The 2024 college football season officially concluded Monday with Ohio State beating Notre Dame t...

The 2024 college football season officially concluded Monday with Ohio State beating Notre Dame to win the national championship, meaning we can now flip the calendar and focus on the 2025 campaign.Last year's early rankings saw six of the 12 playoff teams in our top-12 slots. We're looking to improve on that this time around.Here's how our top 25 looks, with the defending champion Buckeyes leading the way.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>1. Ohio StateThere's a mass exodus from the national champions next year, but Ohio State returns arguably the country's best offensive and defensive players in Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs. The quarterback position may be unproven, but there's a reason five-star prospect Julian Sayin was the second-ranked passer in his recruiting class.2. OregonIt's Dante Moore's time to shine with Dillon Gabriel finally out of college eligibility. Given both Bo Nix and Gabriel's performances after joining Oregon, it's fair to assume Moore will succeed. Evan Stewart returns as the top weapon outside, and the bulk of the defense remains in tact from the 2024 season.3. Texas<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746292/cropped_GettyImages-2173626580.jpg?ts=1726982983" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746292/w220xh124_GettyImages-2173626580.jpg?ts=1726982983 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746292/w320xh180_GettyImages-2173626580.jpg?ts=1726982983 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746292/w640xh360_GettyImages-2173626580.jpg?ts=1726982983 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746292/w768xh432_GettyImages-2173626580.jpg?ts=1726982983 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746292/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2173626580.jpg?ts=1726982983 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Arch Madness has officially arrived. It's finally Arch Manning time for Texas after the highly touted recruit served as a backup for two straight years. Manning offers more of a dual-threat option than Quinn Ewers and should thrive in Steve Sarkisian's offense. With Anthony Hill and Colin Simmons both back on defense, a third straight semifinal berth isn't out of the question for the Longhorns.4. GeorgiaKirby Smart annually loses a number of top players to the NFL draft but keeps Georgia among the nation's best with elite recruiting. That's once again the case for the 2025 season. We saw that Gunner Stockton is a more-than-capable replacement for Carson Beck at quarterback, and the Bulldogs already added USC's Zachariah Branch and Texas A&amp;M's Noah Thomas to give the offense a jolt.5. AuburnThe top four is straightforward, but things get wacky at No. 5. Sure, Auburn suffered through a dismal 2024 campaign, but most of its issues came down to quarterback play. Hugh Freeze addressed that by bringing in not one, but two transfers in Oklahoma's Jackson Arnold and Stanford's Ashton Daniels.6. Notre DameThe national finalists return a ton of talent with one big question mark: Who will start at quarterback? Will it be former top recruit CJ Carr, current backup Steve Angeli, or a transfer for the third straight year? Whoever Marcus Freeman picks, they'll benefit from handing the ball off to Jeremiyah Love. That alone is enough to make them a top-10 team for 2025.7. Florida<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755777/cropped_GettyImages-2184481958.jpg?ts=1731808522" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755777/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184481958.jpg?ts=1731808522 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755777/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184481958.jpg?ts=1731808522 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755777/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184481958.jpg?ts=1731808522 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755777/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184481958.jpg?ts=1731808522 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755777/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184481958.jpg?ts=1731808522 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Florida was arguably the hottest non-playoff team at the end of the season. The Gators grabbed an unlikely bowl bid with their late-season push, and they kept Billy Napier in Gainesville for at least another season. Expect DJ Lagway to be among the top Heisman contenders if the Gators are actually a playoff team by the end of the season. If they're not, expect Napier to be looking for work.8. Penn StateDrew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, and Dani Dennis-Sutton all opted to come back for one last run at Penn State after the semifinal loss to Notre Dame. That should ensure the Nittany Lions are once again a playoff team in 2025. However, whether they can contend for a title likely revolves around James Franklin's ability to bring in receiving help for Allar.9. ClemsonClemson's offense finished the season on a strong note thanks to some standout play by Cade Klubnik. However, the defense dropped off significantly to rank 69th in the country in yards per play. Dabo Swinney's solution was to hire Tom Allen from Penn State as the new defensive coordinator. If Allen can fix that side of the ball and Klubnik continues his development, the Tigers should be the favorites to repeat as ACC champions.10. MichiganThe majority of the 2024 season was a disaster for Michigan, but the end was close to a dream. The Wolverines followed up one of the most stunning defeats in the history of their rivalry with Ohio State with a dominant win over Alabama in the bowl game. Oh, and the nation's top quarterback recruit, Bryce Underwood, flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. The losses on defense will be felt, but Sherrone Moore should have the Wolverines amongst the best teams in the Big Ten in 2025.11. LSUGarrett Nussmeier's return means the offense will once again be cooking for LSU, but the path to improvement is almost solely based on the defense. Brian Kelly hit the portal hard on that side of the ball to bring in Patrick Payton, Jack Pyburn, Jimari Butler, Mansoor Delane, and Ja'Keem Jackson. The Tigers could be a force again in the SEC if they work out as planned.12. Miami<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765478/cropped_GettyImages-2189247561.jpg?ts=1736915767" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765478/w220xh124_GettyImages-2189247561.jpg?ts=1736915767 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765478/w320xh180_GettyImages-2189247561.jpg?ts=1736915767 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765478/w640xh360_GettyImages-2189247561.jpg?ts=1736915767 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765478/w768xh432_GettyImages-2189247561.jpg?ts=1736915767 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765478/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2189247561.jpg?ts=1736915767 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Todd Kirkland / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Cam Ward is gone, and Carson Beck has moved south from Georgia to try and keep the nation's top offense in 2024 humming. Beck's signing brings plenty of pedigree to the quarterback position, but he faces a tall task with the Hurricanes losing their top rusher and leading six receivers from last season. Mario Cristobal addressed the porous defense by hiring Minnesota's Corey Hetherman to fix the nation's 68th-ranked unit.13. South CarolinaIf Ohio State's combo of Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs represents the sport's best-returning duo, South Carolina's tandem of LaNorris Sellers and Dylan Stewart isn't far behind. Sellers' brilliant 2024 campaign sees the quarterback receiving plenty of Heisman hype for 2025, while Stewart is firmly in the conversation for best pass-rusher in the sport.14. Arizona StateArizona State was perhaps the biggest shock of the 2024 season, but the Sun Devils won't sneak up on anybody after their stunning run to the College Football Playoff. Cam Skattebo is gone, but quarterback Sam Leavitt and star receiver Jordyn Tyson return to keep the offense cooking in Tempe.15. Texas A&amp;MTexas A&amp;M dropped off significantly on the field toward the end of last year, but Mike Elko turned in a strong performance in the transfer portal the past few months. The Aggies coach added plenty of offensive talent to help talented passer Marcel Reed, including KC Concepcion, Mario Craver, and Micah Hudson.16. SMUWhile much of SMU's 2024 roster has now departed, electric quarterback Kevin Jennings returns to lead the high-octane offense. Jennings emerged as a star last season and will be called upon to do even more with his top five receivers and leading rusher Brashard Smith gone. The early schedule is rough with non-conference dates with Baylor and TCU, but a return to the ACC title game could be in the cards if Rhett Lashlee's outfit can navigate the first month.17. Alabama<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748711/cropped_GettyImages-2176104799.jpg?ts=1728231626" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748711/w220xh124_GettyImages-2176104799.jpg?ts=1728231626 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748711/w320xh180_GettyImages-2176104799.jpg?ts=1728231626 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748711/w640xh360_GettyImages-2176104799.jpg?ts=1728231626 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748711/w768xh432_GettyImages-2176104799.jpg?ts=1728231626 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748711/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2176104799.jpg?ts=1728231626 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The last time Alabama wasn't in the top 15 of the early rankings was likely in Nick Saban's first year in charge. Things didn't fall off a cliff in Tuscaloosa, but the pressure is on Kalen DeBoer after the Crimson Tide lost four of their last eight power conference contests. The biggest challenge for DeBoer is replacing Jalen Milroe at quarterback, with a competition between Ty Simpson and Austin Mack likely taking place in spring ball.18. BYUA ton of top talent from BYU's sparkling 2024 season is back, headlined by standout quarterback Jake Retzlaff. That should keep the offense moving in Provo, but Kalani Sitake will need to beef up a defense that's losing more than half its starters heading into the 2025 campaign.19. TennesseeThe season ended with a whimper in Columbus in a blowout loss to Ohio State, but it was another successful season for Josh Heupel with Tennessee. While the defense was one of the nation's best, Heupel's offense took a step back in 2024. That'll need to change for the Volunteers to return to the playoff, with the pressure on Nico Iamaleava to take the next step at quarterback.20. Ole MissOle Miss was hit as hard as any team in the country with star departures, as Jaxson Dart, Jordan Watkins, Tre Harris, Walter Nolen, J.J. Pegues, and Jared Ivey among those leaving Oxford. However, Lane Kiffin deemed himself the "Portal King" for a reason, and he's already gone to work reloading the roster for 2025.21. Kansas State<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745059/cropped_GettyImages-2171030856.jpg?ts=1726282732" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745059/w220xh124_GettyImages-2171030856.jpg?ts=1726282732 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745059/w320xh180_GettyImages-2171030856.jpg?ts=1726282732 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745059/w640xh360_GettyImages-2171030856.jpg?ts=1726282732 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745059/w768xh432_GettyImages-2171030856.jpg?ts=1726282732 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745059/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2171030856.jpg?ts=1726282732 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>A promising season went south quickly for Kansas State as the Wildcats lost three of their last four games. However, Avery Johnson returns at quarterback, and Dylan Edwards is ready for more touches on offense after piling up 196 yards on the ground in the bowl win.22. IllinoisThe 2024 season was a dream for Illinois, with the Illini posting 10 wins for just the fifth time in school history. Luke Altmyer's return at quarterback will be a huge benefit as Bret Bielema looks to replace the star receiver duo of Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin.23. IndianaWhat will Curt Cignetti do for an encore after delivering the best season in Indiana history in his first campaign with the school? Cignetti loses a number of players from the 2024 roster, including star quarterback Kurtis Rourke, but he's been very active in the transfer portal. The biggest prize thus far is Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who should instantly slot in as the starter in Bloomington.24. IowaTim Lester drastically changed the offensive production in 2024 and took a big step to keep that momentum going by adding prolific South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski in the portal. Gronowski won the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the FCS and has topped the 10,000-yard mark passing in his career. That type of output will be needed to help soften the loss of standout running back Kaleb Johnson to the NFL.25. Texas TechTexas Tech hit the portal as hard as any team in the country the past few months, bringing in a whopping 17 players to beef up the roster in Lubbock. That included the additions of Miami (Ohio) receiver Reggie Virgil and USC running back Quinten Joyner.

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Early CFB top 25: Ohio State looks for repeat from top spot

Perhaps we never should have doubted Ohio State this season.  The Buckeyes had undoubtedly the be...

