All of the world’s great forces – cultural, social and corporate – seem to be conspiring to ruin college football. Under siege from constant legal threats, in-season free agency and gerrymandered-for-TV megaconferences, the optics around college football haven’t been this bad since the early 20th century when young men were regularly dying from injuries suffered during games.
Despite these obstacles, or maybe in spite of these obstacles, the actual football has never been better. The 2024 season has (so far) been a joy to follow, local circumstances notwithstanding. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any better (or weirder,) here comes the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff into your living room.
The CFP, which begins Friday with first-round games and ends with the CFP National Championship on Jan. 20, promises chaos and beauty in a way college football fans have never experienced. It’s like the NFL playoffs, except everything crazy that could happen, will happen.
So, let’s take a look at the first round of games with an eye toward those of us without a dog (or dawg) left in the fight. Remember these games are being played on campus and will thus not resemble the atmosphere of the bowl games you’re used to seeing.
10 Indiana at 7 Notre Dame – 7 p.m. Friday
The takeaway: Indiana’s Cinderella season takes them to the most likely of unlikely places – Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana – to face in-state rival Notre Dame in a matchup that’s happened only once since 1958 (even though the schools are fewer than 200 miles apart).
Why you should root for Indiana: They’re the ultimate underdog – 11 wins is already a school record – who have more losses than any Division I program ever and the fourth-lowest winning percentage of any FBS team with more than 1,000 games played.
Why you should root for Notre Dame: You’re Catholic, or you were born before 1950, or you’re also a fan of the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys and Duke basketball.
SEC analogue: Mississippi State-Alabama, if they stopped playing prior to integration.
11 SMU at 6 Penn State – 11 a.m. Saturday
The takeaway: SMU’s return to the national stage as runners-up from the ACC finds them traveling some 1,400 miles to take on the Big Ten’s No. 3 in State College, Pennsylvania. The teams have met twice previously (a 1948 tie and a 1978 Penn State win) but their most notable connection is the 1982 national championship race, where the one-loss Nittany Lions edged out the undefeated Mustangs in the final AP poll. Fortunately these things are now decided on the field.
Why you should root for SMU: Once banished to football purgatory for things now completely encouraged, the Ponies are the ultimate reclamation project and testament to what money can buy. Left out after the 1996 collapse of the Southwest Conference, SMU bought its way into the ACC and then earned its way to the championship game in its first year as a member.
Why you should root for Penn State: You shouldn’t. A decade-long coverup of a child sexual abuse scandal should earn a program the death penalty.
SEC analogue: Ole Miss-Tennessee, but with generational wealth.
12 Clemson at 5 Texas – 3 p.m. Saturday
The takeaway: Clemson earned-slash-backed its way into the CFP by virtue of its ACC Championship win over SMU, securing the final playoff spot over Alabama and Ole Miss. Texas looked consistently pretty good against everyone except Georgia in its first year in the SEC. Note: The competing oranges from each team’s uniform could induce headaches. Best to wear sunglasses while watching.
Why you should root for Clemson: Like Clemson coach Dabo Sweeny, you loathe the transfer portal, or your favorite flavor of sherbet is orange.
Why you should root for Texas: Because Alabama didn’t make the playoff and you didn’t go to school there, either.
SEC analogue: Auburn-Florida, 15 years ago.
9 Tennessee at 8 Ohio State – 7 p.m. Saturday
The takeaway: Maybe the most under-the-radar Tennessee team ever travels to Columbus to face an Ohio State team that somehow lost to Michigan at home. The Vols were a weird loss to Arkansas away from a potential rematch with Georgia in the SEC championship game. In the 10 years since the playoff was instituted, Ohio State has made six appearances. The winner of this game gets Oregon, the last remaining undefeated FBS team.
Why you should root for Tennessee: As an avid hunter, you’ll begin the day wearing safety orange, so just leave it on and Google the words to “Rocky Top.”
Why you should root for Ohio State: Like me, you have a beard you wish weren’t gray, and like Ohio State coach Ryan Day, you haven’t yet found the shade of Just For Men that works for you.
SEC analogue: LSU-Georgia, but with 50% fewer future NFL players.
Enjoy the games, everyone, and see you next week for a preview of the quarterfinals.
Philip Poe is sports editor.
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