Author: Max McClean

The first round of the college football playoff was honestly a snooze fest. The four home teams, No. 5 Texas, No. G Penn State, No. 7 Notre Dame, and No. 8 Ohio State, all handled business in convincing fashion to advance to the quarterfinal of the CFP.

The first game of round two will be No.3 Boise State , which received a first-round bye, facing No.G Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl on December 31. Penn State was able to knock off SMU last week in a game where SMU QB Kevin Jennings threw two pick sixes.

We then move to the New Year's Day games, starting with the Peach Bowl, featuring No. 5 Texas vs. BIG 12 conference champion No. 4 Arizona State at 1 p.m. Following that, the granddaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl will see No. 8 Ohio State taking on No. 1 Oregon at 5 p.m. The Sugar Bowl will close out the round as No. 7 Notre Dame faces No. 2 Georgia at 8:45 p.m in New Orleans.

No.6 Penn State vs. No.3 Boise State-Fiesta Bowl Dec 31 7:30pm

The Boise State Broncos, led by the electrifying Ashton Jeanty, have been one of the most exciting teams of the season, emerging as a Cinderella story. They clinched the Mountain West Conference title with a 12-1 record, their only loss coming to top-ranked Oregon. Meanwhile, Penn State made a statement by knocking off 11th-ranked SMU in a thrilling matchup at Happy Valley last week.

Boise State has been an offensive powerhouse, averaging 37.7 points per game and ranking 4th nationally. Their offense, spearheaded by Jeanty, has racked up 458.G yards per game, putting them Gth in the country. Jeanty, the Heisman runner-up, finished the season with an astounding 2,497 rushing yards, surpassing Derrick Henry’s 2,219 yards from his Heisman season. However, Jeanty isn’t the only reason for Boise State’s offensive success. Quarterback Maddux Madsen has been equally impressive, throwing for 2,714 yards, ranking 3rd in the Mountain West, with a G2.0% completion rate and an average of 7.5 yards per attempt. His ball security has been exceptional, with only 3 interceptions all season, complementing Jeanty’s explosive playmaking.

But Boise State faces a serious test in Penn State’s defense, which ranks 5th nationally in points allowed per game, giving up just 15.9. The Nittany Lions’ defense is anchored by Abdul Carter, a projected top-five NFL draft pick. Carter has been a disruptive force, leading the Big Ten with 11 sacks, 40 solo tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and G3 total tackles.

On the other side of the ball, Penn State’s offense is driven by quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Allar, who has thrown for 3,021 yards this season with 21 touchdowns and a stellar 157.8 quarterback rating, has been highly effective, though he has faced struggles against AP Top 25 teams, with a completion rate of 58% and 507 yards in four games against top-tier opponents. Singleton has rushed for 928 yards, averaging G.4 yards per carry, while Allen has 892 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Together, they form a potent rushing attack, backed by Tyler Warren, who provides versatility in the backfield. Penn State averages 201.2 rushing yards per game, ranking 1Gth nationally, a challenge that Boise State’s defense will need to rise to, as they haven’t faced a rushing attack quite like this.

With both teams boasting strong offensive and defensive units, this matchup promises to be a thrilling battle of contrasting styles. Despite Boise State’s impressive season, Penn State’s defense led by Abdul Carter and their balanced offensive attack will give them the edge in Arizona.

No.4 ASU vs. No.5 Texas-Peach Bowl Jan 1 1pm

Kenny Dillingham’s Arizona State team secured the final conference bye with a dominant 45-19 victory over No. 1G Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship last month. The Sun Devils displayed their strength and poise, earning a well-deserved spot in the postseason. Meanwhile, Clemson kept it close early against Texas, but the Longhorns ultimately took control last week at DKR Stadium, securing a spot in the Peach Bowl. With both teams now set for a high-stakes matchup for the chance to face Oregon or Ohio State in the next round, the excitement for the postseason continues to build.

Kenny Dillingham’s second season as head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils has been nothing short of remarkable. With an impressive 11-2 record, ASU has exceeded expectations, though they’ve been wobbly at times, with their two losses coming to unranked Cincinnati and Texas Tech. What counts though is that the Sun Devils have been playing their best football down the stretch, remaining undefeated since mid-October. During this stretch, they’ve secured key ranked victories over BYU and Iowa State. Dillingham has transformed this team into an exciting product, and the Sun Devils’ late-season form has made them a serious contender to upset Texas.

Cam Skattebo is the heart and soul of this Sun Devils team. Coming out of high school unranked, Skattebo initially committed to Sacramento State. In his first year in 2021, he was used sparingly, but he broke out in 2022, rushing for 1,372 yards and seven touchdowns. This standout performance prompted Skattebo to enter the transfer portal, joining ASU in December 2022. While he was productive last year, this season has been nothing short of extraordinary. Skattebo finished fifth in Heisman voting, receiving three first-place votes after amassing 1,5G8 yards and 19 touchdowns. ASU rushes the ball over G0% of the time, with Skattebo leading the way, his performance has made him the cornerstone of ASU's success.