Perhaps we never should have doubted Ohio State this season.The Buckeyes had undoubtedly the best roster in the nation - a lethal blend of top talent that decided to return to school, the most dangerous freshman wideout we've seen in years, and some high-profile transfers at key positions.Armed with an NIL stockpile of $20 million, Ryan Day was able to build - and keep - a roster resembling some of Nick Saban's stacked squads from his Alabama days.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Retaining almost all of your top talent is a foreign concept in college football these days, as the portal has only become even more popular. Most of the Buckeyes' standout players haven't used it, though, and have been with the team since 2021 and 2022.Sure, having $20 million to spend certainly helps, but the Buckeyes are far from the only school with a padded wallet. What separates Ohio State is not how much the team spent, but how the Buckeyes decided to spend it.That was clear Monday against Notre Dame.The first drive of the night was capped by the high-priced grad transfer quarterback, Will Howard, throwing to the No. 1 receiver in the class of 2024, Jeremiah Smith, on a perfect play called by former college coach of the year Chip Kelly. That quarterback-receiver duo eventually iced the game on the biggest third-down conversion in recent Buckeyes history.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JEREMIAH SMITH DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE <a href="https://t.co/GVtQqoDKdz">pic.twitter.com/GVtQqoDKdz</a>— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/OhioStateFB/status/1881552148040958413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Kyle McCord provided plenty of excellent moments under center for Ohio State last year, but he decided to transfer when Day wouldn't guarantee him the starting job this season. Given the wealth of talent on offense, the Buckeyes' quarterback's job seems about as stressful as the lifeguard's at the pool during the Olympics. Still, Day identified Howard as the guy to take the offense to the next level, and he delivered a performance for the ages when it mattered most.Drive No. 2 was finished by Quinshon Judkins - a transfer running back who led the SEC in rushing two years ago - lunging in for the second touchdown of the game. During that possession, the second-ranked receiver in the class of 2021, Emeka Egbuka, broke the Ohio State record for most catches in a career.Egbuka, like many others, opted to return to Columbus for one final season instead of heading to the NFL. He admitted at Big Ten Media Days that NIL played a role in that choice."The NFL is always going to be there," Egbuka said, according to <a href="https://www.on3.com/nil/news/emeka-egbuka-reflects-on-decision-to-return-to-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-impact-of-nil/">Pete Nakos of On3 Sports</a>. "That money is always going to be there. We're able to make a little bit of an earning while we're here in college, so I think it's a bonus."On the third drive - a backbreaker heading into half - the No. 1 running back from the class of 2021, TreVeyon Henderson, carried the ball multiple times before Howard found Judkins in the end zone.Adding Judkins from Ole Miss via transfer puzzled some, especially with Henderson returning for a final season with the program. But Day knew he could lighten Henderson's workload throughout the season and have two fresh running backs in the postseason. The results speak for themselves.That touchdown pushed the lead to 21-7 - and we haven't even talked about the defense yet.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766474/cropped_GettyImages-2194467015.jpg?ts=1737439155" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766474/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194467015.jpg?ts=1737439155 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766474/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194467015.jpg?ts=1737439155 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766474/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194467015.jpg?ts=1737439155 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766474/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194467015.jpg?ts=1737439155 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766474/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194467015.jpg?ts=1737439155 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Jack Sawyer was among the top-ranked defensive linemen in his recruiting class while defensive linemate JT Tuimoloau was the No. 1 tackle. Safety Caleb Downs, who transferred in from Alabama after Saban's retirement, was also the top-ranked player at his position coming out of high school.There are four-star recruits at virtually every other position, too. It's clear why Notre Dame managed just 11 yards over 16 plays on the four drives that followed the opening touchdown.Kelly and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles combine to make over $4 million per year as assistant coaches. Add Brian Hartline's $1.6-million salary and three coaches for Ohio State rank among the nation's 20 highest-paid assistants. However, money to attract staff hires doesn't immediately guarantee wins: Eight of the other top 10 highest-paid assistants coach on teams that didn't make the postseason this year. Sure, Ohio State was willing to pay up, but it also identified the right fit in the coaching staff to elevate the program.This Ohio State roster may be the most talented college football will see for a long time. With revenue sharing on the horizon, more programs will have money to spend on top players - which should hurt depth across the country as players spread out to maximize their earning potential. The days when Saban or Kirby Smart used to stash future NFL first-round picks on the depth chart for two years before unleashing them on the opposition are long gone.You can't win on the field unless you first handle your business off of it. Ohio State did that better than anybody for the 2024 season - and has a trophy in Columbus to show for it.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Head coach Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes hoist the trophy after beating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Money matters: Ohio State spent NIL funds brilliantly to help secure title

Ohio State left no doubt about who the best team in the nation was for the 2024 season, taking ou...

Ohio State left no doubt about who the best team in the nation was for the 2024 season, taking out Notre Dame in Atlanta on Monday to claim the first national championship in the 12-team College Football Playoff.The Buckeyes' star-laden roster was simply too much for the Fighting Irish. They scored at will to take a 31-7 lead early in the second half, and a late field goal sealed the deal after Notre Dame stormed back to make it an eight-point contest.Here are the main takeaways from Ohio State's victory.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Day's offensive additions shine</h3>Recruitment is as essential to success in college football as any other aspect of the game. Some questioned Ryan Day's in-game coaching in recent years, but there can be no denying that the man is an absolute ace when it comes to building a roster. He convinced Jack Sawyer, TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka and JT Tuimoloau to stay in school one final year, and his additions via the transfer portal shined bright Monday night.Many were surprised by Kyle McCord's decision to transfer in the offseason after he wasn't promised the starting quarterback job, and when Day brought in Will Howard from Kansas State to take over the offense, the move didn't immediately look like an upgrade. The jokes were flying when McCord broke the passing record with Syracuse, but Day and Howard got the last laugh with a brilliant run in the playoffs.Howard set a title-game record with 13 straight completions to begin the contest and finished the four-game playoff with a sparkling 75% completion rate and eight touchdown passes.Day also brought in Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss in a move that felt like a man with a garage full of Ferraris adding another. It's great to own another luxury car, but do you really need one? As it turns out, he did. His plan to get TreVeyon Henderson more rest this year worked brilliantly.The duo complemented each other perfectly and piled up numbers while remaining healthy for the length of the schedule. Judkins' final act this season was his most impactful. He only touched the ball a few times against Notre Dame, but he scored a trio of touchdowns with those touches.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
QUINSHON JUDKINS BREAKS LOOSE FOR 70 😤 <a href="https://t.co/caOnrKcRm7">pic.twitter.com/caOnrKcRm7</a>— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNCFB/status/1881531921030615479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Chip was deep in his bag</h3>The highest-profile offseason addition came in the form of Chip Kelly, who left his position as head coach of UCLA to become the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator. The move initially seemed puzzling, especially considering the Bruins became conference foes with Ohio State this season, but Kelly insisted he was tired of all that being a head coach entailed and just wanted to coach ball. Kelly's imprint was strong all season, and he was particularly deep in his bag throughout the playoffs.Howard's a solid quarterback with a strong skill set. He's not showing up early on any draft board for 2025, but there's talent there, and Kelly did a brilliant job of scheming players open play after play, drive after drive, to get the most out of that talent.Giving Kelly a seemingly endless supply of weapons on offense is borderline unfair, and he showed his acumen on a couple of occasions Monday. One of his finer moments came on Ohio State's opening touchdown - a play where Kelly was able to get the most dangerous receiver in the country wide open.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JEREMIAH SMITH CONTINUES HIS STELLAR FRESHMAN SEASON 🔥 Ohio State responds with a touchdown of its own 😤 <a href="https://t.co/FOEr4rNIF9">pic.twitter.com/FOEr4rNIF9</a>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1881512737009709158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Day previously played under Kelly at New Hampshire, and the reunion between the two paid off over and over again this year.<h3>Freeman's questionable calls</h3>Marcus Freeman's a brilliant coach who has brought Notre Dame plenty of respect on the national level. However, he's going to look back and want a few mulligans on some big moments from Monday's game.The first questionable call came after Ohio State took the opening drive of the second half for a touchdown to make things 28-7 and put Notre Dame on the ropes. Faced with 4th-and-2 on their own 33, Freeman realized the game was at a critical point and that his team needed a first down. But the Irish opted for madness as backup quarterback Steve Angeli attempted a fake punt throw. Ohio State didn't look remotely fooled by the move, and Angeli's pass sailed wide of the intended target, putting the Buckeyes in excellent field position and setting them up for a field goal.The second questionable call was the most baffling of the bunch and came when the Irish attempted a furious comeback in the fourth quarter. Trailing by 16, Notre Dame drove deep in Ohio State's zone and was faced with 4th-and-goal from the 11. A 16-point deficit would seemingly make it an easy decision to try to score the touchdown, but Freeman opted for a field goal to cut the deficit to 13 - a margin that still requires two touchdowns. To make matters worse, Mitch Jeter doinked the kick off the upright and the lengthy trip came up empty.Notre Dame stormed down the field on the next drive to score a touchdown and get the two-point conversion, but that was the last time it saw the ball before gaining possession while down 10 with 25 seconds to play.<h3>Ohio State defense snuffed out initial hope</h3>The Irish opened the contest by paying tribute to the troops with an 18-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 9:45 and featured nine runs by the quarterback. The uniforms said Notre Dame, but Leonard carrying the ball every other play resembled something we might see from Army, Navy or Air Force. It suggested the underdogs might be able to move the ball on the Buckeyes' stout defense and keep the game close.But Leonard obviously wasn't going to make it through the game if Notre Dame was going to run him every other play. After scoring the opening touchdown, the dual-threat quarterback vomited on the sideline before catching his breath.All the hope from the opening drive then quickly evaporated as Jim Knowles' defense adjusted and completely stopped the Irish attack. The next four drives saw the offense run 16 plays for a total of 11 yards. You do not need a Notre Dame education to realize that's less than one yard per play.The Buckeyes' defense was the best in the nation throughout most of the season and featured future NFL talent across all levels of the field. While the sack total wasn't the same as previous playoff games - notably the eight registered in the win over Oregon - most of that boils down to Leonard's elite ability to avoid pressure.The final numbers will show Notre Dame ended up moving the ball with some success on the Buckeyes' defense, but the vast majority of that came once the game was well out of reach at 31-7.We heaped praise on Kelly earlier for his brilliant playcalling, but Knowles deserves just as much credit for the defense he built in Columbus. The Buckeyes funnel over $4 million combined into their two coordinators - money that was very well spent this season.

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CFB wrap-up: Takeaways from Ohio State's title-game win

Monday's title game between Ohio State and Notre Dame features a historic matchup to cap the firs...

