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Here we are. After all the talk, hyperbole and tension, we have finally arrived at the actual games for the first-ever 12-team playoff in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
If you are looking for some College Football Playoff bracket picks and tips, read on.
This week, we preview the first round games, and take a look back at some of the top performances in the conference championship games.
It’s a Hoosier State special, with Indiana and Notre Dame meeting for the first time since 1991.
It's hard to imagine it’s been 34 years since these programs last met, especially with Notre Dame’s history of scheduling Big Ten opponents. But here we are with a compelling instate battle to kick off the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers have been one of the feel-good stories of 2024 under first-year coach Curt Cignetti. Picked to finish 17th in Big Ten preseason polls, the Hoosiers are having one of their best seasons ever behind QB Kurtis Rourke and the FBS’ No. 2 scoring offense.
The Irish are a very different team than the one that lost to Northern Illinois in Week 2. They’ve reeled off 10 straight wins, allowing just 13.6 points per game and grinding out 225 yards a week on the ground. Backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price average more than seven yards a carry, and QB Riley Leonard has 14 rushing TDs.
Line: Notre Dame (-7.5)
Computer: Notre Dame -14.71
Computer Trend: Notre Dame (-1.93)
Quarterfinal Reward: Georgia in the Sugar Bowl
SMU landed the final at-large playoff berth, narrowly edging out Alabama. A trip to Happy Valley affords the Mustangs an opportunity to prove the committee made a good selection.
In its ACC debut, SMU quickly proved it belonged. In fact, the Mustangs were perfect in league play during the regular season before falling Saturday night to Clemson in the conference championship game. Rhett Lashlee’s team is very talented, but the one knock is it has yet to beat a ranked team this season.
Similarly, Penn State lost its two biggest games, Nov. 2 to Ohio State and this past weekend to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Lions have yet to get over the hump under James Franklin, but their bracket is manageable, and the talent is in place to go on a run if they can harness some confidence and momentum in a Round 1 home game.
Line: Penn State (-8.5)
Computer: Penn State (-9.06)
Computer Trend: Penn State (-8.39)
Quarterfinal Reward: Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl
Clemson is the only three-loss team in the playoffs. But it’s still Clemson so you never know.
The Tigers appeared to be out of the playoff picture at the end of November. However, Miami stumbled, creating a spot in the ACC Championship Game. And voila, Clemson played its way into the CFP with an exciting win over SMU on a 56-yard walk-off field goal. The Tigers have the talent and the staff, led by two-time national champion Dabo Swinney, to be a dangerous 12-seed.
While Texas is undefeated versus teams not named Georgia, the team underwhelmed at times during the second half of the year. There were a couple of close calls with lesser opponents, and the offense failed to score more than 20 points in three of the last four games. Fortunately, the D has been air-tight all year, allowing just 12.5 points per game and leading the FBS in pass defense.
Line: Texas (-11.5)
Computer: Texas (-14.15)
Computer Trend: Texas (-9.72)
Quarterfinal Reward: Arizona State in the Peach Bowl
Ohio State gets its first chance to move past the crushing Nov. 30 loss to rival Michigan.
The Buckeyes squandered a chance to win the Big Ten and earn a first-round bye when they fell to the Wolverines in the regular season finale. That game may have changed the path but not the goal for Ryan Day and his squad, which remains one of the deepest and most talented in the country. For the second time in as many games, Ohio State needs to win to earn a rematch with top-ranked Oregon, college football’s lone remaining undefeated program.
Tennessee has qualified for its first playoff appearance, sweeping its home schedule, including a pivotal 24-17 victory over Alabama on Oct. 19. The Volunteers are led by their defense, though Dylan Sampson is one of the game’s premier running backs and redshirt freshman QB Nico Iamaleava threw four TD passes in each of his last two games.
Line: Ohio State (-7.5)
Computer: Ohio State (-13,33)
Computer Trend: Texas (-4.24)
Quarterfinal Reward: Oregon in the Sugar Bowl
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best player with the Maxwell Award. CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a member of the voting panel.
Here’s a look at some of last week’s standout performances on offense.
It was a season of firsts for the Black Knights who handled Tulane Friday night, 35-14, for their first-ever conference championship in their first year in the AAC. Daily, as he’s been all season, was the catalyst of Army’s ground-and-pound offense. The senior rushed for 126 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries, while completing both of his passes. Daily’s 29 rushing TDs smashed the AAC single-season record, with the Navy game and the bowl game still remaining.
