Ohio State mauled its approach to its first nationwide title since 2014, capping a formidable run by means of the postseason with a 34-23 win towards Notre Dame in Monday’s School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship. So it ought to come as no shock that the dominant Buckeyes cleared the path with 11 picks within the CBS Sports activities All-School Soccer Playoff staff. 

Six of these are on the defensive facet, and 5 play alongside the road of scrimmage. The Buckeyes have been capable of dictate the stream of the sport within the trenches, defend the quarterback whereas opening up strong run lanes and maintain opposing offenses out of rhythm with a ferocious cross rush and disruptive run protection. 

Consider the All-CFP staff just like the NCAA males’s basketball match’s All-Event staff — it is a recognition of standout gamers from an expanded postseason. And several other different groups are well-represented.

Naturally, a majority of the gamers that made this 12 months’s All-CFP staff come from squads that made a run to the semifinal spherical as they’d extra time to generate buzzworthy performances. Given the disparity between applications within the first spherical and the quarterfinal, there weren’t a ton of notable performances from dropping groups. 

This is a take a look at CBS Sports activities’ All-CFP staff from the primary postseason of the 12-team period. 

Quarterback 

Will Howard, Ohio State 

Howard turned the primary quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards within the CFP whereas main Ohio State again to the mountaintop. Granted, he did have 4 video games to do it, however that should not discredit his efforts. He had 300-plus yards and 5 touchdowns passing towards Oregon and Tennessee and was environment friendly towards Texas, making NFL throws all through the complete course of. He additionally used his legs to increase drives — particularly towards Notre Dame, the place he had 14 carries for 59 yards. 

Working again 

Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State; Nicholas Singleton, Penn State 

Judkins’ narrowly beat teammate TreVeyon Henderson on this record due to his distinctive nationwide title recreation efficiency. He rushed 10 instances for 99 yards and two touchdowns and likewise had a receiving landing within the win over Notre Dame, bringing his playoff landing complete to seven. Singleton was Penn State’s offense in its semifinal loss to the Irish. He had all three of the Nittany Lions’ touchdowns and likewise logged two massive catches for 33 yards in a recreation the place Penn State’s receivers didn’t log a single reception. 

Broad receivers 

Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State; Jaden Greathouse, Notre Dame

Smith could be my choose for the general CFP MVP. With every little thing on the road, the Buckeyes turned to their freshman phenom within the nationwide title recreation. His 56-yard catch on third-and-11 with 2:45 left to play successfully salted the sport away for Ohio State. Smith’s four-game stat line by means of the playoff is absurd: 19 catches for 381 yards and 5 touchdowns. After only one receiving landing within the common season, Greathouse got here alive within the playoff. He notched three touchdowns and 233 yards in Notre Dame’s final two playoff video games, together with two key scoring grabs that minimize the Buckeyes’ result in only one possession with round 4 minutes to play within the fourth quarter. 

Tight finish 

Tyler Warren, Penn State 

Penn State’s do-it-all Mackey Award winner got here up big for the Nittany Lions. He was their main receiver towards Boise State and Notre Dame and caught two of quarterback Drew Allar’s three landing passes throughout the playoff. He additionally flashed his versatility by speeding for 27 yards on three carries in three video games. 

Middle 

Pat Coogan, Notre Dame 

Coogan did an incredible job main a shorthanded Notre Dame offensive line to some strong performances towards sturdy defensive fronts like Indiana and Penn State. The Preventing Irish additionally restricted Ohio State to only two sacks, its lowest complete within the CFP. Coogan did not enable a single sack in Notre Dame’s 4 video games.

