The first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff field has been revealed, featuring a mix of traditional powerhouses and Cinderella stories. The top-ranked Oregon Ducks will face the Georgia Bulldogs in the semifinals, while Boise State Broncos and Arizona State Sun Devils will battle it out for a spot in the championship game.
Alabama, which was eliminated from the playoff, finished 11th in the committee’s final Top 25 rankings. SMU Mustangs, who were considered underdogs, earned their spot as the final at-large selection ahead of Alabama despite losing to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.
The playoff format consists of four rounds, with teams competing in traditional bowl games on December 31 and January 1. The first-round games will take place on December 20-21, featuring matchups such as Texas vs. Clemson, Penn State vs. SMU, and Ohio State vs. Tennessee.
SMU’s inclusion in the playoff is a testament to their impressive schedule, which included undefeated conference wins against ranked teams. Meanwhile, Alabama’s elimination was largely due to their loss record, despite having a strong strength of schedule that featured three victories against top-ranked teams.
The selection committee emphasized the importance of strength of schedule, citing Alabama’s three losses as a factor in their decision. However, SMU’s narrow margin of victory over BYU and Clemson earned them a spot in the playoff.
As the college football world adjusts to the new 12-team playoff format, fans will be eager to see which teams emerge victorious. With a mix of powerhouses and Cinderella stories, this year’s playoff promises to be an exciting ride.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5978174/2024/12/08/college-football-playoff-bracket-field-rankings