College Football has been one of America’s most popular sports, attracting millions of fans, viewers, and influencing much of the traditional football character of America, possibly even dethroning the National Football League (NFL) in terms of fans and viewing. This past week, the College Football Committee finally announced the bracket for the 2024 Playoffs. With a year of crazy upsets, unexpected stars, and teams surprising on the rise, this year’s College Football Playoffs are set to be one for the ages.
5 Texas vs 12 Clemson
A battle of two controversial teams. Texas, going 11-2 and losing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship game, was the first team to get a bid as the Five seed in the playoffs. With powerhouse quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, the Longhorns have had a dominant season when it comes to putting on points. The debate of Texas’s legitimacy is through their schedule, as their success has come from topping unranked opponents, and their two losses coming from ranked Georgia. However, Texas has yet to play a low ranked team, such as Clemson was throughout the season, and could possibly get their first ranked win of the season.
Clemson has had a similar story when it comes to their season. Finishing 10-3, Clemson lacked against ranked opponents, losing to Georgia and South Carolina, even having a loss to unranked Louisville. However, the Tigers did beat higher ranked Southern Methodist University (SMU) in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), marking their first win versus a ranked opponent. With that win, Clemson now holds more ranked wins than Texas, being the possibly biggest factor into their success in advancing to the Quarterfinals
8 Ohio State vs 9 Tennessee
The Buckeyes, always being known as a good team, always struggle to fight for a top spot due to such a difficult division. Being fourth in their division, Ohio State won a bid into the playoffs, having two wins against ranked opponents (Penn State & Indiana), but losing to undefeated Oregon. The Buckeyes have proved to be a top notch team, playing against the best and showing they can best the competition.
Tennessee has been an underrated competitor in the playoffs, being similar to Ohio State in the sense that they are contenders against top ranked teams. With wins against Alabama and a gritty Florida team, and a loss against Georgia, Tennessee has topped competition but fallen short to some of the best of the best. This game should be a battle of grit and strength, with the Vols being prepared to enter Ohio State for a challenge.
6 Penn State vs 11 SMU
Penn State has had a roller coaster of a season. Their fight has been something the team hasn’t seen in quite some time, being unexpected contenders in a tight division. With their only ranked win over Indiana early in the season, and falling to Ohio State and losing to Oregon in the Big 10 Championship, it will require a lot to rewrite the narrative of Penn State not being a true contender.
One of the best stories in College Football this year, the SMU Mustangs were sleepers coming into the season, projected to be a top team but no one expected them to slip into the playoff picture. Although they did lose to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, SMU played stronger competition, falling short to an electric Brigham Young University (BYU) team early in the season. With one of the better records (11-2), SMU got a bid into the College Football playoffs.
7 Notre Dame vs 10 Indiana
Being one of the only teams to not be in a solidified league, the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) Independent, Notre Dame making the playoffs was solely based on their performance throughout the season. With their loss to Northern Illinois early in the season, hope had seemed to dwindle for the Fighting Irish. After that loss, Notre Dame never looked back, even topping a strong willed Army team, to go 11-1 on the season and stamp their ticket to the playoffs.
Indiana has always been seen as a rather low tier team, being nestled in a tough BIG 10 Conference. Their rise past some star teams in the conference was a shock to many, and seeing them here is also a shock to many. Their 11-1 season can be summed up as underwhelming, with their only game against a ranked opponent being Ohio State, who dominated them. However, Indiana can find success against a Notre Dame team, who only faced one ranked competitor throughout their season.
First Round Bye Teams
4- Arizona State
A team who held their own this season and topped the Big 12, Arizona State was electric throughout the season, being the face of a lot of social media posts and debate whether they were a good team or a fluke. The Sun Devils, who finished 11-2 and fell to some rather questionable unranked competition, held their own against ranked teams, beating BYU and destroying Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game. Arizona State is an electric team and their success and position as the Four seed encapsulated their season.
3- Boise State
If you have heard of Boise State recently, it’s more than likely you heard about Heisman Award nominee and runningback Ashton Jeanty. Much of their publicity and success has been due to the talent of Jeanty and his crazy running abilities. All the credit can’t go to Jeanty, however, as it requires the whole team to have the success they’ve had. Losing by three points to Oregon early in the season, and beating ranked University of Nevada, Las Vegas twice, has projected Boise State into the public spotlight. The Mountain West Champions rightly deserve that third spot in the College Football Playoffs.
2- Georgia
Georgia Football has always been a football school. Their question of quarterback throughout the season has been a factor in their ranking and spot when it comes to the College Football Playoffs. Georgia has not really proven themselves to be suitable competitors when it comes to big games, losing to a rather bipolar Alabama team and narrowly beating a tough Georgia Tech team. The question of whether they are built to take on higher ranked opponents will be put to the test.
1- Oregon
The only undefeated team in College Football goes to the Oregon Ducks, who have wiped the season finishing 13-0. This record was rightfully earned, having a fair share of wins against ranked opponents (Boise State, Ohio State, Illinois) and some underwhelming teams. Nonetheless, Oregon is, rightfully so, the number one team in the nation as of now and looks to steamroll any competitor put their way.
