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The new-look College Football Playoff debuted with four opening-round games decided by a combined 77 points. This wasn’t an instant-classic weekend, to be sure.
Notre Dame opened the 12-team format with Friday night’s 27-17 win against Indiana. That was followed by another two duds on Saturday afternoon. Penn State breezed past SMU 38-10 behind a dominant performance on defense. Texas allowed Clemson to draw within a score in the fourth quarter but was in control for most of a 38-24 win.
The nightcap seemed headed in the same direction, with Ohio State storming out to a 21-0 lead against Tennessee and threatening to put the game away in the second quarter. An interception in the end zone gave life to the Volunteers, who made it 21-10 at the break. But the Buckeyes responded with a score early in the third quarter to get back on track for an eventual 41-17 romp.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard (18) runs the ball in the first half against Tennessee during their College Football Playoff game at Ohio Stadium.
The playoff now turns to the quarterfinals, set for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Notre Dame will face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Penn State will take on Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl and Texas will meet Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. The Buckeyes will play Oregon in a highly anticipated rematch in the Rose Bowl.
After coming under fire for making SMU the final at-large playoff team over three contenders from the SEC, the playoff selection committee will face another round of controversy following lopsided losses by the Mustangs and Hoosiers.
In that sense, the 12-team tournament has something in common with the four-team era. Blowouts were common in the national semifinals, leading to round after round of debate over which teams actually deserved to make the playoff. The one major difference is…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ohio-state-texas-headline-college-051012163.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-12-22 05:10:00
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