The debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff is upon us, and after the field was finalized Sunday, we are now just days away from arguably the best part of this new format: the first-round games.
If one were to hand-pick four locations for the first-ever on-campus playoff games, you’d be hard-pressed to select a more entertaining and fitting set of venues. From Happy Valley to South Bend to the Horseshoe in Columbus and DKR in Austin, fans of blue bloods, playoff stalwarts and first timers will flock to some of the best environments in the sport for four compelling matchups.
The eight teams who find themselves here, in need of not three but four wins to secure the sport‘s ultimate prize, are an intriguing combination of programs. Several began the year with title aspirations; others did not. Some may have lost hope along the way, but thanks to this new playoff format, they now have a chance to prove their worth once again on the field.
Here’s a first look at those first-round matchups. — Paolo Uggetti
Jump to:
Indiana at Notre Dame
SMU at Penn State
Clemson at Texas
Tennessee at Ohio State
When: Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ET. TV: ABC/ESPN
Key player: Kurtis Rourke has been one of the top quarterbacks in the country in his first and final season with the Hoosiers. The Ohio transfer from Canada ranks third in the country with a QBR of 85.7, trailing only likely Heisman finalists Cam Ward (88.0) and Dillon Gabriel (85.6) Rourke has completed 70% of his passes and thrown 27 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He now has more than 10,000 passing yards in his career. Rourke struggled in Indiana’s lone loss at Ohio State, passing for just 68 yards with only eight completions. But he bounced right back in the regular-season finale, tossing six touchdowns in a 66-0 victory over Purdue.
X factor: After earning freshman All-America honors, D’Angelo Ponds followed coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison and became a first-team All-Big Ten cornerback in his first season for the Hoosiers. Ponds picked off two passes, including one 67 yards for a touchdown, in Indiana’s key 31-17 win over Washington in late October. Ponds also broke up a pass that was intercepted at Ohio State, which helped keep the Hoosiers in the game through halftime. Indiana needs Ponds to be opportunistic in South Bend.
How Indiana wins: The Hoosiers have been one of the best turnover teams in the country, ranking fifth nationally with a turnover margin of 15. Problem is, Notre Dame is tied for second with a turnover margin of 16. Can Indiana force the Irish into mistakes on their home field? Rourke has to take care of the ball, as he has all year. But the Hoosiers are going to have to come up with big plays defensively to ramp up the pressure on Notre Dame. The Irish have yet to commit a turnover in the red zone this season. Getting a red zone turnover would be huge for Indiana to hang around in just its second matchup against Notre Dame since 1958. — Jake Trotter
Key player: Quarterback Riley Leonard hasn’t put up huge passing numbers this season, but the Notre Dame passing game has grown as the season has progressed. He has thrown 11 of his 16 touchdown passes in the Irish’s past five games and has thrown only two interceptions during that span. Leonard’s ability to run (721 yards and 14 touchdowns) is a big part of his repertoire. He also has four rushing touchdowns in his past five games. One of the big differences, though, is that he has not been as quick to tuck the ball and run any time he feels pressure and has instead been more patient in finding open receivers. Leonard, who transferred from Duke and spent the winter and spring recovering from ankle surgery, has seen his command of the Notre Dame offense improve. He was hampered by some inaccuracy earlier in the season but uses his entire collection of playmakers and spreads the ball around. Eight different players have 20 or more targets this season for Notre Dame in its passing game, and nine different players have caught touchdown passes in the past five games.
X factor: Without question, one of the keys for Notre Dame if it’s going to make a deep playoff run is the health of senior defensive tackle Howard Cross III. A preseason All-American, Cross missed the last month of the regular season with a left ankle injury. He should be a lot closer to full speed for the start of the playoff and gives the Irish a disrupter in the middle of that defensive line and a guy who has played a lot of football at a high level. Notre Dame’s defensive line instantly becomes more formidable with the 6-1, 288-pound Cross in the lineup. He hasn’t played since injuring his ankle during the Florida State game on Nov. 9 and still ranks second on the team in tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (four).