Undefeated Oregon got pushed hard to the finish line by Penn State in the Big Ten Championship Game. But every time the top-ranked Ducks needed an answer, Gabriel delivered in a 45-37 victory in Indianapolis. With precision and poise, he completed 22-of-32 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns, three to playmaking tight ends Terrance Ferguson and Kenyon Sadiq. The 45 points Oregon scored were the most allowed by the Nittany Lions in more than eight years.
UNLV’s nationally ranked run defense was laser focused all week on slowing down Jeanty, the FBS’ leading rusher and Maxwell Award finalist. In the end, it did not matter. Against a stacked box of Rebels, Jeanty was still able to rush for 209 yards and a score on 32 carries to help carry the Broncos to a Mountain West Conference crown and a playoff berth. He’ll begin the postseason with 2,613 yards from scrimmage and 30 touchdowns.
Clemson got some help from Syracuse a week earlier and made the most of its ACC Championship Game appearance, fending off SMU for its eighth league title in the last 10 years. The Tigers got off to a sizzling start in Charlotte, building a 17-point cushion behind the passing of Klubnik. He tossed three first quarter scoring strikes and finished 24-of-41 for 262 yards, four touchdowns, and no turnovers in the thrilling 34-31 victory.
1968. That was the last time the Bobcats won a MAC championship before Saturday’s resounding 38-3 win over Miami (OH) in Detroit. Ohio spotted the RedHawks a 3-0 lead and then dominated every phase of the game thereafter. Navarro was the catalyst of a balanced attack that held the ball for more than 37 minutes of the game. The Tempe, Ariz. native totaled 302 yards and four scores, two on the ground and two through the air.
The Sun Devils capped their unlikely debut season in the Big 12 by winning the conference title Saturday, 45-19, over Iowa State. Picked to finish dead last in the preseason, Arizona State is now playoff-bound behind the backfield of Skattebo and QB Sam Leavitt. Skattebo ran with MVP-like determination to wear down a very good Cyclone defense. Despite just 18 touches, he amassed 208 total yards, three TDs, and a slew of forced missed tackles.
In just its second FBS season, Jax State won the Conference USA title, battering Western Kentucky Friday night, 52-12. Rich Rodriguez’s trademark rushing attack led the way with 386 yards and five scores. Stewart, the transfer from D2 Limestone University in South Carolina, accounted for 201 of those yards and three scores. The breakout star has 1,604 rushing yards and 24 total TDs to rank among the nation’s leaders in both categories.
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best defensive player with the Chuck Bednarik Award. CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a member of the voting panel.
Here’s a look at some of last week’s standout defenders.
The Bulldogs lost QB Carson Beck before halftime and scored just one TD in regulation, yet still found a way to beat Texas in overtime to win the SEC championship. Georgia survived with great defense, a gutsy effort from backup QB Gunner Stockton, and some terrific O-line blocking in the extra session. The Dawgs dominated the Horns at the line of scrimmage for the second time this season, while Everette frustrated opposing quarterback Quinn Ewers by picking off two of his throws and deflecting another.
Sure, the Mustangs allowed 21 points in the opening quarter to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. However, the offense put the defense in difficult spots early on, and the D played really well the rest of the way. Moses was one of a handful of Mustangs who helped fuel a rally that just fell short in Charlotte. He earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade among all Championship Weekend defensive backs, allowing one reception for six yards, making nine tackles, forcing a fumble, and breaking up three Cade Klubnik throws.
It flew under the radar Saturday night, but Marshall throttling Louisiana in Lafayette was the biggest upset of Championship Weekend. The Thundering Herd won its first conference crown since 2014 while holding the Cajuns to just one field goal and 255 total yards. Moten was instrumental in limiting Louisiana quarterbacks to 13-of-32 passing, allowing one reception for nine yards, picking off a pass and breaking up another.
While all eyes were on Ashton Jeanty in Friday night’s Mountain West title tilt with UNLV, the Boise State D stole the show. The Broncos silenced the high-scoring Rebel offense, allowing just one fourth quarter score in a 21-7 victory. Oladipo was front and center on a D that held UNLV’s star receiver Ricky White III to just four catches for 21 yards. Oladipo’s team-high 10 stops included two for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
Parker’s push and energy at the point of attack forced early SMU turnovers to help give Clemson a lead it would never relinquish in the ACC title game. The talented sophomore had eight tackles, including 3.5 behind the line of scrimmage, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Parker’s sack and subsequent fumble recovery on the Mustangs’ opening drive really set the tone for this game at Bank of America Stadium.
Save for the Notre Dame game, the Army D has been a rock all season long, including in Friday’s AAC Championship Game with Tulane. The Black Knights yielded just two scores against the Green Wave, one when the game was already out of reach, and kept RB Makhi Hughes well below his season rushing average. Thomas chipped in with eight tackles, 1.5 stops for loss, and an interception that set up a Bryson Daily touchdown run.
