College Football Playoff games, first-round picks: Ohio State must dominate, Notre Dame out to flip narrative

You want to talk about storylines? Well, the impending debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff this weekend has opened up a whole new set of postseason storylines as we enter a new era in the sport. 

For all you climatologists, we have weather conditions. For all you shoppers, we have playoff football during Christmas week. Some of you shoppers might even have a tough decision to make: Jewelry for your wife or a paying for a seat in the top row at Notre Dame Stadium?

We may be witnessing Quinn Ewers’ last game. We may be witnessing Arch Manning’s first playoff game. On the same day. 

Among the eight first-round participants, we will see six of the nation’s top 10 defenses: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas, Tennessee, Penn State and Notre Dame. We will enjoy three of the top nine most accurate throwers: Will Howard (Ohio State), Kurtis Rourke (Indiana) and Drew Allar (Penn State).

Notre Dame and Indiana are each winning games by about four touchdowns each. Will that game, the first between the two Indiana schools in 33 years, be close?

SMU is playing its biggest game perhaps ever. Ohio State might be playing itself and its post-Michigan angst more than Tennessee. Clemson is back! That, or the expanded playoff is here to save the Tigers, who have lost at least three games for the fourth consecutive year. The last time that happened was 2011.

Enjoy the action this weekend. Four games, two days, on campus. And we’re just getting started, so let the 12-team CFP era commence! 

College Football Playoff first-round storylines

Weather: There are college football fans/weather honks living above the 40th parallel who can’t wait for Tennessee to come to Ohio State, mostly because those kind of road trips to chilly climates hardly ever…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-games-first-round-picks-ohio-state-must-dominate-notre-dame-out-to-flip-narrative/

Author : Dennis Dodd

Publish date : 2024-12-19 17:12:00

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