Offensive line 

Kelvin Banks, Texas; Donovan Jackson, Ohio State; Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame; Ohio State’s guard rotation 

Banks is a reliable top-10 NFL Draft expertise, and he flashed that potential with a powerful effort all through the playoff. Jackson performed his means into the primary spherical and seemed like one of the best offensive lineman within the nation throughout Ohio State’s postseason run. Schrauth was among the best pass-blocking inside offensive linemen within the playoff and he additionally recovered an important fumble towards Penn State within the second quarter when the Preventing Irish trailed 10-0. It might be dishonest, however Ohio State’s guard rotation dominated the trenches and all three — Tegra Tshabola, Austin Siereveld and Luke Montgomery — deserve a nod for his or her efforts. 

Defensive position 

Jack Sawyer, Ohio State; JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State; Tyleik Williams, Ohio State; Abdul Carter, Penn State

Ohio State’s defensive entrance had a very, actually good CFP. Sawyer and Tuimoloau have been terrors off the sting, combining for 11 sacks. Whereas Williams did not put up the flashiest stats, he solidified his standing as one of the best inside run defender in school soccer. Carter, in the meantime, performed simply two full video games — he left the Fiesta Bowl early with a shoulder harm — and nonetheless wreaked havoc with a single good arm towards Notre Dame, logging two tackles for loss, one sack and 7 quarterback pressures. 

Linebacker 

Cody Simon, Ohio State; Sonny Kinds, Ohio State; Anthony Hill Jr., Texas 

Did I point out that Ohio State’s defensive entrance had a very good CFP? Simon and Kinds have been all around the subject for the Buckeyes, making performs at each stage and conserving offenses uncomfortable. Simon had a monster three deal with for loss, a two-sack recreation towards Oregon within the Rose Bowl and likewise led Ohio State with eight complete tackles towards the Irish, whereas Kinds had a sack in every of Ohio State’s final two video games. Hill stuffed the field rating with 23 tackles and one sack whereas flashing all around the subject for the Longhorns. 

Cornerback 

Jahdae Barron, Texas; Leonard Moore, Notre Dame 

Barron, the Thorpe Award winner, predictably confirmed out for the Longhorns. Although it was finally a staff effort, Barron performed an enormous half in limiting Jeremiah Smith to only one catch for 3 yards within the semifinal spherical. Moore, who additionally did nicely matched up towards Smith, surrendered six catches for 43 yards on 16 targets by means of Notre Dame’s first three CFP bouts. 

Defensive again 

Xavier Watts, Notre Dame; Caleb Downs, Ohio State; Zakee Wheatley, Penn State 

Watts was all around the subject for Notre Dame and completed its four-game run with 33 complete tackles, 2.5 for a loss, three complete cross breakups and one interception. Downs made one of many 2024 playoff’s most iconic performs when he stuffed a Texas aim line pitch try late within the fourth quarter. He additionally had the game-sealing interception. Wheatley was a ballhawk for the Nittany Lions, with two interceptions and 4 complete passes defended. 

Kicker 

Mitch Jeter, Notre Dame 

Certain, Jeter missed his solely subject aim try within the School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship, however he put forth an incredible total playoff effort. He went 7 for 9 total and hit all 5 of his subject objectives towards Georgia and Penn State, together with a decisive 41-yard boot with lower than 10 seconds to play towards the Nittany Lions. 

Punter 

James Rendell, Notre Dame 

A particular groups sweep for the Irish. Rendell averaged 41.5 yards per punt in Notre Dame’s 4 playoff video games and had seven of his 13 kicks downed contained in the 20 yard line. All 4 of his punts have been downed contained in the 20 towards Penn State. 

All-purpose 

Cam Skattebo, Arizona State

Although he performed only one recreation, it felt like a disservice to depart Skattebo off of this record. He virtually single handedly willed Arizona State to the most important upset of the CFP along with his Herculean efficiency towards Texas within the Peach Bowl. Skattebo cooked the Longhorns in virtually each conceivable space. He rushed 30 instances for 143 yards and two touchdowns and likewise carried the ball for a pivotal 2-point conversion. He had eight catches for 99 yards out of the backfield. Oh, and he additionally accomplished a cross for a 42-yard landing. Finally, Arizona State fell quick in two overtimes, however Skattebo did every little thing he might.