The quarterfinals of the playoffs are set to take place on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Notre Dame will go head-to-head with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, while Penn State is set to face Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Texas will meet Arizona State in the Peach Bowl, and the Buckeyes are scheduled to play Oregon in a highly anticipated rematch in the Rose Bowl.
After facing criticism for including SMU as the final at-large playoff team over three SEC contenders, the playoff selection committee is once again under scrutiny following the one-sided losses by SMU and Indiana. This situation mirrors the four-team playoff era, where blowout games were common in the national semifinals, sparking debates over the deserving teams. One key difference now is that there are still three weeks of football left before the national championship is decided.
In the recent round of games, Ohio State, Texas, SMU, and the committee emerged as winners and losers:
Winners:
Ohio State:
Ohio State’s dominant win against Tennessee showcased their quality of competition and performance. Despite not playing for the Big Ten title, Ohio State’s strong performance positions them as a top contender for the national championship. Quarterback Will Howard had a standout game, throwing for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Ohio State limited Tennessee’s offense and outgained them by over 200 yards.
Ryan Day:
Ohio State’s coach, Ryan Day, demonstrated his coaching prowess in the win over Tennessee. Day’s leadership was evident as the team rebounded from previous challenges. The victory solidified Day’s reputation as one of the top coaches in the country.
Texas:
Texas faced a tough challenge against Clemson but managed to secure a victory. Despite a shaky start, the Longhorns rallied to maintain their lead and secure the win. The defense played a crucial role in containing Clemson’s offense, while the offense showcased strong running and passing performances.
Penn State:
Penn State’s impressive win over SMU was highlighted by a strong defensive effort that limited SMU’s quarterback and forced turnovers. The team’s ability to control the game from the start was commendable, setting them up for future challenges in the playoffs.
The Nittany Lions will face off against Boise State running back and Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty in the Fiesta Bowl. Notre Dame’s defense slammed the door on Indiana to score a 27-17 win that only looks respectable because of the Hoosiers’ two meaningless scores in the final two minutes. Mirroring the offense’s disappearing act in Big Ten games against Michigan and the Buckeyes, Indiana managed only 278 yards on 61 plays and averaged 2.3 yards per carry.
Defensively, this was the Fighting Irish at their very best; if this continues, Notre Dame has to be seen as a strong contender to beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and reach the playoff semifinals.
The committee might have thought the hard part was over after weathering the decision to choose SMU over Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina. But what unfolded in the opening round is a nightmare for the committee, since the series of double-digit losses threatens to define the new format while reopening the controversial decision to choose the second-place team from the ACC over any one of the three options from the SEC.
By essentially getting locked into the bracket before the conference championship games, Indiana had largely avoided the same controversy that embroiled the Mustangs’ selection. The uncompetitive loss to Notre Dame feeds into the debate over the absence of a fourth team from the SEC.
Tennessee’s stock remains on the rise despite the early playoff exit. Looking ahead, this will be a crucial offseason for Iamaleava, who has to continue developing as a passer to bring more balance to this offense. The worst part about Saturday night was the rough start and the inability to capitalize on the strong close to the second quarter: Ohio State bloodied the Volunteers’ nose early and was clearly the more prepared team coming out of the gate.