Monday's title game between <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/507" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/507">Ohio State</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/501" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/501">Notre Dame</a> features a historic matchup to cap the first season of the 12-team College Football Playoff.The Buckeyes are looking to pull off the CFP double after winning the first edition of the four-team playoff back in 2015, while the Irish are hoping to snap a championship drought that dates back to 1988.Oddsmakers certainly expect an Ohio State victory, with the Buckeyes' dominant defense expected to make life very difficult for their opponent throughout the contest.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>That matchup is featured among the biggest questions entering the evening kickoff in Atlanta.<h3>How is Notre Dame going to score?</h3>This is probably the most important question of the national championship. Notre Dame piled up points at an explosive rate during the regular season, but the offense has hit a wall in the playoffs.The Irish have run 201 plays in three playoff games for 1,021 yards at 5.07 per play. However, if you remove Jeremiyah Love's electric 98-yard touchdown run versus Indiana and Jaden Greathouse's 54-yard score after a Texas defensive back fell down, that drops to just 4.3 yards per play. That's more than three full yards less than Ohio State is averaging in the playoffs.The Buckeyes have put the clamps on just about everybody this season, and the Irish are limping in behind an offensive line riddled with injuries. Not exactly a recipe for offensive success.Leonard's scrambling ability is going to be key to extend plays and get Notre Dame in manageable third-down situations, however, the blueprint for any form of offensive success was shown last week by Texas. The Longhorns attacked Ohio State with running backs out of the backfield in the passing game as the Jaydon Blue-Quintrevion Wisner duo combined for 11 catches, 101 yards receiving and two touchdowns.Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has the talented trio of Love, Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams at his disposal, and his ability to scheme plays for them will likely be the deciding factor into whether Notre Dame can move the ball.<h3>Which QB delivers best in the clutch?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763198/cropped_GettyImages-2191501377.jpg?ts=1735779129" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763198/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191501377.jpg?ts=1735779129 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763198/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191501377.jpg?ts=1735779129 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763198/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191501377.jpg?ts=1735779129 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763198/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191501377.jpg?ts=1735779129 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763198/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191501377.jpg?ts=1735779129 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ric Tapia / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Ohio State and Notre Dame feature quarterbacks for hire after Will Howard and Riley Leonard joined each program for their final season of college football. Each move has paid off massively for their respective programs, even though the two operate in very different fashion.Howard essentially plays the role of conductor for the orchestra of freakish talents featured on the Buckeyes' offense. He's not the best player on that side of the ball, but one could argue his play is most important in deciding whether Ohio State wins or loses.The Buckeyes clearly decided to let Howard take more chances downfield after the Michigan loss, and he's delivered by averaging more than 306 yards per game passing in the playoffs. However, he's also thrown five interceptions in his past five games and is about to play the nation's best defense at taking the ball away. The path to victory for Notre Dame almost certainly involves at least one takeaway Monday. If Howard can avoid that, it's tough to see Ohio State losing.Leonard goes about his business in the opposite manner of Howard, with the Irish quarterback yet to throw for more than 230 yards in a game this season. His approach is slanted heavily toward a dual-threat role, with his size and speed challenging the defense as a runner. That makes it essential that Notre Dame stays out of third-and-long, so look for Leonard to make an impact early on drives with his legs to open up passing opportunities.<h3>How will Irish defend Jeremiah Smith?</h3>Notre Dame plays man coverage more than 56% of the time, second to only Purdue at the FBS level. Ohio State possesses the best duo of receivers in the country in Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka. So, the Fighting Irish will probably adjust and play more zone, right?"Going into this game, we're not going to change who we are," cornerback Leonard Moore told <a href="https://x.com/mattfreeman05_/status/1879886557550977378">Matt Freeman of Irish Sports Daily</a>. "We're going to play man coverage like we do every week. We're going to go out there and challenge their receivers."How does Smith feel about that plan?"If you are going to play man [to-man defense] against Ohio State, be ready," Smith said, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/43465159/ohio-state-wr-jeremiah-smith-wait-put-show-vs-notre-dame">ESPN's Paolo Uggetti</a>. "I can't wait to put on a show."The semifinal win over Texas was one of the rare times Smith looked human during his fantastic freshman season. The Longhorns almost always had two, and sometimes three, defensive backs to blanket the wideout - a strategy that limited him to just one catch for 3 yards. However, that created plenty of opportunities for Egbuka and Carnell Tate to shine.Still, it's clear that trying to limit Smith and make the others beat you is the way to play Ohio State. The Buckeyes scored just 21 offensive points on Texas last week with Smith held in check. That was after Smith topped the 100-yard receiving mark and the Buckeyes put up at least 40 points in each of the first two playoff games.<h3>Will Ryan Day go at Lou Holtz again?</h3>Perhaps the most entertaining part of the Ohio State-Notre Dame title game matchup is the opportunity to rewatch one of the funniest postgame on-field interviews in the history of the sport.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PKXjxxxGgps?si=Z_36fUrzRIct7UeZ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Yes, that's Ohio State head coach Ryan Day calling out Lou Holtz - the former Notre Dame coach who was 86 years old at the time - after the Buckeyes won a 2023 contest in South Bend on a last-second, goal-line plunge.Holtz had questioned the Buckeyes' toughness and physicality in the build-up to the contest, something that clearly rubbed Day the wrong way.It's been almost two years since that moment, so things have clearly cooled down heading into Monday's game, right?<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
If Notre Dame doesn’t win, it’s because we want to preserve Ryan Day’s job. I was originally going to be at the game in spirit, but now I’ll be dragging my body along as well. <a href="https://t.co/VF6WOuNzhB">https://t.co/VF6WOuNzhB</a>— Lou Holtz (@CoachLouHoltz88) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachLouHoltz88/status/1879630865111961810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

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Biggest questions for Notre Dame-Ohio State

On the surface, it shouldn't surprise people that a school with 13 national championships and the...

On the surface, it shouldn't surprise people that a school with 13 national championships and the fourth-most wins in college football history finds itself in Monday's title game.But when you pull back the curtain and reveal that school to be Notre Dame, anybody under the age of 45 will likely be shocked. The program's history is virtually unmatched, but the last 35 years of Fighting Irish football has been a struggle. Head coach Marcus Freeman is on the cusp of doing something that, for a long time, didn't seem possible.Notre Dame has only won one of its 13 national championships in the last 47 years - and it was in 1988. Over that span, the Irish's competitiveness plummeted. From 1997-2009, the trio of Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis posted a 91-68 record. That's an average of just seven wins per season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>When Brian Kelly entered the fray, he immediately turned the ship around, charting a course toward national relevance. The work he did in South Bend was nothing short of brilliant, but even he was eventually forced to tap out. Kelly's teams were often criticized for how overmatched they seemed when facing top competition.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Brian Kelly went 0-4 in bowl games vs top-10 teams at Notre Dame (all 4 losses by 16+ points). Marcus Freeman has 3 of those wins in the last 3 weeks.— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulHembo/status/1877750750010331384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>It seemed Kelly was well aware of that: He bolted to LSU to chase a title despite reeling off five straight 10-win campaigns with Notre Dame."I want to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship," Kelly said in explaining the move, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5945266/2024/11/25/brian-kelly-lsu-notre-dame-recruiting/">Ralph Russo and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic</a>. "And I came down here because I want to be in the American League East." MLB reference aside, Kelly has virtually no other ties to the South. Still, his decision wasn't widely panned at the time. Picking LSU should have made things easier for him to win the biggest prize. The previous three Tigers coaches - Nick Saban, Les Miles and Ed Orgeron - all won a national championship with the program.Four days after Kelly was announced as LSU's head coach, Notre Dame promoted Freeman, who'd been its defensive director. To say the move was well-received in the locker room would be an understatement.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
a player's coach<a href="https://twitter.com/Marcus_Freeman1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Marcus_Freeman1</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> <a href="https://t.co/pf9E1OygA8">pic.twitter.com/pf9E1OygA8</a>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1466773192563904519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2021</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The enthusiasm was palpable, but Freeman's start fell flat: The Irish suffered embarrassing home losses to Marshall and Stanford in his first campaign as head coach. However, a bowl win over South Carolina offered some hope for the fanbase tired of coming up short in postseason play.After a solid but unspectacular 10-3 mark in 2023, Freeman scored one of the biggest wins of his career with a road victory at Texas A&amp;M to start the 2024 campaign. Another win over an SEC program offered more evidence that things might be different in South Bend.And then Northern Illinois came to town.The Irish's most stunning defeat of the 2024 season was undoubtedly the loss to the Huskies in Week 2 when they were 27.5-point favorites. After the Marshall and Stanford setbacks later that same campaign, it seemed like a pattern was developing at home against interior competition.Some previous Notre Dame coaches might have <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/10/14/13274402/brian-kelly-notre-dame-coach">blamed others</a> for the loss. Freeman took a different approach. "We've got to own this," he said at the time, according to<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/news/what-notre-dame-fighting-irish-football-coach-marcus-freeman-said-after-niu-loss/"> Kyle Kelly of On3 Sports</a>. "Every person in here, every coach, has to own it first and not blame somebody else. That's the only way to fix it." He added: "I'm sure everybody outside of here will try to point the finger at some coach, some player, some person. It should be at the head coach. It's my job."Thirteen straight wins - 12 by double digits - and victories in both the Sugar and Orange Bowl offer fairly strong evidence that Freeman knew exactly how to get his roster to respond.The Irish are heavy underdogs to an explosive Ohio State team that's looked unstoppable during the playoff.However, Freeman and Co. have shown over the past few months that this Notre Dame team is different from its predecessors.Should the Irish complete the job Monday, they'd be just one title behind Princeton for third all-time in NCAA football history. More importantly, a victory would prove that Notre Dame is back among the nation's best and has more than enough resources to win a national championship.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 02: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with his team after a 23-10 victory against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 91st Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 02, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Freeman-led playoff run brings respect back to Notre Dame

The U.S. loves a good comeback story and prides itself on being a place where people thrive when ...

