All the work, all the preparation, all the games, all the waiting, and the College Football Playoff is here finally. Naturally for the first 12 team playoff the home game on the college campuses is being played at four of the most iconic stadiums in the sport. This weekend kicks off the festivities with four games. I will be taking a deep dive into each game with my predictions for who moves on.
10 Indiana at 7 Notre Dame – Friday 12/20 8pm on ABC
The most interesting thing about these first-round games is that they are being played on college campuses as opposed to neutral site bowl games. This matchup, however, will not pose that much of a home field advantage as the two schools are a mere 200 miles and 3 hours away from each other, of course the first ever game of the 12-team playoff is going to be an in-state battle. Notre Dame is 11-1 and has been on a mission since their week 2 loss to Nothern Illinois, the Irish have the 3rd ranked offense and defense in the country, along with that their strength of schedule is 32nd ranked. Since losing to Nothern Illinois Notre Dame has outscored opponents by a score of 441-134, on average they have won every game by a score of 44-13. The last time Indiana won a game in South Bend was in 1898. Indiana’s lone loss came at the hands of Ohio State, it was really their only test of the season, but regardless of the teams that they have played, the Hoosiers have been by far the most surprising team in College Football after going 3-9 last year Curt Cignetti has brought this team to the College Football playoff with an 11-1 record and now he has a chance to show what his team can do. They have the second highest scoring offense in the country and the 6th best scoring defense. They have outscored their opponents 520-176. Indiana has had a great season, and I think their fans will travel well, but Notre Dame has been too good lately and Indiana has not been able to prove that they can hang with the top teams. Notre Dame is healthy, which they haven’t been in some time I think Notre Dame will come out with their dominant run game and power through the Hoosiers and win this game and move on the play Georgia.
Notre Dame 24-20
11 SMU at 6 Penn State – Saturday 12/21 at Noon on TNT/MAX
After heartbreak in the ACC championship game SMU snuck into the playoff but they have quite a tall task ahead of them going into Happy Valley for a white out is never easy, but it makes even harder for SMU because this game is in late December and you’re a team from Dallas going into the Midwest for a game like this will not be easy. SMU’s high-powered offense lead behind dual threat QB Kevin Jennings. Jennings has over 3400 total yards this season and running back Brashard Smith has ran for 1270 yards, SMU’s offense has scored 40 points a game in the ACC. Penn State is coming off of their best offensive performance of the year in the Big Ten Championship game despite the loss. Hanging 37 on that tough Oregon D is nothing to shy away from. Their dominant run game behind Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen along with Drew Allar playing very good complimentary football and Tight End Tyler Warren who is the biggest offensive threat the Nittany Lions have, he has rushing, passing, and receiving TD’s this season. If this game was played at a neutral site or at SMU I would think differently but with not only the temperature and the crowd playing a factor but the fact that SMU hasn’t seen anything like Abdul Carter and Dennis Sutton on the defensive line at any point this year, they are going to wreak havoc on the SMU O-line and the run game of Penn State should have its hand all over this game, give me Penn State by a lot and they move onto the Fiesta Bowl to play Boise State.
Penn State 34-13
12 Clemson at 5 Texas – Saturday 12/21 at 4pm on TNT/MAX
Outside of Kirby Smart, Dabo Sweeny has the most experience in these big-time playoff games, he will have his boys ready to go to Austin on Saturday. Clemson is coming off of an emotional ACC championship win after they hit the 56-yard field goal to stun SMU. The Tigers have had an up and down year after getting blown out by Georgia in week 1 they fired off 6 straight wins before losing to Louisville. Then they lost to archrival South Carolina 17-14 before Miami losing to Syracuse got them into the ACC championship game. Texas didn’t play any good SEC teams but when they played Georgia, they lost both times. Regardless of that Texas has one of the best defenses in the country along with one of the best O-lines in the country, and in December and January that is a recipe for success. Texas is a heavy favorite, but Dabo Sweeny has said that he feels Clemson is being doubted very highly. Dabo said that he enjoys the fact that nobody thinks they have a chance and that they should consider themselves lucky to be here. Clemson has the talent to compete with the Longhorns and Dabos coaching experience will keep them in this game but at the end of the day I don’t think the Clemson offense is going to be able to score enough, Clemson only wins this game in my eyes if Texas hands it to them but I highly doubt that will happen, I think it will be closer than the experts think but Texas wins.
Texas 23-13
9 Tennessee at 8 Ohio State – Saturday 12/21 at 8pm on ABC
After the Ridiculous end to the Michigan game Ohio State has been questioned severely. Ryan Day and Chip Kelleys play calling has been criticized and they have received all the blame for the loss. Regardless Ohio State has a great resume and so much talent on their team. The Buckeyes have multiple key wins over Indiana and Penn State. The Buckeye offense has totaled 37 points a game with arguably the best defense in the country only allowing 10 points a game. Quinshon Judkins and Treyveon Henderson have been a fantastic running back duo and Freshman Wide Receiver Jermiah Smith has 934 yards and 10 TD’s which leads the team. Defensively the front 7 has totaled 35 sacks and transfer safety Caleb Downs has been one of the best defensive backs in the nation. Tennessee is just a five-hour drive from Columbus and the Vols have had their best season since 2022, scoring 37 points a game and allowing just 14. Freshman QB Nico Iamaleava has thrown for 2512 and 19 TDs, but most of the Tennessee offense came from RB Dylan Sampson 1485 yards and 22 TDs. The Vols front 7 has been rough as they let up just under 100 yards on the ground a game, but the secondary has allowed under 200 yards a game in the air. Personally, I don’t think Ohio State can mentally recover from the Michigan loss and Tennessee has the recipe to beat the Buckeyes. Their strong run game and powerful defensive line should cause problems just like Michigan did, Ohio State has a beat-up offensive line and the best EDGE in the country, James Pearce Jr., for Tennessee is looking at that and salivating. Chip Kelley and Ryan Day will without a doubt call a better game than Michigan, but Tennessee has a better team, and their fans will travel well and take a lot of the Ohio Stadium crowd out of the game. There has to be one upset this weekend and this is the one that makes the most sense to me. Give me The Vols.
Tennessee 31-27