The first-ever 12-team format of the College Football Playoff has advanced to the semifinal stage, with Ohio State now taking the role of the favorite to secure the national championship, shifting the odds from Texas, the team they will face. This season’s playoff has sparked debate regarding the selection committee’s decisions, particularly since the inaugural first-round games, held on campus fields, ended with all four higher-seeded teams claiming notable victories. Even amidst excitement from a tightly contested match between the fourth and fifth seeds (Texas defeating Arizona State), questions surrounding the seeding processes continue to linger. Additionally, the Sugar Bowl experienced a schedule change due to a tragic truck assault in New Orleans.
The quarterfinals saw an unexpected twist as all four top-seeded teams—which initially received byes—were eliminated. Notably, the remaining semifinal contenders are characterized by their formidable defensive capabilities.
In the upcoming games, there are a total of 11 scheduled encounters taking place between December 20 and the championship finale on January 20 in Atlanta, with all games aired nationally. The semifinal matchups include:
– **No. 7 seed Notre Dame (13-1) vs. No. 6 seed Penn State (13-2)**
– **Location:** Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla., January 9, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
– **BetMGM College Football Odds:** Notre Dame favored by 2.5 points.
**Road to the Semifinals:** Penn State defeated 11th-seed SMU with a score of 38-10 and triumphed over 3rd-seed Boise State at 31-14. Meanwhile, Notre Dame overcame 10th-seed Indiana (27-17) and 2nd-seed Georgia (23-10).
**Things to Consider:** The Nittany Lions stand on the verge of potentially returning to a national title game for the first time in several years, having displayed dominance with their strong defense and well-rounded offense. Facing them is the Fighting Irish, showcasing an equally robust defense and led by seasoned quarterback Riley Leonard. A significant storyline follows as one of the head coaches—either Marcus Freeman for Notre Dame or James Franklin for Penn State—could make history as the first Black head coach to secure a national championship.
– **No. 8 seed Ohio State (12-2) vs. No. 5 seed Texas (13-2)**
– **Location:** Cotton Bowl, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, January 10, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
– **BetMGM College Football Odds:** Ohio State favored by 6 points.
**Path to the Semifinals:** Texas defeated 12th-seed Clemson (38-24) and 4th-seed Arizona State (39-31 after double overtime). In contrast, Ohio State secured wins against 9th-seed Tennessee (42-17) and 1st-seed Oregon (41-21).
**What’s Important:** The Buckeyes have convincingly overpowered their previous opponents in Tennessee and top-ranked Oregon. Quarterback Will Howard, alongside standout receivers Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, will look to challenge Texas’s formidable defense, particularly its secondary.
The success of either semifinalist will earn them a spot in the national championship game scheduled for January 20 in Atlanta.
Currently, Ohio State is recognized as the frontrunner with 10/13 odds (-130) to clinch the national title, reflecting a shift in momentum following their Rose Bowl victory. In comparison, the odds for the other contenders are Texas at 17/4, Notre Dame at 9/2, and Penn State at 23/4.
Regarding the playoff format, a 13-member committee dedicated six weeks to assess teams, ultimately forming the bracket on December 8. The top five conference champions secured guaranteed spots, irrespective of their overall rankings. In an interesting twist, Clemson, despite being ranked 16th, snagged the 12th seed due to its conference standing. The top four seeds earned a bye into the quarterfinals, but all were surprisingly eliminated in this round.
Initiated with a four-team setup back in January 2015, the CFP expanded to the current 12-team format this year, with suggestions of yet another expansion possibly arriving around 2026.
Financially, the stakes are significant, with approximately $115 million at play throughout the course of the playoff. Each conference receives $4 million for every team reaching the final 12 and an additional $4 million per team advancing to the quarterfinals—resulting in byes being worth $8 million to their respective conferences. Furthermore, reaching the semifinals adds another $6 million, while the final escalates the total by the same amount.
The distribution methods of these funds vary between conferences. Furthermore, each team that meets academic eligibility receives a stipend of $300,000, with an additional $3 million allocated to playoff teams to offset expenses for each round they participate in.
