College football championship: The names to know

Orgeron is appearing in his first College Football Playoff in his fourth season as the head coach of LSU. He also has experience coaching Ole Miss and USC.

Now in his 12th year leading Clemson, Swinney is in a remarkable fourth championship game in five years. Clemson has won two national championships under his watch, including last year. The offensive mastermind is going for his second straight undefeated season.

Ensminger was promoted to offensive coordinator at LSU last year, and he has helped lead one of the top offenses in the country this season. His daughter-in-law, Carley McCord, died tragically in a plane crash the day of the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Venables has been Clemson's defensive coordinator since 2012 after having the same role at Oklahoma. A perennial head coaching candidate, Venables is one of the highest-paid assistants in the country.

Burrow is the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner, and he showed incredible improvement from 2018 to this season. The likely first overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Burrow has completed an amazing 77.6 percent of his passes for 5,208 yards and 55 touchdowns. He broke an FBS bowl record with seven touchdown passes in the first half of the the Peach Bowl against Oklahoma.

Lawrence has yet to lose a game as a starter at Clemson with a perfect 25-0 record, and he is looking to cap off a perfect season in the national championship game. The sophomore has had a terrific year, throwing for 3,431 yards and 36 touchdowns while adding 514 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

Edwards-Helaire is having an excellent junior season, with 199 carries for 1,304 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. He also has 50 receptions this season. He saw limited work in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State due to a hamstring injury.

Etienne cracked 1,500 yards rushing for the second consecutive season and has 22 total touchdowns. The versatile running back scored three touchdowns in the Fiesta Bowl and could be a first-round pick in the NFL draft if he opts to leave school after this season.

In just his sophomore season, Chase put up monster numbers for the Tigers with 75 receptions for 1,559 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has two 200-plus-yards games this season.

When Clemson has had to give Travis Etienne a breather this year, the team has been in good hands with Dixon. The sophomore has 103 carries for 636 yards and six scores on the season.

Jefferson might have solidified his status as a first-round pick in the NFL draft with his brilliant Peach Bowl performance, finishing with 14 receptions for 227 yards and four touchdowns. For the year, the 6-foot-3 junior has 102 receptions for 1,434 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Higgins is a premier deep threat for Clemson and likely to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He has 56 catches for 1,115 yards and 13 touchdowns. He got a scare in the Fiesta Bowl, leaving in the first half with a head injury, but he was able to return in the second half.

Marshall has been quite the No. 3 receiver for LSU, with 43 receptions for 625 yards and 12 touchdowns in 11 games. The 6-foot-4 sophomore has scored a pair of touchdowns in consecutive games.

Ross hasn't quite matched the numbers from his freshman season, but he's still had a good year. The lanky 6-foot-4 wideout has 61 catches for 789 yards and eight touchdowns.

One of LSU's defensive leaders, Chaisson has a chance to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He has 58 tackles and 6.5 sacks on the season.

Davis has been a dominant player as a true freshman for Clemson, with 42 tackles and 5.5 sacks this season. The defensive tackle has had big shoes to fill after Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins dominated on the interior for Clemson over the last few seasons before departing for the NFL.

Phillips is having a terrific junior season, with 105 tackles for the Tigers. The former top recruit was Tennessee Mr. Football in 2016. 

Skalski has been a great starter with 85 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season, his junior year. He redshirted in the 2018 season due to injury.

Queen has become a star on the LSU defense with more snaps this year. The junior has 77 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one pick in 14 games.

Smith has had an accomplished career for Clemson since arriving on campus in 2015, and the senior is looking to win his third national title. He has 75 tackles and 3.5 sacks going into the championship game after recording 12 tackles against Ohio State.

Fulton has a chance to be one of the top cornerbacks drafted in 2020 but first will try to cap off his college career with a national championship. He has 32 tackles, 13 passes defensed and one interception for the Tigers this season.

Simmons has been an incredible playmaker for Clemson this season and is set to be one of the first players drafted in 2020. The 6-foot-4 hybrid safety-linebacker has 97 tackles, seven sacks and three interceptions this season, including a critical pick against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

A likely first-round pick in 2020, Delpit has had another terrific year for LSU with 59 tackles and two picks in 13 games.

Wallace has been a key player for the Clemson defense this season with 63 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. The senior has five interceptions for his career.

Stevens began his LSU career sharing time between wide receiver and safety before making a full-time move to safety in 2018. He has 85 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions in 14 games this season.

A fifth-year senior, Muse has 49 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and four interceptions in 14 games for the Tigers this season. He was also a Thorpe Award semifinalist.

Ranked as the top player in the 2019 recruiting class by Rivals.com, Stingley has fulfilled the hype in his freshman season. He has 36 tackles, 15 passes defensed and six interceptions this year.

Terrell is remembered for making a pick-six in last year's championship game vs. Alabama, and the cornerback is having a strong junior season. He has 29 tackles and two interceptions on the year.

Vincent recorded his fourth interception of the year, against Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl. The junior cornerback also has 44 tackles and eight passes defensed this season.

Kendrick has moved from wide receiver to cornerback this season, becoming a critical player for the Tigers defense. He has 36 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games.

York has had a great freshman season for LSU, making 83-of-87 extra points and 21-of-26 field goals. He made all nine of his extra points during the Peach Bowl vs. Oklahoma.

In his first year as the starting kicker for Clemson, Potter is a perfect 77-for-77 on extra points this season. However, he's made only 12 of his 20 field goal attempts.