The Bobcats’ first MAC championship in 56 years was a total team effort versus Miami (OH). The offense generated 467 yards while the D yielded just a single field goal in a monumental 38-3 victory. Weaver was impactful despite playing just 33 snaps. He had three stops, 1.5 tackles for loss, three QB hurries, and earned one of the highest Pro Football Focus grades among all defenders this past weekend.
The Maxwell Football Club supports former Alabama and Seattle Seahawks star RB Shaun Alexander in annually naming the top college freshman.
The underrated storyline in Clemson’s ACC Championship Game win over SMU is that it was fueled by so many true freshmen. LB Sammy Brown had 14 tackles, Ashton Hampton looks like the Tigers’ next elite cornerback, and Wesco saved his best game of the year for the biggest stage. The 6-2, 180-pound blue-chipper from Texas set personal-bests in receptions (8), receiving yards (143), and touchdowns (2) in the 34-31 win over the Mustangs.
OREGON - Won 18 straight regular season games. Won 14 straight over-all.
Last: Won 45-37 over Penn State in the B1G Championship in Indianapolis on Saturday, December 7.
Next: Rose Bowl (1/1). College Football Playoff No. 1 seed faces winner of No. 9 seed Tennessee at No. 8 seed Ohio State.
GEORGIA - Won 31 straight home games.
Last: Won 22-19 (OT) over Texas in the SEC Championship in Atlanta on Saturday, December 7.
Next: Sugar Bowl (1/1). College Football Playoff No. 2 seed faces winner of No. 10 seed Indiana at No. 7 seed Notre Dame.
BOISE STATE - Won 12 straight conference games. (Tied with Army)
Last: Won 21-7 at home over UNLV in the Mountain West Championship on Friday, December 6.
Next: Fiesta Bowl (12/31). College Football Playoff No. 3 seed faces winner of No. 11 seed SMU at No. 6 seed Penn State.
ARMY - Won 12 straight conference games. (Tied with Boise State)
Last: Won 35-14 at home over Tulane in the American Conference Championship on Friday, December 6.
Next: Plays Navy on Saturday, December 14 at Landover, MD.
Plays Marshall in the Independence Bowl on December 28.
TEXAS - Won 11 straight true road games (at opposition venue).
Last: Lost 22-19 in OT to Georgia in the SEC Championship in Atlanta on Saturday, December 7.
Next: No. 5 seed Longhorns host No. 12 seed Clemson in 1st round of the College Football Playoff on December 21.
SMU - Won 10 straight true road games (at opposition venue) - second to Texas.
Last - Lost 34-31 to Clemson in the ACC Championship in Charlotte on Saturday, December 7.
Next: No. 11 seed Mustangs visit No. 6 seed Penn State in 1st round of the College Football Playoff on December 21.
KENT STATE - Lost 21 straight over-all. Lost 16 straight conference games. Lost 14 straight road games. Lost 9 straight home games.
Last: Lost 43-7 at Buffalo on Tuesday November 26.
Next: Season complete (0-12, 0-8 MAC).
TEMPLE - Lost 20 straight true road games.
Last: Lost 24-17 at home to North Texas on Saturday November 30.
Next: Season complete (3-9, 2-6 AAC)
FBS schools were 115-6 in FBS-FCS games this season, and are a cumulative 1,915-158 (.924) since we began tracking this in 2003.
In 2024, there were 121 matchups scheduled between FBS and FCS schools with 119 playing one such game, while Hawaii and UMass each play two.
15 schools were not scheduled to play a FCS opponent. Of those fifteen schools, 5 are in the B1G (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, USC and UCLA). Texas is the only school in the SEC that will not play a FCS program. The same is true for Virginia Tech in the ACC. In fact, Texas and Virginia Tech, along with Michigan and Houston, were repeats from the list of schools in 2023 that played all FBS programs.
2024 FCS wins vs. FBS:
August 24: Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
September 7: St. Francis (PA) 23, Kent State 17
September 7: Idaho 17, Wyoming 13
September 7: Southern Utah 27, UTEP 24 (OT)
September 21: Monmouth 45, FIU 42
September 28: UT-Martin 24, Kennesaw 13
In 2023, FBS schools were 114-4. These were the FCS wins last year:
September 9: Idaho 33, Nevada 6
September 9: Southern Illinois 14, Northern Illinois 12
September 9: Fordham 40, Buffalo 37
September 16: Sacramento State 30, Stanford 23
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Rich Cirminiello is the VP of College Awards at Maxwell Football Club. He can be followed on Twitter at @Rich Cirminiello