Much like that made-from-scratch pie crust or some-assembly-required Christmas present, things didn’t go according to plan during Round 1 of the College Football Playoff. The home teams held serve, and the Texas-Clemson game was the only one even (briefly) competitive in the fourth quarter.
Apologies to Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina fans who are now feeling especially left out, but you shouldn’t have lost to Vanderbilt, Kentucky and LSU, respectively, if you really wanted to make the playoff.
No matter. The games happened, and that’s what’s important. After more than 100 years in the wilderness of competing polls, conflicting votes and a lack of head-to-head results, college football finally has a playoff. Let’s take a look at what the quarterfinals have in store.
All rankings reflect CFP seeding. All games will air on ESPN
Fiesta Bowl: 3 Boise State vs. 6 Penn State – 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
The takeaway: Penn State’s defense manhandled SMU, forcing three turnovers and limiting the Mustangs to 250 total yards and a meager 3.5 yards per play, but the Nittany Lions will face a much different sort of test against the Broncos. Namely, Ashton Jeanty, Boise State’s All-American running back and one of the two best players in college football. Jeanty has rushed for almost 2,500 yards and averages more than 7 yards per carry. He also accounted for 30 touchdowns and should’ve won the Heisman Trophy, but he’s not coached by Deion Sanders and the Heisman Trophy Trust is not immune to media pressure.
Why you should root for Boise State: Like Jeanty, you’ve been overlooked for a major award you should’ve won, and like the Broncos’ field maintenance crew, you enjoy creative landscaping.
Why you should root for Penn State: You shouldn’t.
SEC analogue: Missouri-Texas A&M, but you’re not entirely sure which conferences these teams are in, either.
Peach Bowl: 4 Arizona State vs. 5 Texas – 11 a.m. Wednesday
The takeaway: Texas’ boring but impressively efficient offense and opportunistic defense faces an upstart Sun Devil team featuring a potent rushing attack. Led by running back Cam Skattebo, a bowling ball in cleats who averaged 6 yards per carry this season, Arizona State will look to control the clock and the ball, while the Longhorns will try to dink-and-dunk their way down the field like they normally do.
Why you should root for Arizona State: You believe in the power of the transitive loss. ASU’s victory over Mississippi State earlier this season means the further the Sun Devils go, the better the Bulldogs look. Hey, that logic has gotten you through almost 100 years of SEC play, so why change now?
Why you should root for Texas: You recently stopped at a Buccee’s.
SEC analogue: South Carolina-Florida, with slightly different shades of red and orange.
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. 8 Ohio State – 3 p.m. Wednesday
The takeaway: The Big Ten’s best meet for an eagerly anticipated rematch after the Ducks won an instant classic in mid-October. Yes, you read that right; both of these teams are somehow in the Big Ten. This was the regular-season game of the year and will likely be the best game of the Second Round.
Why you should root for Oregon: Your favorite Disney character is Donald Duck and you’re not concerned with copyright infringement. That, or you work for Nike, because you’ve certainly never been to Eugene, Oregon.
Why you should root for Ohio State: You, too, take serious issue with your neighbors planting flags in your yard.
SEC analogue: Auburn-Georgia, only with 117 fewer meetings.
Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. 7 Notre Dame – 6:45 p.m. Wednesday
The takeaway: A Carson Beck-less Georgia team faces a Notre Dame squad that’s only been seriously tested once all season, a head-scratching September home loss to Northern Illinois. While losing your starting quarterback is normally a season-ending blow, Georgia’s backup would probably be a starter everywhere else.
Why you should root for Georgia: You own as much SEC gear as you do Mississippi State gear.
Why you should root for Notre Dame: You didn’t actually attend all 16 SEC schools simultaneously.
SEC analogue: LSU-Alabama, but with better academics.
Enjoy the games, everyone, and Happy New Year.
Philip Poe is sports editor.
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