The U.S. loves a good comeback story and prides itself on being a place where people thrive when given a second chance.Finally, that practice has reached the college football world, with the 12-team playoff providing a safety net that's allowed both title-game combatants, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/507" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/507">Ohio State</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/501" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/501">Notre Dame</a>, to right themselves after shocking and embarrassing losses.Losing at home to 27.5-point underdog Northern Illinois - a game in which Notre Dame paid the MAC program $1.4 million to travel to South Bend - would usually be a deal breaker for a run at a playoff spot. The betting markets acted accordingly, dropping the Fighting Irish title odds to +10,000 after they previously sat at +1,700.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>However, the thing about a 12-team playoff is you need to find 12 teams to fill it. The Fighting Irish not only staved off elimination by laying waste to the rest of the schedule, but they also secured a first-round home game.Nobody batted an eye at Ohio State's one-point loss at undefeated Oregon in October since the Buckeyes were still firmly in control to win the Big Ten title and book a playoff berth regardless of whether the field was four or 12.Then came the Michigan game.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765485/cropped_GettyImages-2187576513.jpg?ts=1736918039" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765485/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187576513.jpg?ts=1736918039 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765485/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187576513.jpg?ts=1736918039 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765485/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187576513.jpg?ts=1736918039 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765485/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187576513.jpg?ts=1736918039 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765485/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187576513.jpg?ts=1736918039 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>The annual rivalry contest between the two Big Ten powerhouses to end the regular season is often one of the most hotly contested affairs. The Wolverines had won three in a row to coincide with the 'team up north' taking back control of the conference and winning the national title last year. However, the latest version of "The Game" was shaping up to be a three-hour Buckeyes therapy session, with one of the worst Michigan teams in recent memory going to Columbus as a 19.5-point underdog.In perhaps the most bewildering display of the season, the Wolverines completely flummoxed the high-flying Ohio State offense. Despite Davis Warren throwing for just 62 yards and two interceptions, Michigan pulled off the unthinkable with a 13-10 road win capped by an on-field melee as the Wolverines attempted to plant a school flag at Ohio Stadium.That setback was head coach Ryan Day's fourth straight loss to the Wolverines, a virtual death sentence for his employment in a previous era. But not in the new 12-team world, as the veteran coach got his chance for redemption with a spot in the postseason.Still, stunning losses by previous future champions aren't an entirely new phenomenon. Ole Miss took down No. 4 Florida as a three-touchdown underdog in 2008, prompting the famous Tim Tebow "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL2FJKX9ZXQ">promise</a>" in the postgame press conference.However, that was the Gators' first and only loss of the season, and they booked their spot in the title matchup with an upset of No. 1 Alabama in the SEC championship. A top-ranked win in the conference title game isn't something Notre Dame will ever benefit from as an independent. That lack of data points on the Fighting Irish resume didn't matter with the 12-team field.Clemson fell at home to Pitt as 20-point favorites in 2016 in the College Football Playoff era, but that was the Tigers' only loss. The ACC was also held in higher esteem at that point than it is now. Clemson still grabbed the No. 4 seed and then shutout Ohio State 31-0 in the semifinal before putting both hands on the trophy with a thrilling 35-31 win over Alabama in the championship.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764583/cropped_GettyImages-2193182623.jpg?ts=1736484478" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764583/w220xh124_GettyImages-2193182623.jpg?ts=1736484478 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764583/w320xh180_GettyImages-2193182623.jpg?ts=1736484478 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764583/w640xh360_GettyImages-2193182623.jpg?ts=1736484478 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764583/w768xh432_GettyImages-2193182623.jpg?ts=1736484478 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764583/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2193182623.jpg?ts=1736484478 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Day and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman deserve immense credit for getting their teams off the mat and keeping them focused on the task at hand.The Fighting Irish didn't just beat everybody on their schedule since Week 2; they flat-out embarrassed them. A seven-point win over Louisville was the only single-digit victory until their semifinal triumph versus Penn State.Following the Michigan setback, Ohio State immediately went to work re-establishing itself as the most explosive team in college football by crushing its postseason competition. Despite facing the toughest path in the bracket, the Buckeyes won their three playoff games by an average of 19.6 points.The incredible rebound by both teams has reminded the nation of something that's been lost in sports in recent years: failure isn't necessarily a bad thing. Temporary setbacks are opportunities to learn, grow, and improve in the long run.It's refreshing to see college football adopt a playoff system that can reward that.

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Title-game matchup highlights safety net of 12-team CFP

The Cotton Bowl had a tough act to follow after Notre Dame's thrilling win over Penn State on Thu...

The Cotton Bowl had a tough act to follow after Notre Dame's thrilling win over Penn State on Thursday, but <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/507" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/507">Ohio State</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/634" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/634">Texas</a> were up to the task with an exciting College Football Playoff semifinal of their own Friday in Arlington.The final score shows a two-touchdown victory for the Buckeyes, but the Longhorns were very much in the mix until a late defensive score sealed the deal.Here are the top takeaways from Ohio State's victory.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Defensive line ate Texas' lunch</h3>The theme of Ohio State's campaign has been its defense absolutely working the opposition, and the Cotton Bowl proved to be no different. The offense - mostly Jeremiah Smith - has stolen the headlines throughout the Buckeyes' romp through the playoff, but it's the defense that has consistently been the best in the country since the season kicked off.Holding Tennessee's 15th-ranked offense to under 20 points in Round 1 was impressive, but the Duck hunt on Oregon in the quarterfinal was on another level. Ohio State sacked Dillon Gabriel an outrageous eight times en route to another blowout. That defense traveled to Texas and delivered once again.Four sacks, four quarterback hurries, nine tackles for loss, and a goal-line stand capped by a strip-sack, scoop, and 83-yard touchdown that will forever live in program lore.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A DEFENSIVE MASTERCLASS 😱 Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/OhioStateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OhioStateFB</a>'s defense make four game-changing goal line stops 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/B1GFootball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#B1GFootball</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFBPlayoff?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFBPlayoff</a> <a href="https://t.co/vxDwwhq7eI">pic.twitter.com/vxDwwhq7eI</a>— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1877962143267508524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The Buckeyes were able to get after Quinn Ewers throughout the contest without blitzing, moving the quarterback off his spot repeatedly. That essentially took away any deep passing threat with the line unable to keep Ewers upright for any length of time. Even when Texas moved the ball late in the fourth, the nation's best red-zone defense flexed its muscles.A run for no gain, a run for a loss of 7, and an incomplete pass is how you turn first-and-goal on the 1-yard line to fourth-and-goal from the 8. That set the table for Jack Sawyer's moment of brilliance.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
texas had 1st &amp; goal on the 1 and ended up giving up a touchdown— Jay Cuda (@JayCuda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayCuda/status/1877927401532891266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Other dudes delivered on offense</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764761/cropped_GettyImages-2193345656.jpg?ts=1736571400" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764761/w220xh124_GettyImages-2193345656.jpg?ts=1736571400 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764761/w320xh180_GettyImages-2193345656.jpg?ts=1736571400 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764761/w640xh360_GettyImages-2193345656.jpg?ts=1736571400 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764761/w768xh432_GettyImages-2193345656.jpg?ts=1736571400 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764761/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2193345656.jpg?ts=1736571400 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>We've gushed about Smith for the opening two rounds, and with good reason given his outrageous line of 13 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns. However, the Longhorns' game plan was clearly to neutralize Smith and make the other Buckeyes beat them. The first part of that was a smashing success, with Smith grabbing just one ball. The problem is that the drop-off from Smith to the rest of the offense just isn't that significant, with five-star prospects and high-profile transfers littering the depth chart.TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins combined for 175 total yards and scored all three offensive touchdowns. Carnell Tate took full advantage of the attention on Smith, grabbing a season-high seven catches for 87 yards.That depth - as well as the combo of Chip Kelly's play-calling and Will Howard's decision-making - delivered time and again on the most important drive of the game. With the score tied in the fourth quarter, Ohio State went 88 yards in 13 plays and took almost eight minutes off the clock. Howard, Judkins, and Emeka Egbuka did the heavy lifting to put the Buckeyes up for good.Smith gives the Buckeyes an extra gear that no other team has. However, Friday reminded us that the attention needed to shut down the star freshman comes at a cost.<h3>Texas stood tall in 3rd </h3>Ohio State is the best third-quarter team in the nation - leading the entire FBS in both offense and defense. Texas? Not so much. The Longhorns are 65th in the country in scoring in that period and haven't won a third quarter since Oct. 12 versus Oklahoma.The offense went for 90 yards with a sparkling 4-for-4 conversion rate on third down. That was a big improvement from the one third-down conversion in the opening half. The defense intercepted Howard once, stopped the Buckeyes on both their third-down attempts, and held them to only 11 yards rushing.That third-quarter push not only kept the Buckeyes from running away after the one-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to end the first half gave them all the momentum, but it put Texas in position to potentially pull off the upset in the fourth.<h3>CFP semis were electric</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764762/cropped_GettyImages-2193354120.jpg?ts=1736571545" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764762/w220xh124_GettyImages-2193354120.jpg?ts=1736571545 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764762/w320xh180_GettyImages-2193354120.jpg?ts=1736571545 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764762/w640xh360_GettyImages-2193354120.jpg?ts=1736571545 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764762/w768xh432_GettyImages-2193354120.jpg?ts=1736571545 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764762/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2193354120.jpg?ts=1736571545 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steve Limentani/ISI Photos / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Sure, there were some duds in the early rounds of the 12-team playoff, but there's no question the semifinals delivered electric finishes on consecutive nights. Both the Orange and Cotton Bowl saw heavyweights figuring each other out early before exploding in the second half for some highly entertaining football.All four teams in the semifinals were in the top eight of The Associated Press' preseason poll and widely considered to be among the nation's best throughout the season.There are a few tweaks that would be beneficial to the CFP format moving forward - notably a change to how the first-round byes are handed out. However, it's tough to see the first year in the new bracket-style system as anything but a resounding success.

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CFB wrap-up: Takeaways from the Cotton Bowl 

The opening two rounds of the 12-team College Football Playoff were filled with one-sided blowout...

The opening two rounds of the 12-team College Football Playoff were filled with one-sided blowouts, but the Orange Bowl delivered an absolute banger between <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/501" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/501">Notre Dame</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/521" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/521">Penn State</a> on Thursday.An electric back-and-forth final quarter eventually saw the Fighting Irish advance to the title game on a Mitch Jeter field goal with 8 seconds to play.Here are three takeaways from a classic matchup between two of the biggest programs in the sport.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Of course Notre Dame got the turnover</h3>Flash all the advanced statistics you can, but at the end of the day the goal of the defense is fairly simple: Get the ball back for the offense as fast as you can. Nobody in the country does that better than Notre Dame - a team that entered Thursday night with 31 takeaways on the season. It should come as no surprise that the biggest play of the Orange Bowl came on a diving interception by Christian Gray in the final minute of the game.Gray took advantage of Drew Allar's late throw across the middle to get the ball back for a game-winning field goal attempt just three plays after Notre Dame was forced to punt. While the final stats show just one takeaway for the Fighting Irish on Thursday, the defense had two end zone interceptions called back because of penalties. The ball-hawking defense shone once again as it has all season, and that ended up being the difference to book the national title spot.<h3>Allar, passing attack exposed again </h3>It's no secret Penn State wants to do two things on offense each game: Run the ball with either Nicholas Singleton or Kaytron Allen and find Tyler Warren - and only Tyler Warren - in the passing attack. The Nittany Lions accomplished both tasks Thursday with those three combining for 301 of the team's 331 yards of total offense. However, it was when Allar looked elsewhere that the game-changing play happened.The junior passer has traditionally been very protective of the ball with just nine career interceptions entering the game. However, the 10th one won't be forgotten anytime soon. Pinned deep in the Penn State zone, Allar attempted to engineer a game-winning field goal drive but committed the cardinal sin for quarterbacks: throwing a pass late across the middle.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Notre Dame picks off Drew Allar late in the fourth 😳 <a href="https://t.co/F0SZvM5fFa">pic.twitter.com/F0SZvM5fFa</a>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1877568140026015964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Allar certainly has plenty of skills that have caught the NFL scouting community's attention. However, the lack of standout wide receiving talent on the offense has severely hampered him in big-time contests.Allar completed a combined 24-of-43 passes for just 281 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions in the losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame this season. Of those 24 passes, only three were caught by wide receivers - none in Thursday's contest. That's not a misprint, the Nittany Lions did not have a wide receiver catch a pass against the Irish.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
James Franklin on having no receiver catch a single pass: "We tried a couple early on and weren’t able to convert them - tightly contested coverage. They are a man coverage team. That’s one of the storylines of the game."— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) <a href="https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/1877578697474986325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>For Penn State's offense to take the next step in 2025, a couple of gamebreakers outside have to be on head coach James Franklin's shopping list in the portal.<h3>Freeman flipped the switch at half</h3>Insert the iconic "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaqdK6JPpcg">Not gonna lie, they had us in the first half</a>" video here because that's exactly how if felt for Notre Dame as the teams hit the locker rooms in Miami.Penn State had dominated both lines of scrimmage in the opening 30 minutes, rushing for 141 yards while holding the Irish to just 15 on the ground. Oh, and Notre Dame had also watched two offensive linemen go down with injury, and Leonard was in the medical tent being evaluated for a concussion.Whatever Irish head coach Marcus Freeman hit the team with in the locker room at halftime worked wonders, as the script was flipped over the final 30 minutes. Notre Dame piled up 261 total yards of offense and converted an impressive 6-of-9 attempts on third down. On defense, it was able to slow the Allen-Singleton duo on the ground, holding them to just 3.9 yards per carry after getting torched for 5.4 in the first half. That put the ball in Allar's hands and we've already covered how that ended up deciding the game.Freeman should be commended on the depth he's built on the roster. The offensive line has been decimated by injuries - with guys that were seventh and eighth on the opening-day depth chart thrust into major roles - but was still productive against a strong Penn State front.

