| 100% | NOTREDAME | 9 | Fourth seed in the 2021 College Football Playoff, who lost to 35-Across in the Rose Bowl (2 wds.) |
| 77% | OHIOSTATE | 9 | Third seed in the 2021 College Football Playoff, who beat 28-Across in the Sugar Bowl before losing to 35-Across in the National Championship Game (2 wds.) |
| 71% | CLEMSON | 7 | Second seed in the 2021 College Football Playoff, who lost to 49-Across in the Sugar Bowl |
| 63% | ALABAMA | 7 | First seed in the 2021 College Football Playoff, who beat 15-Across in the Rose Bowl and 49-Across in the National Championship Game to win their 18th national championship |
| 45% | ADONAIMITCHELL | 14 | 48-Across receiver who scored the go-ahead touchdown in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship (2 wds.) |
| 44% | JESSICAPEGULA | 13 | American tennis pro who was the No. 3 seed at the 2023 US Open but lost to 26-Across in the fourth round (2 wds.) |
| 42% | BLAKECORUM | 10 | 30-Across/48-Across running back who led all rushers with 134 yards and two touchdowns in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship (2 wds.) |
| 39% | COCOGAUFF | 9 | 18-year-old American tennis star who lost to Iga Swiatek in the 2022 French Open final: 2 wds. |
| 39% | STEFANEDBERG | 12 | Swedish tennis great who lost to 25-Across in the 1990 Australian Open (2 wds.) |
| 38% | MICHAELMOORER | 13 | Boxer who lost to 43-Across in the 1994 bout billed as "One for the Ages" (2 wds.) |
| 38% | MATSWILANDER | 12 | Swedish tennis great who lost to 25-Across in the 1987 French Open and US Open (2 wds.) |
| 38% | GEORGEFOREMAN | 13 | Heavyweight champion who lost that title to 40-Across in 1974's famous "Rumble in the Jungle": 2 wds. |
| 37% | MADISONKEYS | 11 | American tennis pro who was the No. 17 seed at the 2023 US Open but lost to No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinal round (2 wds.) |
| 37% | COREYHAIM | 9 | "License to Drive" actor who played younger brother Sam in the 1987 vampire movie "The Lost Boys": 2 wds. |
| 36% | JUSTINROSE | 10 | Golfer who lost the 2017 sudden-death playoff in 38-Across (2 wds.) |
| 36% | JONRAHM | 7 | Spanish golfer who won the men's 35-Across in 2021 (2 wds.) |
| 36% | CHANNINGTATUM | 13 | "Magic Mike" actor who plays the novelist's cover model trying to rescue her in "The Lost City": 2 wds. |
| 36% | CHUCKNOLL | 9 | NFL coach who led the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories in six years: 2 wds. |
| 36% | BROOKSKOEPKA | 12 | American golfer who tied with Louis Oosthuizen as joint runners-up to 29-Across in the 2021 PGA Championship (2 wds.) |
| 36% | ANDREWLUCK | 10 | Quarterback who led the Colts to a 28-point playoff comeback in 2014: 2 wds. |
| 36% | KAHLEAHCOPPER | 13 | 2021 top scorer for the Chicago Sky in the regular season and playoffs who was voted MVP of the 2021 WNBA Finals (2 wds.) |
| 36% | JORDANSPIETH | 12 | American golfer who won the 2017 Open Championship and was runner-up to 49-Across in the 2021 Open Championship (2 wds.) |
| 36% | FRANKREICH | 10 | Backup quarterback who led the Bills to a 32-point playoff comeback in 1993: 2 wds. |
| 36% | NICKSIRIANNI | 12 | Eagles head coach who led his team to victory in the 2025 Super Bowl: 2 wds. |
| 35% | DANMARINO | 9 | Quarterback who led the Dolphins to the 1985 Super Bowl in his second year in the NFL: 2 wds. |
| 35% | RUSSELLWILSON | 13 | Quarterback who led the Seahawks to the 2014 Super Bowl in his second year in the NFL: 2 wds. |
| 35% | JOEBURROW | 9 | Quarterback who led the Bengals to the 2022 Super Bowl in his second year in the NFL: 2 wds. |
| 35% | JONGRUDEN | 9 | "Monday Night Football" analyst who coached Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl victory in 2003: 2 wds. |
| 35% | TREVORLAWRENCE | 14 | Second-year quarterback who led the Jaguars to a 27-point playoff comeback in 2023: 2 wds. |
| 35% | BOWLGAME | 8 | Either of the College Football Playoff semifinals featured in this puzzle (2 wds.) |