How Notre Dame wins: Notre Dame hasn’t had a close game since beating Louisville 31-24 at home back on Sept. 28. The home-field advantage should be a major factor for the Irish, and getting ahead early in the game would only make it more difficult on Indiana, which has scored 40 or more points in eight of its 12 games this season. Playing with the lead would allow Notre Dame to play its style of offense, with Leonard keeping Indiana off balance using a blend of running and passing. The Irish have thrown it more than 30 times in a game only twice all season, and one of those times came in the 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2. So shortening the game, putting together sustained drives and keeping the Hoosiers’ explosive offense off the field is the best pathway for the Irish to advance. — Chris Low
When: Dec. 21, noon ET. TV: TNT/Max
1:46
SMU’s Rhett Lashlee ready to prepare to face Penn State
SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee explains what it was like waiting to find out if his team had made the College Football Playoff.
Key player: Ever since coach Rhett Lashlee decided to go with quarterback Kevin Jennings as the starter in Week 4, the Mustangs offense has been on a different level. The 34-31 loss to Clemson in the ACC championship game was his first defeat as a starter. Despite two early turnovers — a lost fumble and an interception — he led the Mustangs all the way back to tie the game with 16 seconds left before losing on the final play. Jennings threw for 304 yards against the Tigers — his fourth 300-yard passing game. But what opposing coaches rave about is his ability to make off-schedule plays and the rhythm he has with his receivers, particularly when he scrambles outside the pocket.
X factor: If there is one area that Lashlee upgraded in SMU’s move from Group of 5 to Power 4 it is the defensive front and it has paid off dividends — particularly with a group of transfers he got from Miami. Multiple ACC coaches pointed to Jared Harrison-Hunte as the difference-maker on the interior of the SMU defensive line. In the regular season, Harrison-Hunte had 35 tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks and was an All-ACC first-team selection. As with anything, controlling the line of scrimmage is hugely important. In the ACC championship game, the Mustangs held Clemson to 64 yards rushing, and Harrison-Hunte had two tackles for loss and a sack.
How SMU wins: The Mustangs have to avoid what happened at the start of the ACC championship game — putting itself in an early hole because of turnovers and penalties. They have been one of the most opportunistic teams in the country but in the loss to Clemson, SMU finished minus-2 in the turnover department. SMU also needs to find a way to play better on its offensive line to have any chance, and that might require rolling Jennings out just a little bit more to avoid the type of rush the Penn State front presents. SMU might not be a ground-and-pound type of team, but it does have an electric back in Brashard Smith to set the tone. — Andrea Adelson
Key player: Tyler Warren has been a dominant, all-around force for the Nittany Lions. The surefire All-America tight end has six receiving touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns and even one passing touchdown. He’s the go-to playmaker for an improved Penn State offense that ranked 25th nationally, averaging almost 34 points per game. The Nittany Lions are at their best when they get Warren involved throughout the game. Getting their top tackle-breaker the ball will be paramount for Penn State to find an offense groove against an SMU defense that ranks 76th nationally in passing yards allowed after the catch.
X factor: Abdul Carter can wreck offenses for the Nittany Lions. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, who is a projected first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, has 10 sacks and two forced fumbles. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel said before the Big Ten championship, that you have to know where Carter at all times. The Ponies gave up just 15 sacks all season. Penn State can’t allow dual-threat SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings to sit in the pocket and make plays with his arm or legs like he has all season.
How Penn State wins: After the Big Ten championship game, Penn State coach James Franklin joked that he was looking forward to hosting a playoff game in “16 inches of snow.” Regardless of whether it snows, the wintery conditions and home field of Beaver Stadium should be a massive advantage over SMU, which rolled through the ACC regular season without playing in an overly hostile environment. If the Nittany Lions can jump on SMU early and get its crowd into the game, they should be able to cruise through to the quarterfinals of what was a relatively favorable overall playoff draw. — Trotter
When: Dec. 21, 4 p.m. ET. TV: TNT/Max
2:09
How does Steve Sarkisian feel about Texas’ CFP draw?
