Image Courtesy: Austin American-Statesman
Friday, December 20
10.Indiana (11-1) @ 7.Notre Dame (11-1)
8 PM ET, ABC/ESPN
The Hoosiers head to face the Fighting Irish to set up an instate first round playoff game up north on Friday night. It should be chilly in South Bend on for the first, first round game in the 12-team format’s history. Curt Cignetti has led Indiana to a historic season in his first season since coming over from James Madison. Cignetti’s signal caller Kurtis Rourke (2,827 yards, 27 TDs, and 4 INTs) has been fantastic this season. His stable of running backs Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton, who have combined for almost 1,500 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, will help him set up the passing game to receivers Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., and Myles Price. The Hoosiers’ defense has been terrific and dominant against subpar competition for much of the season (outside of the loss to Ohio State in November) but have a shot to prove themselves against a Notre Dame offense that improved throughout the season after a dud loss to Northern Illinois in week 2. Former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard has been a beneficiary of new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who left LSU to coach the Fighting Irish after coaching Jayden Daniels to a Heisman Trophy last fall. He has passed for over 2,000 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions and rushed for 721 yards and 14 TDs. To avoid turnovers down the field by Leonard, Marcus Freeman’s team must rely on running back Jeremiyah Love who needs 51 yards to eclipse 1,000 on the ground along with 15 touchdowns. It will be big for one of receivers Beaux Collins, Jaden Greathouse, and tight end Mitchell Evans to step up as a go to receiver for Leonard as the top three targets have combined for only six touchdown receptions on the season. So, it will be up to the Fighting Irish defense, headed by linebackers Jack Kiser and Drayk Bowen to make things rough on Rourke and the Indiana offense to help them win the game. After Notre Dame’s Freeman signed a four-year contract extension, it would be hard to see them fall against an Indiana program that in its first season with a revamped roster. Projected Score: Notre Dame 21, Indiana 14
Saturday, December 21
11.SMU (11-2) @ 6.Penn State (11-2)
12 PM ET, TNT/MAX
After sneaking into the College Football Playoff, SMU heads to Happy Valley to face Penn State in another cold environment. The Mustangs do not have a win against a team ranked inside the College Football Playoff after failing to beat Clemson in the ACC Championship game. The committee still gave them an opportunity so the Mustangs must make the most of it. They face a Penn State team that appeared in the Big Ten Championship game. The Nittany Lions also lost their title game, but they did to number one ranked Oregon. Their run game is terrific with the two headed monster of Nicholas Singleton (838 yards and 7 TDs) and Kaytron Allen (822 yards and 6 TDs). They help their quarterback, Drew Allar get the ball down the field to tight end Tyler Warren (1,062 yards and 6 TDs) and receiver Harrison Wallace III (638 yards and 4 TDs). Safety Jaylen Reed has led the Nittany Lions with 79 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and 1.5 sacks. He will look to intercept the passes of SMU signal caller Kevin Jennings. Jennings play has been awesome since taking over for Preston Stone at quarterback, throwing for over 3,000 yards, 22 touchdowns, but he has turned the ball over 8 times. Running back Brashard Smith (1,270 yards and 14 TDs) will look to help Jennings with the passing game, getting the ball down the field to Roderick Daniels Jr. and Key’Shawn Smith who have combined for over 1,100 yards and 8 touchdowns through the air. SMU’s defense will have a huge job dealing with Allar, Singleton, and Allen. They will look to do it with linebacker Kobe Wilson (110 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble) and safety Isaiah Nwokobia (86 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and 0.5 sacks). Penn State’s James Franklin has struggled to win big games in his time in State College but a win to open the College Football Playoffs would simply shut everybody up in and around the program. Projected Score: Penn State 24, SMU 14
12.Clemson (10-3) @ 5.Texas (11-2)
4 PM ET, TNT/MAX
Can Texas bounce back after a second loss in the SEC Championship game to Georgia and beat Clemson. The Bulldogs were able to crush the Tigers to open their season so can the Longhorns do the same thing? The quarterback match up includes two gunslingers that played at Austin area high schools, Texas’ Quinn Ewers (Southlake Carroll) and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik (Austin Westlake). The duel between Ewers and Klubnik will have a huge impact on this game. Klubnik will have to avoid the phenomenal Texas pass rush, headed by linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (90 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended) if he wants to get the ball down the field to receivers Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco Jr., and TJ Moore. The production of tailback Phil Mafah (1,106 yards and 8 TDs) should help but the overpowering Texas defense will definitely be a challenge. Texas’ offense must play better than it has in its games against Georgia and play like it has in its other ten games so far this season at home when Clemson comes to town. Receivers Matthew Golden (738 yards and 8 TDs), Isaiah Bond (532 yards and 5 TDs), and tight end Gunnar Helm (611 yards and 5 TDs) make plays down field for Ewers while a trio of running backs including Quintrevion Wisner (863 yards and 3 TDs), Jaydon Blue (564 yards and 6 TDs), and Jerrick Gibson (342 yards and 4 TDs) help him in the backfield. Also, backup signal caller Arch Manning could see playing time, especially on running plays as he has already rushed for four touchdowns on the season. Dabo Swinney’s linebackers Barrett Carter, Wade Woodaz, and Sammy Brown all have over 70 tackles on the season and should make an impact in stopping for the Longhorn defense. Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns should win this game but it will take them a half to fully get control of the game. Projected Score: Texas 35, Clemson 17
9.Tennessee (10-2) @ 8.Ohio State (10-2)
8 PM ET, ABC/ESPN
Tennessee’s trip to Columbus for a Saturday night showdown with Ohio State should be the best game of the first round of these playoffs. The Volunteers should be ready to go into the freezing environment and beat a Buckeye team that just lost to an underachieving Michigan team during Thanksgiving weekend, 13-10. Tailback Dylan Sampson has been the engine for the Volunteer offense this season, rushing for almost 1,500 yards and 22 touchdowns. Nico Iamaleava benefits from Sampson’s abilities, becoming a better passer throughout the season, throwing for over 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns. Iamaleava’s receiving core of Dont’e Thornton Jr., Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, and Chris Brazzell II will look to help open things up for their quarterback against Ohio State’s defense, including safety Sonny Styles (76 tackles, 4 sacks, and 3 passes defended), linebacker Cody Simon (74 tackles, 5 sacks, and 5 passes defended), and safety Caleb Downs (61 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception). Nobody expects much out of Buckeye quarterback Will Howard (175 passing yards in loss to Michigan) or his running backs Quinshon Judkins (46 rushing yards) and TreVeyon Henderson (21 rushing yards) after their dismal performances against the Wolverines. They must prove that they are a team that can advance to win the national championship game by showing up for this game at their home stadium. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day must know that his team’s strength is passing the ball down the field to an awesome group of receivers, including Jeremiah Smith (934 yards and 10 TDs), Emeka Egbuka (743 yards and 9 TDs), and Carnell Tate (583 yards and 4 TDs). If the Buckeyes do not defeat the Vols, Ryan Day might be fired before he walks off the field on Saturday night. Projected Score: Tennessee 24, Ohio State 21