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CFB wrap-up: Takeaways from the Orange Bowl

Two coaches with excellent resumes that lack significant standout wins meet in the Orange Bowl wi...

Two coaches with excellent resumes that lack significant standout wins meet in the Orange Bowl with James Franklin's<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/521" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/521"> Penn State</a> against Marcus Freeman's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/501" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/501">Notre Dame</a>.Franklin and the Nittany Lions took care of business as heavy favorites against SMU and Boise State to reach the College Football Playoff semifinal. Notre Dame comfortably overwhelmed Indiana before dusting off backup quarterback Gunner Stockton and Georgia last week.However, the path traveled won't matter to whoever gets the win Thursday in Miami, and their reputation will be changed forever with the victory.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Here's how the Orange Bowl breaks down.<h3>Penn State</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764223/cropped_GettyImages-2190967029.jpg?ts=1736317142" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764223/w220xh124_GettyImages-2190967029.jpg?ts=1736317142 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764223/w320xh180_GettyImages-2190967029.jpg?ts=1736317142 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764223/w640xh360_GettyImages-2190967029.jpg?ts=1736317142 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764223/w768xh432_GettyImages-2190967029.jpg?ts=1736317142 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764223/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2190967029.jpg?ts=1736317142 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>When they have the ballMany teams have complicated playbooks featuring intricate systems that must be drilled to perfection. All Penn State's offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has to do is walk into the locker room and write, "Run the ball, throw it to Tyler Warren," on the wipe-off board before leaving.Drew Allar is a projected first-round NFL draft pick whenever he decides to make that move, but the best thing the star quarterback is doing right now is turning around and handing the ball to Nicholas Singleton or Kaytron Allen. That dynamic rushing duo has been running wild in the playoffs with an outrageous 7 yards per carry for Penn State. Allar has also flashed plenty of ability using his legs, giving the defense something to think about on read-option plays.When the defense stacks the box to stop the run, Allar picks them apart with his favorite target in Warren. The nation's top tight end flexed his talent with six catches for 66 yards and two massive touchdowns against Boise State in the quarterfinals. The Nittany Lions' other top pass-catching options include Harrison Wallace and Omari Evans, but this is essentially a run-first, find-Warren-second offensive attack.When they don'tThere seems to be one goal for Penn State when the offense doesn't have the ball: get it back immediately. The Nittany Lions have been turnover-forcing machines in the playoff, recording three interceptions against both SMU and Boise State. Pass-rushing maestro Abdul Carter absolutely pops off the screen, constantly causing havoc for the opposition. He missed the second half of the quarterfinal win, but his recent social media activity suggests he'll play Thursday.While the opportunistic secondary and Carter get the headlines, the Nittany Lions really are a stout defense at every level that thrives on putting teams in long passing downs. Penn State ranks 17th nationally in rushing defense, an important statistic considering Notre Dame's run-heavy attack.Why they will winNotre Dame's closest games this season have come when the opposition slows the running attack. Riley Leonard is an exceptional runner at the quarterback position, but he's had issues in clear passing situations. If you take away Jeremiyah Love's 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana, the Irish have rushed for just 3.5 yards per carry in the playoffs. If they can hold them to that number, the Nittany Lions will force Leonard to beat them through the air. That bodes well for Penn State.Why they won'tHave you seen Franklin's record against top opposition? The longtime Penn State coach is 1-14 versus top-five teams in his time with the program - essentially the only bone of contention the fan base has with him. Franklin's offensive units tend to shrink in the big moments, with production grinding to a halt and the defense forced to stand up.One sign that should bring hope on that front is the offensive explosion in the Big Ten title game loss to Oregon. That showed the potential for the offense to thrive against a top team that we hadn't seen often in recent years. However, the Ducks were just shredded by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, so perhaps that defensive unit wasn't as dominant as we thought. The stout Notre Dame defense stands tall, the offense goes back into its shell, and Franklin again can't get the team to rise to the occasion in a big game.<h3>Notre Dame</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764224/cropped_GettyImages-2192318931.jpg?ts=1736317259" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764224/w220xh124_GettyImages-2192318931.jpg?ts=1736317259 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764224/w320xh180_GettyImages-2192318931.jpg?ts=1736317259 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764224/w640xh360_GettyImages-2192318931.jpg?ts=1736317259 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764224/w768xh432_GettyImages-2192318931.jpg?ts=1736317259 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764224/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2192318931.jpg?ts=1736317259 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Sean Gardner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>When they have the ballOnly three teams in the country ripped off more running plays of at least 30 yards this season. While the approach is a physical style, the Notre Dame offense actually lives off explosive plays. Love has game-breaking speed every time he touches the ball - just ask Indiana - and Leonard is elite at avoiding pressure and finding space to run.Love's health is a question heading into Thursday's game, but all signs point to him playing against the Nittany Lions. Whether he's 100% or the Irish need a healthy dose of Jadarian Price, you can be sure that Penn State will stack the box like it did against Ashton Jeanty and Boise State. That'll put the onus on Leonard to be effective through the air when called upon.There's no superstar receiver on the Irish, but the wideout group is probably rated higher than Penn State's. Jordan Faison is the chain-moving possession receiver, while Clemson transfer Beaux Collins is an excellent red-zone threat for Leonard.When they don'tThe video sessions in the buildup to the game for both teams will certainly feel like looking in the mirror. We already talked about Penn State's ability on defense to get in the backfield and force turnovers, and that's exactly where Notre Dame thrives as well.The Irish lead the nation with 31 takeaways this season, a total featuring a healthy split of 18 interceptions and 13 fumbles. Notre Dame isn't just content with a turnover either, as the team immediately has eyes for the end zone once it gains control. Freeman's defense has scored an incredible five pick-6s on the campaign, including three over 75 yards.There's plenty of talent across the board for Notre Dame, but Xavier Watts is the most dangerous man in the back end for the Irish. Watts has six interceptions this season after leading the nation with seven in 2023.Why they will winKnowing how to stop Penn State and being able to do it are two very different things. However, there's no defense in the country better equipped to slow the running game and cover Warren than the Irish. If Notre Dame can plug up the running holes and make Allar look for his wideouts, that could lead to plenty of opportunities for the defense to grab a turnover or two.Penn State will likely implement the same defense on Notre Dame as it did on Boise State - stack the box and force the quarterback to win through the air. Leonard isn't the best passer, but he's certainly more accomplished than the Broncos' Maddux Madsen. If Leonard rises to the occasion with a strong showing early, the defense will be forced to adjust, and the running lanes will open for the Irish.Why they won'tPenn State's defense limits the running game, forcing Leonard to be a passer and deal with the Nittany Lions' ferocious pass rush. That gives the defensive backs license to gamble, and Leonard throws an interception for the fourth time in his last five starts against Power conference competition.Allar shows why he's the apple of many NFL scouts' eye with a standout performance - significantly better than what Notre Dame has seen in the playoffs from Kurtis Rourke on a torn ACL and Stockton making his first career start. The Irish defense can only bend so much before breaking without turnovers to stop drives.

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Orange Bowl preview: Penn State vs. Notre Dame

Two of the biggest programs in college football are pitted against one another in the Cotton Bowl...

