacks. Kendricks set a UCLA record by recording 10 or more tackles for the 11th time this season, and he extended his school record with 481 career stops.
Darron Lee, Ohio State
Lee, a freshman from New Albany, Ohio, was named defensive MVP of the Sugar Bowl after recording seven tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks in the Buckeyes' upset of No. 1 Alabama on New Year's Day. His encore wasn't bad, either, as he had eight tackles and one pass breakup in the Buckeyes' win over Oregon in the College Football Championship. Lee helped the Buckeyes hold the Ducks to only 132 rushing yards. Even better, Oregon's vaunted offense went only 2-for-12 on third down and scored only one touchdown in four trips inside OSU's 20-yard line.
Marcus Mallet, TCU
Mallet was one of the leaders of a TCU defense that overwhelmed Ole Miss in a 42-3 victory in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Year's Eve. With Mallet and fellow linebacker Paul Dawson providing plenty of pressure, the Horned Frogs held the Rebels to only 9 yards rushing and 129 yards of offense. TCU's defense had five sacks and forced four turnovers. Mallet, a senior playing in his final college game, finished with 10 tackles, including seven solos, along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Defensive backs
Brian Poole, Florida
Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Poole provided two huge plays for Florida's defense in a 28-20 win over East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl. Late in the first quarter, Poole intercepted Shane Carden's pass and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 7-7. Later in the second quarter, Poole recovered an ECU fumble at the UF 1 to preserve a 21-7 lead. Poole, the Gators' starting nickelback, finished the game with four tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
Tyvis Powell, Ohio State
Powell, a sophomore from Bedford, Ohio, was named Defensive Player of the Game in Ohio State's win over Oregon in the College Football Championship, after he totaled nine tackles, including five solos, with one pass breakup. On Oregon's opening drive of the second quarter, the Buckeyes made a goal-line stand, in which Powell made two tackles and was part of a scrum of players who stopped tailback Thomas Tyner short of the goal line on fourth-and-goal from the OSU 3. Powell also played well in the Buckeyes' victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, finishing with three tackles and one interception. He picked off Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Sims' Hail Mary pass in the end zone on the final play in New Orleans.
Max Redfield, Notre Dame
Redfield, a sophomore from Mission Viejo, California, had a huge game against LSU in Notre Dame's 31-28 victory in the Music City Bowl, finishing with 14 tackles, including 10 solos. Redfield might have provided the biggest hit of the game, too, when he helped the Fighting Irish stop LSU holder Brad Kragthorpe short of the goal line on a fake field goal with seven seconds left in the first half. Redfield hit Kragthorpe just as he extended for the goal line. Officials ruled Kragthorpe didn't score and the play was upheld by the replay official.
Dominick Sanders, Georgia
Sanders, a true freshman who started 13 games in Georgia's rebuilt secondary, had two interceptions in the Belk Bowl to help the Bulldogs run away from Louisville. In the second quarter, Sanders picked off a pass and returned it 40 yards to the Cardinals' 9-yard line, which set up a Georgia field goal for a 20-7 lead. Sanders, from Tucker, Georgia, also intercepted a pass in the third quarter at the Bulldogs' 35. He finished his freshman season with 34 tackles, three interceptions and a 54-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker
Joey Slye, Virginia Tech
After going 16-for-24 on field goals in his first season as Virginia Tech's kicker, Slye was perfect in the Hokies' 33-17 victory over Cincinnati in the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman. He went 4-for-4 on field goals, including attempts from 45, 49, 38 and 33 yards. His 49-yard field goal was the longest by a Virginia Tech player in a bowl game and his four field goals tied the Virginia Tech record for most in a bowl game. The victory helped the Hokies finish 7-6, their 22nd consecutive winning season.
Punter
JK Scott, Alabama
Scott put on a punting display against Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day. Scott, a freshman from Denver, averaged 55 yards on seven punts, including a long of 73 yards, and pinned the Buckeyes inside their 20-yard line five times. In fact, the Buckeyes were forced to start four of their possessions inside their 10 after Scott's booming punts. Ohio State's Jalin Marshall, one of the country's best punt returners, was able to return only two punts for 10 yards in the game. A finalist for the Ray Guy Award as the country's top punter, Scott led FBS punters with a 48-yard average this season.
All-purpose
Leonard Fournette, LSU
Fournette didn't win the Heisman Trophy as a freshman, but he made quite an impression in his final game of the season. Fournette returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and had an 89-yard run for a score in LSU's loss to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl. It was the longest kickoff return and touchdown run in Music City Bowl history. Fournette ran 11 times for 143 yards with two touchdowns and returned two kickoffs for 121 yards. He finished the season with 1,034 rushing yards, the most by a freshman in LSU history.