The expanded College Football Playoff has prompted passionate discussion from fans nationwide. Some believe the expansion is unnecessary, allowing “undeserving” teams into the playing field, while others think it will enable a more critical and consequential regular season. Throughout the first few rounds, both opinions are entirely justified. Many teams, like Boise State, Indiana, and SMU, were wholly outmatched by their opponent, yet other teams, like Arizona State, proved to be talented enough to compete with the top teams in the nation. As of January 10th, Notre Dame has earned a spot in the championship game, while Ohio State and Texas will face off in the last semi-final game.
The Penn State game against Notre Dame was an instant classic. After a nice lead throughout the first half, Penn State was quickly the betting favorite to advance to the next round. However, Coach Marcus Freeman and his players felt they could come out of the half with a revised game plan. That’s precisely what they did. Riley Leonard and company looked like a different team in the second half, exposing Penn State’s air attack and dominating on the ground. Multiple crucial turnovers put the Nittany Lions in troubling spots. Still, they held a seven-point lead late into the 4th quarter. The Irish slowly drove the ball down the field before a 50+ yard bomb for a touchdown. Drew Allar threw another interception in Penn State’s territory, leaving the game up to a long field goal for Mitch Jeter. However, these go-ahead field goals in the College Football Playoffs are nothing to sigh at. In the last 10 years, kickers are 0-4 in the 4th quarter on go-ahead attempts. Jeter stepped out on the field and nailed the kick through the upright. This kick earned Notre Dame its first national championship berth since 2013.
On January 10th, the Ohio State Buckeyes will face off against the Texas Longhorns. This game proves to be challenging for Texas, as Ohio State has been all gas with no breaks lately. The combination of offensive firepower and elite defensive personnel made Oregon and Tennessee look unprepared. However, Texas has the athletes and talent to compete. With a solid quarterback in Quinn Ewers and an elite offensive line, the Longhorns should look to control the time of possession and play to their strengths. Furthermore, Texas has arguably the best secondary in the country, meaning they could have a chance at containing freshman standout Jeremiah Smith. Most betting markets have the Buckeyes as a 6-point favorite, but the public seems to think this is too low, with the majority of betters taking the Buckeyes to cover the spread. Regardless, this showdown is as important as it gets for Ryan Day and his staff. The expectation in Columbus is nothing short of a National Title, so there’s a chance Day is coaching for his job against Texas.
The National Championship will occur in New Orleans on Monday, January 20th. Given the horrible events in New Orleans, fans can expect top-notch security and longer wait times. Everyone involved in the production has one goal: safety. Regardless of the teams involved, this is one of the most significant sporting events in the world, and the entire organization assures the public it will run smoothly.
Notre Dame will be watching the Ohio State vs Texas game with great diligence, knowing that the winner will travel to New Orleans with them. After a remarkable regular season and exciting playoffs, it’s fair to say the 12-team playoffs are here to stay. As the NIL era takes full swing, the playing field will become more and more balanced every year, making the playoff format more and more interesting. For now, fans should enjoy the season’s remaining game(s) because all signs point toward an entertaining and competitive title game.