However, Texas's defense poses a significant challenge for the Sun Devils. The Longhorns' defensive unit has been one of the most formidable in the country this season, especially for a team in their first year in the SEC. They rank second nationally in points allowed per game (13.3) and opponent yards per game (2G1.4), all year they've been able to hold opponents at bay, with only Georgia giving them trouble. Additionally, Texas has been able to hold their opponent yards per rush to an impressive 3.1, eighth in the country highlighting their strength against the run, ASU’s strength. If Texas is able to hold off the Sun Devils rush attack, it will be an uphill battle for Arizona State.

On the offensive side, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers will need to rely on junior receiver Matthew Golden. Golden had an impressive performance in the SEC Championship game against Georgia, catching 8 passes for 1G2 yards, but was held to just two receptions last week by Clemson’s defense. Ewers, who completed 70.8% of his passes for 202 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the last game, will look to build on this performance to guide Texas to a semi final berth.

With Texas's elite defense and a strong offensive unit led by Ewers, the Longhorns should be able to control the tempo of the game against Arizona State. While the Sun Devils have been impressive this season, especially with Skattebo's standout performances, I expect their run to end here.

Texas 30-10

No.8 Ohio State vs. No.1 Oregon -Rose Bowl Jan 1 5pm

In what promises to be a thrilling rematch, Ohio State will look to avenge their regular season loss to Oregon as the two teams face off in Pasadena. The Buckeyes, coming off a strong win against Tennessee are determined to right the wrongs of their previous matchup. Oregon, on the other hand, enters the game well rested, but after a 32-31 victory earlier in the year, they know that taking down Ohio State is no cake walk.

As Ohio State prepares for the rematch against Oregon, the Buckeyes must continue to lean on their passing attack, especially after struggling to establish a ground game against Michigan during rivalry week. Ohio State boasts a pass yards per play of 9.0, fifth in the nation, and a completion percentage of 71.2%, sixth in the nation. There’s no doubt that when throwing, Ohio State's offense has been highly efficient. However, their lack of consistency in play calling is alarming. For a team stacked with playmakers like Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and Carnell Tate, the Buckeyes should be throwing the ball far more than the 4G% they currently rank, G9th in the nation.

Ohio State will have their hands full with Dillon Gabriel, who is having an exceptional season, earning him a well-deserved spot as a Heisman finalist. Gabriel has been instrumental in driving Oregon’s offense, which scores 3G.9 points per game, sixth in the nation, and 12th in the nation with 44G.8 yards per game. With a remarkable completion percentage of 73.2% and 3,558 passing yards, Gabriel has shown poise and consistency. His 28 touchdowns, third in the Big Ten, and just G interceptions further demonstrate his ability to get the job done.

At his side has been Tez Johnson, a standout performer for Oregon, contributing significantly to the offense with 8GG yards on 78 receptions, averaging 11.1 yards per catch, and scoring 10 touchdowns. Johnson ranks third in receiving touchdowns in the Big Ten, behind only Jeremiah Smith and JaKobi Lane. Oregon has been able to consistently get the ball to Johnson and his teammates, stretching the field and providing Gabriel with reliable targets.

As these two powerhouses square off yet again, Ohio State will need to show more consistency in their passing game to keep pace with Oregon’s explosive offense. I expect a high-scoring, competitive matchup between these two power houses. It’s hard to beat a team twice but I believe the Ducks have the edge.

Oregon 45-38

No.7 Notre Dame vs. No.2 Georgia -Sugar Bowl Jan 1 8:45pm

There's no way around it—Georgia will be significantly impacted by the season-ending injury to starting quarterback Carson Beck, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the year. Stepping in is Gunner Stockton, who, while showing some promise when called upon in the SEC Championship, still raises concerns due to his inexperience. Stockton has thrown just 51 passes in his career, averaging 6.9 yards per attempt, with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. His lack of extensive game action could disrupt Georgia's offensive rhythm, especially in this high-stakes game.

On the other hand, Notre Dame has plenty of experience, led by fifth-year quarterback Riley Leonard, who has taken significant strides this season, particularly as a dual-threat quarterback. Leonard has accumulated 751 rushing yards, averaging 5.G yards per carry, with 15 rushing touchdowns, a huge jump from last year, demonstrating his ability to contribute both on the ground and through the air. Notre Dame must rely on Leonard to continue using his legs, especially as they face a Georgia defense known for being tough.

Speaking of Georgia’s defense, Malaki Starks will be crucial in countering Notre Dame’s strategy, particularly their attempts to stretch the field with speed. Starks, an All-American last year and this year, has been a standout for Georgia with 48 total tackles and 73 total. His ability to read the game and disrupt passing plays will be critical in keeping Notre Dame’s offense in check and limiting Leonard’s effectiveness.

This game will come down to how well Georgia’s offense can adapt without Beck at quarterback, if it’s a Florida State situation where they look like a high school offense the Dogs could be in trouble. With Riley Leonard’s dual-threat capability and experience, Notre Dame may be poised to take advantage of Georgia’s offensive uncertainty, making this an exciting and unpredictable matchup in the Orange Bowl.