Two of the biggest programs in college football are pitted against one another in the Cotton Bowl with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/507" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/507">Ohio State</a> entering as the hottest team in the country and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/teams/634" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/teams/634">Texas</a> limping in off a double-overtime thriller versus Arizona State.You can expect a very pro-Longhorns crowd at AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but that won't matter if the Buckeyes show the same form as when they throttled Tennessee and Oregon.Ryan Day's outfit is almost a touchdown favorite, and Steve Sarkisian's team faces the unlikely role of underdog for the national semifinal.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Here's how each team breaks down ahead of Friday's game.<h3>Ohio State</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763182/cropped_GettyImages-2192066976.jpg?ts=1735771824" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763182/w220xh124_GettyImages-2192066976.jpg?ts=1735771824 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763182/w320xh180_GettyImages-2192066976.jpg?ts=1735771824 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763182/w640xh360_GettyImages-2192066976.jpg?ts=1735771824 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763182/w768xh432_GettyImages-2192066976.jpg?ts=1735771824 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763182/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2192066976.jpg?ts=1735771824 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>When they have the ballOhio State's offensive weapons are the types that make you send thoughts and prayers to the opposition's defensive coordinator. At this point, you are almost hoping they choose to beat you by running the ball with the star duo of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyeon Henderson instead of letting the alien that is Jeremiah Smith do the work through the air. Smith has 16 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns in the playoffs alone.The Buckeyes are averaging 8.1 yards per play in the playoffs with Will Howard throwing for an absurd 11.4 yards per attempt. How outrageous are those numbers? Both would lead the nation by a wide margin despite the fact they have been against Tennessee and Oregon and not including games against small schools from Group of 5 conferences.Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has thrown aside the methodical approach and focused on explosive plays in the playoffs - a strategy that has worked devastatingly. Ohio State scored four touchdowns of at least 40 yards in the first half vs. Oregon, something that hadn't been done against a No. 1 team this century.When they don'tAs good as the offense is for Ohio State, the defense has been the more reliable unit the entire season. Only Oregon has sniffed the 20-point mark against the Buckeyes, and the Ducks' offense is significantly more dangerous than any remaining team in the playoffs.The defensive line is the engine that powers the defense with Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, and Ty Hamilton all opting to return to Columbus for one more season instead of jumping to the NFL. The results have been what you would expect when pro talent returns to the college ranks. Ohio State is third nationally with 47 sacks on the season - with linebacker Cody Simon emerging as a pass-rushing terror late in his college career.Buoyed by the stars returning in droves, the Buckeyes didn't need much help defensively, but they still brought in the biggest name on the offseason transfer portal market. Caleb Downs joined from Alabama and immediately solidified his place as the best defensive back in the sport with a standout season.All told, the Buckeyes enter this contest as the best defense in the country with game-wreckers at all three levels.Why they will winDid you watch the Tennessee and Oregon games? Both opponents were undoubtedly top-10 teams, yet the Buckeyes made them look like high school squads from the opening kickoff. After failing to out-physical Michigan with a power running approach, Day and Kelly seem to be leaning into the "Oh, right, nobody can guard our receivers" approach on offense and lighting up the scoreboard.Texas' defense is stout, but Clemson exposed the secondary at times to keep things close in Round 1. If the Tigers were able to experience success on the road in Austin, it's scary to think what Ohio State could do. The Buckeyes field the most talented roster left in the postseason, and it seems only a poor game plan or bad execution could knock them out before the final.Why they won'tDid you watch the Michigan game? If you are looking for an example of self-sabotage dooming the Buckeyes, flip on a recording of the Wolverines' debacle. Ohio State seemingly forgot the enormous talent difference it held on the outside and tried to pound the ball into the teeth of a very strong defensive line. It ended with one of the most embarrassing losses in recent memory for the Buckeyes. Day has done wonders to flip the narrative around him and the program in the ensuing two games, but the potential is still there for questionable coaching decisions to have adverse affects on the program.<h3>Texas</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/cropped_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>When they have the ballSarkisian is one of the best play-callers in the sport, something that's been evident in how Texas has opened each of its two playoff games. The Longhorns have moved the ball comfortably out of the gates en route to outscoring Clemson and Arizona State 45-13 in the first halves. Sarkisian's brilliance is often in his simplicity as he attacks the worst part of the opposition's defense time and again. That saw a whopping 292 rushing yards against the Tigers in the opening round - with running backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner combining for more than 250.It was Quinn Ewers' time to shine against Arizona State, with the former Ohio State quarterback throwing for 322 yards and three scores in the overtime win. The Longhorns have plenty of receiving talent - notably standout tight end Gunnar Helm - but it's receiver Matthew Golden who has shone brightest in the playoffs.While the skill position players get the shine, the offensive line is the best thing about Texas when it has the ball. All-American Kelvin Banks anchors that unit, and the hopeful return of tackle Cameron Williams will only strengthen what PFF ranks as the <a href="https://premium.pff.com/ncaa/teams/2024/REGPO">best line in the nation</a>.When they don'tTexas' defense thrives on creating havoc to give its ball-hawking secondary multiple chances at turnovers. Only BYU has more interceptions on the season than the Longhorns with Andrew Mukuba and Thorpe Award-winner Jahdae Barron posting five apiece. Up front, it's five-star freshman Colin Simmons' world and the offense is just living in it. The highly touted recruit is 20th in the nation in sacks and has generated at least four pressures in four of his past five games.The Longhorns thrive in putting teams in third-and-long situations and letting the pass-rush hunt to pressure the quarterback. That gives the stellar duo of Makuba and Barron plenty of chances for game-changing interceptions. Given Ohio State's receiver talent, this will be the toughest test of the season for the Longhorns' secondary. However, with multiple injuries on the Buckeyes' offensive line, Simmons and crew could have a chance to get to Howard and force some ill-advised throws.Why they will winOhio State's defense is exceptional, but it relies heavily on generating pressure without having to send extra men. Most teams simply cannot handle the talent of the defensive line, but Texas stands the best chance to do so given its dominant offensive line. Oregon held the Buckeyes without a sack and only two tackles for loss in its October victory, a performance the Longhorns could repeat in Arlington. With Ewers given plenty of protection, he should be able to pick apart the secondary and move the ball on the offensive side.It's borderline impossible to stop Smith, but Barron is as good as any corner in the country. If he can limit the explosive plays Ohio State has lived on in the playoffs, that should keep things right in range for a Texas upset.Why they won'tHave you watched Ohio State in the playoffs? Certain NFL defensive units might struggle to slow down the electric Buckeyes. The Longhorns probably don't have the offensive weapons to keep up in a shootout with Ohio State, so it's imperative the defense plays its best game of the year. Given that Clemson moved the ball through the air on Texas, it's very hard to see the Longhorns limiting the Buckeyes over a 60-minute game.

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Cotton Bowl preview: Texas vs. Ohio State

TGL finally made its debut Tuesday after weather destroyed the event facility last year.  The fir...

TGL finally made its debut Tuesday after weather destroyed the event facility last year.The first match pitted Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, and Matthew Fitzpatrick of New York Golf Club against The Bay's Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark, and Ludvig Aberg.The presentation was excellent at the start, with the fast-paced format and advanced production value resulting in an entertaining product, but the energy dropped significantly throughout the two-hour show, partly because of a blowout win by The Bay Golf Club.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Here are the top takeaways from our first look at the simulator golf league.<h3>Indoor short-game shots are HARD</h3>Tune into a weekly PGA TOUR event and you'll see short-game wizardry from the world's best on every hole. But take these fellas inside and things look eerily similar to what you might see on a Saturday at your local public track. The first five short-game shots from the play around the real green at the SoFi Center left a lot to be desired, and multiple shots from Fowler and Schauffele finished well outside of the expected range. Meanwhile, Lowry, Clark, and Aberg all stuffed full wedges hit into the screen to a couple feet. It will be interesting to see if future teams opt to layup for full wedges into the screen instead of challenging the green and being left with a difficult pitch.<h3>All hail King Ludvig</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764203/cropped_GettyImages-2192897481.jpg?ts=1736310384" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764203/w220xh124_GettyImages-2192897481.jpg?ts=1736310384 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764203/w320xh180_GettyImages-2192897481.jpg?ts=1736310384 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764203/w640xh360_GettyImages-2192897481.jpg?ts=1736310384 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764203/w768xh432_GettyImages-2192897481.jpg?ts=1736310384 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764203/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2192897481.jpg?ts=1736310384 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brennan Asplen/TGL / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>College or pro, North America or Europe, and now inside or outside. If golf is being played, Aberg is likely going to be dominating the proceedings. There's no doubt that Aberg was the star performer from the opening night of TGL. He got things going in style by pouring in a birdie on No. 1 to register the first point in TGL history, and he peppered flag sticks and drained lengthy putts in a dominant showing. The simplicity of his swing is often described as robotic, so it's no surprise that he's thriving in a tech-based simulator golf league.<h3>Shot clock rules</h3>The best thing about the entire presentation Tuesday night was arguably the 40-second shot clock. The entire event seemed like a race and highlighted just how slow professional golf can be on a week-to-week basis. There was very little time between shots, with the constant action a welcome change from what we usually see on TOUR. The shot clock forced players to have club in hand and a strategy already prepared when it was their turn. It would be tougher to implement outdoors, but the TOUR should absolutely look into getting a shot clock for their events to tighten up the broadcast.<h3>We need more interaction with players</h3>One thing was clear from the broadcast - the players seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. Unfortunately, the broadcast didn't involve them enough. The first hour saw Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy join the booth, and while there's no doubt about what the pair adds to a broadcast, their appearances resulted in fewer interactions with players. That hurt the flow of the broadcast significantly and cut out some fun chatter with Schauffele and Lowry.Speaking of hurting the broadcast, no more DJ Khaled interviews. That rule needs to be applied to all future golf presentations. It does nothing for the product and simply grinds the action to a halt.The start of the broadcast was excellent, with the lightning-quick alternate-shot format and interactions with the players providing very entertaining content. Future weeks should focus on that.<h3>New York stinker</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764204/cropped_GettyImages-2192897718.jpg?ts=1736310436" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764204/w220xh124_GettyImages-2192897718.jpg?ts=1736310436 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764204/w320xh180_GettyImages-2192897718.jpg?ts=1736310436 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764204/w640xh360_GettyImages-2192897718.jpg?ts=1736310436 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764204/w768xh432_GettyImages-2192897718.jpg?ts=1736310436 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764204/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2192897718.jpg?ts=1736310436 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brennan Asplen/TGL / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>You can add NYGC's dismal TGL debut to the list of New York sports failures, right behind "The Butt Fumble," the Yankees' collapse in the 2004 ALCS, and essentially anything the Mets have done over the past 30 years.TGL's top-ranked player, Schauffele, led the way, but NYGC was ultimately a mess Tuesday night. Fowler looked particularly rusty, while Fitzpatrick was booed for missing the green with a wedge early on. The match was never in doubt with The Bay racing out to a 6-0 lead, and things were settled long before the end of the broadcast. The lopsided nature of the match took away from the second hour of the event.<h3>More Xander on the mic</h3>His play wasn't quite as sharp as it's been over the past year, but Schauffele was the most entertaining player of the night. Whether it be the all-DMX soundtrack blaring while he pounded the driver into the screen, or his constant joking about whether to throw the hammer, there was a heightened sense of anticipation whenever he stepped to the mat. We've heard for years from TOUR players that Schauffele is incredibly funny and often the life of the party. That's something TGL can lean on going forward.

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Takeaways from TGL's long-awaited debut

It was ugly, it was physical, it was low scoring, and it was ... a Georgia loss?  Recent college ...

It was ugly, it was physical, it was low scoring, and it was ... a Georgia loss?Recent college football seasons would suggest there's no better team in the country than the Bulldogs to win that style of game. Yet it was Notre Dame that outdid the SEC champs Thursday in the Sugar Bowl to post arguably the program's biggest win in the last 30 years.The overall statistics aren't flattering - Riley Leonard's 90 passing yards are the lowest by a winning team in College Football Playoff history. However, three things stood out to help the Fighting Irish secure the win and book a semifinal date with Penn State.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Win the trenches</h3>Notre Dame physically dominated Kirby Smart's Georgia team on the line of scrimmage. You can count on one hand - maybe even just one finger - how many times that's happened during Smart's tenure with the Bulldogs. The Irish have sent plenty of linemen to the NFL in recent years, but the program would always seemingly fail to assert itself physically when given a chance against an SEC opponent. That didn't seem to bode well for a quarterfinal matchup against arguably the most physical team in college football over the last eight years.But Notre Dame didn't get that memo, immediately getting after quarterback Gunner Stockton in his first career collegiate start and forcing a fumble out of bounds. The final number for the Irish's vaunted defense was four sacks, nine tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles.The biggest matchup in Notre Dame's history since the 1988 national championship was undoubtedly the 2013 BCS title game versus Alabama. That contest was over mere seconds after it started, with the Crimson Tide physically dominating en route to a 42-14 win. Thursday showed that this Notre Dame team is a far cry from that outfit and can physically stack up against anybody in the country.<h3>Force turnovers</h3>Notre Dame has played 14 games on the season and has forced at least one turnover in 13 of those. The one without a takeaway? The shocking home loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2. Simply put, you're going to have a bad time if you let the Irish take the ball away.That was highlighted most prominently on a lethal pass rush late in the second quarter that essentially decided the game.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Notre Dame forces another Georgia fumble and finds the end zone on the next play! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFBPlayoff?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFBPlayoff</a> <a href="https://t.co/95Vy8yS1Wj">pic.twitter.com/95Vy8yS1Wj</a>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1874950481396600922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The sack and fumble recovery gave the Irish incredible field position, and they wasted no time cashing in that chance. The ensuing touchdown pushed Notre Dame to a 13-3 lead at half - a shocking turn considering it was tied 3-3 just minutes earlier. That puts the Irish at 148 points scored off turnovers this campaign - 42 more than the next-best team at the FBS level.That turnover was one of two forced by Notre Dame on the night, while the offense kept control of the ball and didn't let Georgia get a takeaway.<h3>Make plays on special teams</h3>Georgia has shown its resolve numerous times this season in erasing deficits, including the Bulldogs' last game out in the SEC championship. The second-half plan Thursday started by forcing a quick Notre Dame punt to flip the field and get Georgia on track. Well, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth, and you can consider this Notre Dame's haymaker.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Notre Dame takes the opening kick of the second half to the house‼️ <a href="https://t.co/7nPR29xTnV">pic.twitter.com/7nPR29xTnV</a>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1874956336884015596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The 98-yard touchdown was certainly the highlight of the special teams unit, which dominated all night. They nearly blocked multiple punts and repeatedly kept the Bulldogs pinned.