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts to his team’s matchup vs. Clemson in the College Football Playoff.
Key player: It has been a fascinating year watching quarterback Cade Klubnik and his development. The stats say he has emerged as a top-tier passer, as he has thrown for more than 3,000 yards, 33 touchdowns and five interceptions. His long touchdown run against Pitt helped them win that game — and may be the low-key reason the Tigers are locked into the CFP. Without that win over the Panthers, they would have lost a head-to-head tiebreaker with Miami and been left out of the ACC championship game and the 12-team field. But there are also times this season when the offense stalls — the same way it did in the third quarter of the ACC championship game against SMU. The same way it did late against South Carolina at the end of the regular season. But in his two ACC championship game appearances, Klubnik has thrown for five combined touchdowns and zero interceptions. He rises to the occasion in the postseason. Now we will see what he does in his first playoff appearance.
X factor: For the Clemson offense to find the consistency it wants, the Tigers need running back Phil Mafah to be playing well. Mafah has been dealing with a shoulder injury that has hampered him over the last month of the season, curtailing his production. Now, with backup Jay Haynes seemingly out after being carted off in the ACC championship game with an injury — the burden of the run game will once again fall to Mafah, who has not had a 100-yard rushing game since the first weekend in November. Having two weeks off before playing again will certainly be a huge help as the Tigers prepare for their playoff opponent.
How Clemson wins: Look at the way Georgia has beaten Texas in two games this year. This is going to have to be the best defensive performance of the season for the Tigers to have any shot. That means playing better against the run, but it also means making sure the pressure is on up front. One player to watch is defensive end T.J. Parker, who has been outstanding in the second half of the season. — Adelson
Key player: Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers battled through oblique and ankle injuries this season. When Ewers was healthy, he was pretty good, completing 66.2% of his attempts for 2,665 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, Texas’ offensive line struggled to protect him in two losses against Georgia. He was sacked five times and had two turnovers in a 30-15 loss to the Bulldogs at home on Oct. 19. Then he was sacked six times and threw two picks in a 22-19 loss in overtime against Georgia in Saturday’s SEC championship game. If Texas is going to reach its potential in the CFP, the offensive line has to give Ewers enough time to get the ball to Matthew Golden and DeAndre Moore Jr., and Ewers has to make better decisions.
X factor: Texas’ defense is a big reason it advanced to the SEC championship game in its first season in the league, and safety Andrew Mukuba was a key addition through the transfer portal. The Austin native spent three seasons at Clemson before returning to his hometown school. He has 52 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions, five pass breakups and one forced fumble this season. Mukuba nearly delivered the biggest play of the SEC championship game when he leveled Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton on a designed run in overtime, but Stockton was somehow able to hold onto the ball. Mukuba can turn momentum with a game-changing play on defense.
How Texas wins: The Longhorns will advance to the CFP quarterfinals if they get back to relying on the ground game and running over opponents. Texas ran for 251 yards in a 31-14 win over Kentucky and 243 in a 17-7 victory at Texas A&M. In their loss to Georgia in Atlanta, however, the Longhorns had only 31 yards on 28 attempts (they lost 27 yards on six sacks). Ewers threw the ball 46 times. Texas all but abandoned the running game inside the Bulldogs’ 30-yard line. Star left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. missed the game with a sprained left ankle, but he should be good to go after a couple of weeks’ rest. — Mark Schlabach
When: Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET. TV: ABC/ESPN
1:07
Ryan Day moving forward after Michigan loss
Ohio State coach Ryan Day explains the importance of moving on from the Michigan loss and getting ready for the College Football Playoff.
