The stage is set for the 12-team College Football Playoff, and the matchups have been made. While Oregon and Georgia are favored to win it all, several other teams could make a strong case as national champions.
Oregon, the lone unbeaten team in the Bowl Subdivision, has been running through the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Georgia closed out its SEC championship under coach Kirby Smart by beating Texas for the second time this season.
However, Oregon and Georgia will face stiff competition from at-large playoff teams like Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, and Notre Dame. Any one of seven teams could run through the bracket unscathed, leaving Clemson, SMU, Indiana, Boise State, and Arizona State as underdogs in a field of national heavyweights.
The USA TODAY Sports prediction for the 12-team playoff begins with the first round matchups. In No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Clemson, Texas will benefit from its low seed, but it needs to perform error-free football to win. Against No. 6 Penn State, the Mustangs have firepower on offense but face a ferocious Nittany Lions defense.
In the quarterfinals, Texas will face Arizona State, while Penn State will take on Boise State. Notre Dame will meet Georgia in what could be its first major upset of the playoff. Meanwhile, Oregon will play Ohio State, with the Ducks’ quick-strike offense facing off against the Buckeyes’ stout pass defense.
The semifinals feature Notre Dame vs. Penn State and Oregon vs. Texas. In the national championship game, Oregon will face Notre Dame in a rematch of their 1982 regular-season matchup. This would be a monster test for the Ducks, but they have been the best team in the nation during the regular season and are poised to close things out as the first title winner of the 12-team format.
In the end, it’s difficult to predict which team will emerge victorious, but Oregon’s full arsenal of skill talent and its experience in big games make it a strong contender for the national championship.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2024/12/09/college-football-playoff-bracket-prediction-oregon-notre-dame/76851950007