This year, the College Football Playoff (CFP) has implemented a new 12-team format, which fans are enthusiastic about. In past years, the CFP featured only four teams, but this year, it will be expanded to twelve. This change was made to help college football obtain more money from large brands, and give more teams a chance to win the national championship.
A major positive about the larger playoff is it helps prevent teams that had incredible regular seasons from not receiving a chance at the national title. This change comes a year after the controversial snub of undefeated Florida State, who missed out on last year’s four-team playoff but would’ve likely made the playoff if it were 12 teams. This year’s playoff features the champions of five major conferences: the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Big 10, the Big 12, and the Mountain West Conference.
The (CFP) College Football Playoff Committee ranks the teams from 1 to 12. The top four seeds receive byes until the quarterfinals, with the other eight teams playing first-round games. The top four teams are given a heavy advantage due to the extra rest their players and staff will receive.
The first-round games are hosted on the campus of the lower seeds, which are the Texas Longhorns, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This year’s top four seeds are the Big 10 champion Oregon Ducks, the SEC champion Georgia Bulldogs, the Mountain West champion Boise State Broncos, and the Big 12 champion Arizona State Sun Devils.
The Quarterfinal and Semifinal games will be played at the traditional New Year’s Six bowl locations. Arizona State will play in Mercendes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Oregon will play in the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Boise State will play in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. Lastly, Georgia will play at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, which hosts the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
The first-round games are the 5-seed and 11-2 Texas Longhorns hosting the ACC Champion and 12-seed and 10-3 Clemson Tigers, the 6-seed 11-2 Penn State Nittany Lions hosting the 11-seed 11-2 SMU (Southern Methodist University) Mustangs, the 7-seed and 11-1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish hosting the 10-seed and 11-1 Indiana Hoosiers, and the 8-seed and 10-2 Ohio State Buckeyes hosting the 9-seed and 10-2 Tennessee Volunteers.
I predict that Texas will defeat Clemson 27 to 21 due to its star-studded offense, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers. They will then play Arizona State, led by star running back Cam Skattebo. Penn State will defeat SMU 34 to 10 because of their impenetrable defense, which will lead them to face Boise State, led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty.
Notre Dame will win the battle for the Hoosier State, vanquishing Indiana 21 to 10 led by their outstanding defense and Quarterback Riley Leonard, and will meet Georgia in the quarterfinals. Tennessee, led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava and Running Back Dylan Sampson (who leads the SEC in points scored), will upset Ohio State 24 to 21 and advance to face Oregon.
For the quarterfinals, Oregon will defeat Tennesee 27 to 17 led by Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Dillion Gabriel, The powerful Oregon offense will be too much for Tennessee. Penn State will beat Boise State 34 to 17, as Boise State’s surprising run will come to a close. Texas will dominate Arizona State 35 to 17, and Georgia will narrowly beat Notre Dame by a score of 24 to 21 due to the slight edge in talent and experience.
For the semifinals, Oregon will overpower Texas with help from their dominant defense 34 to 31, and advance to the National Championship game, and Georgia’s offense along with running back Trevor Etienne will overwhelm Penn State’s dominant defense 27 to 24 and progress to face Oregon in the National Championship game.
Lastly, In a close battle that has the chance to go either way, Oregon will conquer Georgia 27 to 24 in the National Championship game on January 20 in Atlanta, to win their first National Championship in program history.