Key player: Much of the attention in the offseason centered around quarterback Nico Iamaleava and Tennessee’s passing game, but running back Dylan Sampson has been the centerpiece of the Vols’ offense. Coach Josh Heupel has always had a good running game. Tennessee has averaged at least 200 yards per game on the ground in all four of his seasons, but Sampson has carried the Vols’ offense at times this season. His 22 rushing touchdowns are a school record in a season, and he ranks sixth nationally with an SEC-leading 1,485 rushing yards. Sampson is also plenty motivated. He was snubbed in the Doak Walker Award voting for the top running back in the country and didn’t even make the list of finalists. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound junior was as durable as he was consistent. He had 10 100-yard rushing games and lost only 24 yards in 256 rushing attempts. He’s one of those backs who’s always getting a few more yards than it looks like he should and was at his best against SEC competition this season with 1,058 yards in eight games.
X factor: Tennessee struck gold in the transfer portal when it landed cornerback Jermod McCoy from Oregon State. A true sophomore, McCoy has made an already deep and talented Tennessee defensive line even more effective with his ability to match up with the other team’s best receiver and keep him at bay, which will be critical against Ohio State’s collection of talented wideouts. McCoy is tied for the SEC lead with four interceptions. He also has nine pass breakups and is a sure tackler for a cornerback. He’s third on Tennessee’s team with 39 total tackles. What McCoy does best is make plays in key situations, like helping the Vols’ defense get off the field on third down or changing the complexion of a game with a timely breakup. It’s always nice to have a security blanket in the defensive backfield when you’re playing against offenses that can strike quickly.
How Tennessee wins: At the top of the list is playing better and with more poise on the road. The Vols have been lights-out at home under Heupel but have been unable to consistently deliver their A-game (or even B-game) in true road environments, particularly against better teams. That obviously has to change in Columbus, especially with it being a night game. The depth and talent in Tennessee’s defensive line should be key in this game, and creating some short fields for the offense by forcing turnovers would help take some of the pressure off Iamaleava, who played some of his best football the past few games. But here’s another test against a quality team. He accounted for just nine touchdowns and turned the ball over six times in eight SEC games. He certainly doesn’t have to go win this game by himself, but hitting some explosive plays in the passing game — which means the protection has to be strong and receivers need to get open — will be the difference for the Vols as they go against an Ohio State defense that is second nationally in yards per play allowed (4.1). — Low
Key player: Jeremiah Smith is one of the most electric true freshman wide receivers in recent college football history. The Big Ten Freshman and Receiver of the Year shattered Ohio State’s true freshman receiving records set by Cris Carter in 1984. Even on a talented Ohio State offense stacked with other playmakers, Smith has stood out, especially with his acrobatic, one-handed touchdown grabs. The Buckeyes went away from Smith in the stunning 13-10 loss to Michigan, as he received just two targets — and only one catch for three yards — after halftime. They need to go back to him early and often against Tennessee if they’re to rebound from the demoralizing Michigan defeat and make a playoff run.
X factor: Through Ohio State’s first 11 games, quarterback Will Howard — a Kansas State senior transfer — was everything the Buckeyes could’ve hoped for. But against Michigan, Howard struggled, as the Buckeyes failed to score in the second half of a game for the first time in 13 years. Howard still ranks sixth nationally with a QBR of 83.0. But he will have to be much sharper — and, most especially, limit the big mistakes and costly turnovers — if the Buckeyes are going to put the Michigan loss in the past and contend for a national championship.
How Ohio State wins: The Buckeyes have the talent to go on a run and win the national championship. Had they not lost to Michigan, they might have won the Big Ten and earned the top overall seed. Instead, Ohio State dropped a fourth straight game to the Wolverines, putting enormous pressure on coach Ryan Day and Ohio State’s veteran players to rebound and play up to their potential. Ohio State can bypass an elite Tennessee defensive line through the air with its talented wideouts. But the Buckeyes can’t fall into the trap of sticking with the running game if it’s not working, like they did against the Wolverines. — Trotter