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Irish blueprint: How Notre Dame took down Georgia in Sugar Bowl

College Football Wrap-Up recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examine...

College Football Wrap-Up recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Nobody beats this version of Ohio State</h3>The College Football Playoff might as well be renamed the Ohio State redemption tour at this point. The Buckeyes haven't been content in just beating Tennessee and Oregon, as they've blown the doors off the competition thus far and made it clear they'll be national champions if they keep this form up.Ohio State embarrassed the Ducks in the Rose Bowl, racing to an astonishing 34-0 lead in the opening two quarters. It was domination on both sides of the football against the only undefeated team in the nation - one that had beaten the Buckeyes earlier in the season by a single point.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>OffenseRyan Day and Chip Kelly clearly read all your social media posts asking - begging, really - for the offense to feed Jeremiah Smith. After Smith had just five catches in the loss to Michigan, the star freshman has exploded for 16 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns in the two playoff games since. Unleashing Smith has benefitted the entire offense, opening plenty of holes for explosive plays in both the running game and aerial attack.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Prior to today, the AP No. 1 team had not allowed 4 offensive TDs of 40+ yards in an entire game this century. Ohio State had 4 in the first half alone against Oregon. <a href="https://t.co/r55jD4QHIb">pic.twitter.com/r55jD4QHIb</a>— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaSTATS/status/1874612415431922099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The Buckeyes totaled 500 yards on just 57 plays, a remarkable 8.8 yards every time they snapped the ball. You can't stop the plethora of weapons Ohio State presents, and it'll be points every drive if the play-calling matches the talent.DefenseOhio State barely breathed on Dillon Gabriel in the October matchup between the teams, posting zero sacks and two tackles for loss in the setback. Wednesday was the complete opposite, as the Buckeyes dominated with an eight-sack performance that helped hold the Ducks to minus-23 rushing yards.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Oregon is sacked 6+ times in a game for 1st time since they took 7 vs Washington State 9/20/2014— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1874621855509954854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Cody Simon, J.T. Tuimoloau, and Jack Sawyer wrecked Oregon's entire offensive plan, combining for six sacks and eight tackles for loss. With no running game and virtually zero protection for Gabriel, it was a Duck hunt all day for the Buckeyes' defense.Texas is next up in a blockbuster semifinal to be played in Arlington at the Cotton Bowl - a venue that gives the Longhorns significant home-field advantage. However, they could play the game in Steve Sarkisian's backyard, and it wouldn't matter if this version of the Buckeyes makes the trip south.<h3>Playoff Texas has multiple personalities</h3>The College Football Playoff has revealed that when Texas takes the field, it isn't one team but two: the dominant one we see each first half and the "hang on for dear life" outfit that plays the second.The first-half Longhorns have outscored Clemson and Arizona State by a combined 45-17 margin while piling up a whopping 7.15 yards per play on offense. That Texas team can win the national title regardless of opposition.However, games don't end after 30 minutes, and whatever the coaching staff is doing in the locker room at the break clearly ain't working. The Longhorns were outscored 35-17 during the second half of their opening playoff games, and they allowed over 7 yards per play to the Tigers and Sun Devils compared to just 4.6 in the first half. That Texas team can lose to just about anybody in the postseason, a possibility that nearly played out Wednesday in Atlanta.Overtime kept the two-team narrative alive, with the Longhorns trailing 31-24 and needing to convert on fourth-and-13 to force a second extra frame. Of course, Quinn Ewers tossed a touchdown on Texas' next offensive play, and an interception four plays later put the school in the semifinals.The good news for the Longhorns is that the program finds itself in the CFP semis for the second year in a row. The bad news? Unless first-half Texas plays the full game against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, it'll be another semifinal exit in 2025.<h3>Skattebo the GOAT</h3>Turns out, Cam Skattebo knew what he was talking about when he told reporters in the build-up to the Peach Bowl that nobody could stop him.Skattebo spent New Year's Day like many people in their early 20s around the country: trying to <a href="https://x.com/ChrisKarpman/status/1874587088483700921">rally after vomiting</a>. Despite the Arizona State star battling dehydration and exhaustion on the sideline throughout the Peach Bowl, he still delivered a performance for the ages by rushing, catching, and throwing the ball.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CAM SKATTEBO APPRECIATION POST 😈 143 rushing yards 😈 99 receiving yards 😈 42 passing yards 😈 2 rushing TDs 😈 1 passing TD <a href="https://t.co/buoe8r4euj">pic.twitter.com/buoe8r4euj</a>— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooSports/status/1874584319252963471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Texas has five-star recruits all over the defensive roster, while Skattebo received one Division I offer out of high school. The Longhorns knew Skattebo was getting the ball time after time Wednesday and still couldn't stop it. His 143 yards rushing, 99 receiving, and 42 passing gave him an insane total of 284 on the night.The idea of a Cinderella seemed dead through five games of the first 12-team CFP - we even <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3175759" href="https://thescore.com/news/3175759">wrote as much</a> after Penn State's victory over Boise State on New Year's Eve. But Skattebo and Arizona State laughed in the face of that idea just 12 hours later. They didn't end up pulling off the upset, but the legend of Skattebo is forever etched in college football history.<h3>Penn State defense sticks to plan</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763199/cropped_GettyImages-2191408896.jpg?ts=1735779180" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763199/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191408896.jpg?ts=1735779180 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763199/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191408896.jpg?ts=1735779180 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763199/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191408896.jpg?ts=1735779180 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763199/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191408896.jpg?ts=1735779180 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763199/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191408896.jpg?ts=1735779180 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Ashton Jeanty still cracked the 100-yard mark - because, of course, he did - but Penn State's defensive plan was a smashing success Tuesday night. The Nittany Lions sold out essentially every play to stop Jeanty, with the All-American running back needing 30 carries to get his 104 yards. Many of those runs required him to break multiple tackles just to return to the line of scrimmage, as the defense swarmed an overmatched Boise State offensive line throughout.Jeanty would be a superstar on any team in any league at the college level, but it was clear the offensive line hadn't faced a top-20 run defense all season. That left it up to quarterback Maddux Madsen to solve the Penn State defense. He battled respectably with over 300 yards passing but threw three interceptions when forced to take chances he normally wouldn't have to press on.Penn State's defense through two playoff contests should have the fan base fired up for the semifinal matchup against Notre Dame or Georgia. Both teams are limited in the passing game, a scenario that will again allow the Nittany Lions to stack the box and make the quarterback beat them.<h3>The offense ... not so much</h3>While Penn State's defense stuck to a plan, the offense seemed bored with pounding the run and moving the ball at will for the entire game. The Nittany Lions opened by establishing its dominance on the ground, running the ball 10 times in the first 13 plays and scoring two touchdowns.It was clear from the jump that the duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton would be too much to handle, yet Penn State only handed the ball to either on nine of its next 30 plays. Allen and Singleton would finish the game with a combined 221 yards rushing - both averaging over 7 yards per carry.Penn State's lack of a game-breaker at wide receiver is a major weakness on offense. Tyler Warren is the best tight end in the country, but the wideout position features several good options who fall short of being elite. However, Allen and Singleton are arguably the best running back duo in the playoff. Moving forward, the plan for the Nittany Lions should revolve around those two, with Warren mixed in.

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CFB Wrap-Up: Takeaways from CFP quarterfinals

Every March, a Cinderella team emerges from a lesser-known conference to make a captivating run i...

Every March, a Cinderella team emerges from a lesser-known conference to make a captivating run in basketball's NCAA Tournament.College football had a chance to capture some of that magic Tuesday as the playoff expanded to 12 teams and let a Group of 5 champion in the field with a bye.Well, it ain't March, this isn't basketball, and the Fiesta Bowl showed why it'll be significantly more difficult for the college football world to bring similar upsets to those we see annually during March Madness.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Boise State's history as a plucky underdog is well-documented, particularly in previous Fiesta Bowls. However, a playoff game with elevated stakes is a much taller task than a Power conference matchup with a team probably disappointed to be there.There were no illusions from the jump that Penn State would sell out to stop star running back Ashton Jeanty on defense. The Nittany Lions repeatedly stacked the box to hold the Heisman finalist to just 4 yards on three carries on the opening drive. That essentially dared Maddux Madsen to beat them through the air if Boise State wanted to move the ball. The first-year starter should get credit for doing so at times, but three interceptions certainly didn't help the cause.Perhaps we shouldn't have been overly shocked by Jeanty's struggles to move the ball Tuesday against the seventh-best defense in the nation. The average ranking of the rushing defense he saw this year was 91st. Outside of the two games against UNLV, Jeanty didn't face a top-50 rushing defense all season. Before you shout 'Oregon!,' the Ducks are 55th at stopping the run and allowed 297 yards on the ground to Penn State last time out. Jeanty still topped the 100-yard mark with 104, but it took him 30 carries, and he produced his worst output on the schedule.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763104/cropped_GettyImages-2191990926.jpg?ts=1735705281" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763104/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191990926.jpg?ts=1735705281 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763104/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191990926.jpg?ts=1735705281 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763104/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191990926.jpg?ts=1735705281 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763104/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191990926.jpg?ts=1735705281 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/763104/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191990926.jpg?ts=1735705281 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Jeanty's brilliance is without question, but a single individual dominating on a field with 22 players is a different challenge than a basketball court with 10. A shooter can get hot and torch the higher-rated opponent - see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7k4vg-cyIc">Jack Gohlke versus Kentucky, 2024</a> - but even Jeanty needs plenty of help from his offensive line.Penn State's offense looked unstoppable in the opening quarter, with questionable play-calling perhaps the only thing that slowed it down the rest of the way. Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton torched the opposition for 221 yards on a gaudy 7.6 yards per carry for the game. However, the duo only combined for 29 carries, while Drew Allar threw 25 times. Had the Nittany Lions pounded the run more, the final margin could've been even more jarring.We knew Penn State would be bigger, faster, and stronger across the field, and that's what was on display over the 60 minutes of game action Tuesday. It was never more evident than when Tyler Warren grabbed his second touchdown of the contest, the nation's top tight end somehow pulling in a pass despite perfect coverage.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Allar to Tyler Warren, great catch for a TD <a href="https://t.co/kQ0BFEBuiQ">pic.twitter.com/kQ0BFEBuiQ</a>— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) <a href="https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/1874290122273022122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>While the game was played within 10 points for a large stretch, it never seemed like Boise State would threaten once Penn State bottled up Jeanty.Maybe 13.5-point underdog Arizona State will prove us wrong in Wednesday's opening game, but Tuesday sure made it look like the upsets will remain in March on the NCAA sports calendar for the foreseeable future.

