With all four top-seeded teams eliminated in the first round, this year’s College Football Playoff semifinals are poised to be some of the most thrilling in recent memory, with the National Championship now within striking distance for the remaining contenders, CNN reports.
Orange Bowl: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame – January 9, 7:30 PM ET
The Orange Bowl will feature a clash of defensive titans as the Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Both teams boast top defenses, sitting sixth and third in points allowed per game this season.
Penn State’s defense is led by Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Abdul Carter, whose status for the game remains uncertain after an injury in the quarterfinals. Despite his absence for more than half of their quarterfinal game, the Nittany Lions limited Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty to his lowest rushing total of the season. On offense, quarterback Drew Allar has shown marked improvement.
Notre Dame, fresh off an emotional victory over Georgia, will aim to contain Allar with their formidable defense. Defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka’s forced fumble and recovery set up a key score against Georgia. The health of running back Jeremiyah Love is also in question after he left the quarterfinal with an injury.
Beyond the on-field action, this game carries historic significance. The winning coach will become the first Black head coach to lead a team to the national championship game, which falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Cotton Bowl: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State – January 10, 7:30 PM ET
The Cotton Bowl promises another tight contest between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes, two teams with exceptional defenses. Ohio State leads the nation in defensive categories including average points allowed and passing yards allowed while Texas is second in the latter.
Questions linger about the focus of the Texas defense after a shaky fourth quarter and overtime period against Arizona State. Their offense will need to find its stride as their running game was largely absent, but tight end Gunnar Helm stepped up with a game-winning score.
This matchup will feature intrigue as Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers initially signed with Ohio State before transferring to Texas. He’ll be up against Ohio State’s dominant defense.
On offense, Ohio State’s Will Howard is riding a hot streak and true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has had a highly productive year. The Buckeyes, favored to advance, boast a combination of championship-level defense and explosive offense. The game’s location at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium however could make this a virtual home game for the Longhorns.
The intensity of these matchups highlights the importance of this year’s playoff. The winning teams will go on to compete in the National Championship on January 20.