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) celebrates a defensive stop during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal playoff game between the Boise State Broncos and the Penn State Nittany Lions on Tuesday December 31, 2024 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ.

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Penn State reminds us Cinderella doesn't play football

The College Football Playoff first round is done and dusted, with New Year's Eve and New Year's D...

The College Football Playoff first round is done and dusted, with New Year's Eve and New Year's Day setting the backdrop for some intriguing quarterfinal matchups.There's plenty at stake for the six remaining teams playing Wednesday, but one standout narrative exists for each as they attempt to advance to the semifinals and beyond.Notre Dame: Show it belongs in the big-time<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Blow the dust off a history book, and it's clear Notre Dame is one of the most successful programs in college football history. However, most of that work was done long ago, with 1988 representing the last claimed national title. Current coach Marcus Freeman was a 2-year-old when the Fighting Irish were last atop the sport. While there have been plenty of wins - especially over the past 15 years - Notre Dame has failed time and again when facing the behemoths of the sport.The proving ground doesn't get any bigger than Georgia in the playoffs. The Irish should actually feel fairly comfortable with a Bulldogs team they've faced twice since 2017, with a pair of narrow losses by a combined seven points. Win, and the Irish can rightfully claim their place back among the nation's elite. Lose, and it's yet another missed chance against a top opponent to end a season that also featured a home loss to Northern Illinois.Ohio State: Ryan Day's job security<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749096/cropped_GettyImages-2177321915.jpg?ts=1728426286" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749096/w220xh124_GettyImages-2177321915.jpg?ts=1728426286 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749096/w320xh180_GettyImages-2177321915.jpg?ts=1728426286 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749096/w640xh360_GettyImages-2177321915.jpg?ts=1728426286 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749096/w768xh432_GettyImages-2177321915.jpg?ts=1728426286 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749096/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2177321915.jpg?ts=1728426286 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jason Mowry / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It sounds outrageous that a coach in the quarterfinals could be facing a must-win for his job security, but normal isn't a word we would use to describe Ryan Day's situation at Ohio State. The first-round Tennessee blowout provided a momentary respite from the endless criticism of Day following the stunning Michigan loss. However, should the Buckeyes fall to Oregon, the dam might just break for good on Day's tenure in Columbus.Sure, his 67-10 overall record is sparkling, but a New Year's Day defeat would make him 0-6 in his last six games against Michigan and Oregon. While the Ducks' losses alone might be forgivable, the glaring problem with the team up north certainly isn't. The veteran coach told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAF0CpPPDD0">Joel Klatt of Fox Sports</a> that the two goals this season were winning the rivalry game and the national championship ... in that order. He's already 0-1 in that pursuit, and a second setback to Oregon would mean he's unsuccessful on both fronts.Ohio State put $20 million toward the roster this season to bring back future NFL pros and dominate recruiting in both the transfer portal and high school ranks. Both Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles are making at least $2 million as coordinators - ranking among the highest-paid assistants in the country. That type of investment certainly isn't for a three-loss team that didn't make the Big Ten title game or the CFP semis.Or the Buckeyes could play like they did against Tennessee, run the table, and win the program's ninth national championship. No pressure, Ryan.Oregon: Pursuit of perfectionOregon has been the lone constant throughout the chaotic 2024 season. Each time the Ducks have taken the field, they've walked off as a winner, despite a few close calls along the way. The closest was the one-point triumph over Ohio State - a game that could have ended very differently had Will Howard put his backside on the ground one second earlier.Dan Lanning's been nothing short of brilliant in his three seasons with the program, and the Rose Bowl presents a perfect opportunity to flex his coaching chops. The first matchup with the Buckeyes was as even as it gets, with two fumbles by the visitors essentially the deciding factor. What type of adjustments will Lanning's Ducks make for Wednesday to ensure the game is decided long before the final clock hits zero?Three more wins and the Ducks won't only complete the first perfect season in the 107-year history of the program but also become the first team to win 16 games in a college football season.Texas: Final step toward being "back"Raise your hand if you imagine ESPN's Joe Tessitore yelling "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4fXeywF0d0">Texas is back</a>!" every time the Longhorns win a big game. There have been plenty of those in the past two seasons as Steve Sarkisian's revived the former powerhouse program. The Longhorns have been blessed with a very comfortable path to the semis and made no mistake with a double-digit win over Clemson in Round 1. The quarterfinal actually sets up as an even easier matchup on paper, with Texas almost a two-touchdown favorite in the neutral-site contest.Sarkisian is the only coach from last year's semifinal still with the same program following Nick Saban's retirement, Jim Harbaugh's move to the NFL, and Kalen DeBoer's departure to Alabama. There'll be no question who the top program in the nation has been over the past two years should Sarkisian complete the playoff push and follow up last year's semifinal appearance with a national title. That's a pretty strong argument that the Longhorns are back.Oh, and Tessitore happens to be on the call for Wednesday's game.Georgia: Kirby Smart legend status<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743306/cropped_GettyImages-2168849151.jpg?ts=1725139284" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743306/w220xh124_GettyImages-2168849151.jpg?ts=1725139284 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743306/w320xh180_GettyImages-2168849151.jpg?ts=1725139284 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743306/w640xh360_GettyImages-2168849151.jpg?ts=1725139284 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743306/w768xh432_GettyImages-2168849151.jpg?ts=1725139284 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743306/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2168849151.jpg?ts=1725139284 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Todd Kirkland / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>There's no question Kirby Smart is already a legend in the state of Georgia, but a third national title in the last four years would cement the 49-year-old's legacy across the entire sport. Only 15 men have won that many NCAA football championships in history. That shrinks to just five in the last 50 years as the sport changed drastically. Should he finish the job this time around, it would be his most impressive feat in his time with Georgia.The Bulldogs are still loaded with talent, but it's a fair argument to call them the weakest of Smart's teams in the past five years. Georgia has further been handicapped by the absence of starting quarterback Carson Beck after elbow surgery following an injury in the SEC title game. That means Smart will go into battle against Notre Dame with Gunner Stockton making his first career start.If Smart can somehow claim a third national title with a backup quarterback, his name belongs in any conversation of the top coaches in the last half-century of college football.Arizona State: Justify the recordArizona State posted a combined 6-18 record in 2022 and '23 before its sparkling 11-2 mark this season. College Football Playoff, meet Cinderella. There's no question the Sun Devils are the plucky underdogs that neutral fans can get behind. Now the monumental task is upon Kenny Dillingham and the Big 12 champs: Keep the slipper on the foot and make sure the ball doesn't end Wednesday.Arizona State is playing with house money at this point, with virtually nobody expecting the Sun Devils to knock off Texas. They have an identifiable star in Cam Skattebo who plays an appealing style of football, but the Longhorns' run defense is one of the top units in the playoff. The 2024 season has been full of chaos, so perhaps there's one final shocker on hand in Atlanta.

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What's at stake for each team in CFP quarters

There were six games in the opening weekend of last year's NFL playoffs. Five ended in blowouts w...

There were six games in the opening weekend of last year's NFL playoffs. Five ended in blowouts won by at least 14 points.Nobody stormed to a television set or raced online to demand drastic format changes and moan about a team's inclusion.The NBA playoffs last year featured eight opening-round series, with only one going to seven games. Half of them didn't even get past five contests. Somehow, the league is running the same formula back out this year.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The dirty secret seemingly nobody complaining about the first weekend of the 12-team College Football Playoff wanted to acknowledge Saturday is that the opening round of playoff formats often underwhelm due to a large talent discrepancy between the teams involved. The Stanley Cup Playoffs might be an exception, but that's because playoff hockey is the single most insane thing legally conducted on the planet.Sure, the four first-round games we watched this weekend were largely uncompetitive and presented a less-than-stellar product. However, that's probably what we should've expected given the matchups.Curt Cignetti did his best to convince you that <a href="https://x.com/CollegeGameDay/status/1870246917596135493">beating the shit</a> out of the No. 25 team in the Week 9 Coaches Poll made Indiana some sort of juggernaut, but the Hoosiers showed multiple times this season that they struggle against top competition. Friday's loss to Notre Dame was no surprise, but that doesn't mean Indiana should've been banished from the tournament field.SMU won 11 games this season but had already lost its two toughest contests - to BYU and Clemson - on the schedule. Penn State wasted no time asserting its dominance at home, housing two pick-6s off Kevin Jennings in the opening half. There's a reason the Nittany Lions were favored by more than a touchdown at home.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761780/cropped_GettyImages-2191000362.jpg?ts=1734837971" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761780/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191000362.jpg?ts=1734837971 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761780/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191000362.jpg?ts=1734837971 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761780/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191000362.jpg?ts=1734837971 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761780/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191000362.jpg?ts=1734837971 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761780/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191000362.jpg?ts=1734837971 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Clemson is an unlikely Cinderella given its history in the CFP, but the Tigers wouldn't have been in the field without Miami collapsing in the season finale at Syracuse. They were completely overmatched by Texas in a comfortable victory despite an early touchdown and a late rally.The night cap offered the most hope for a competitive game given the pedigree and similar talent levels of Tennessee and Ohio State. The Buckeyes apparently didn't get that memo, racing out to a 21-0 lead and utterly dominating the Volunteers despite the fact the Tennessee faithful filled almost half of Ohio Stadium.Blowouts haven't been limited to the 12-team CFP field, either. Twelve of the 20 semifinals in the history of the format were won by at least 14 points even after some outstanding semifinal games over the final two years of the four-team playoff.Maybe we thought the expansion of the football field would make things more like the NCAA basketball tournament. However, there are 32 opening-round games each March Madness - you're bound to see a couple of upsets given that many chances.That's not to say the CFP format is perfect. The easiest change is to no longer give the highest-ranked conference champions a top-four seed and a first-round bye. That would've given Texas and Penn State the weekend off and forced Boise State and Arizona State into road games. It's an easy change to make for next season and beyond when the playoff expands to 14 teams.Our advice to those disappointed with this weekend's display is to be patient.Oregon gets a rematch with Ohio State after the two played a thrilling one-point contest earlier this season. Georgia - arguably the best team in college football for the past five years - faces the hottest team in the country in Notre Dame. If you want an actual Cinderella story, how about an Arizona State team that won just three games last year facing a 2023 semifinalist in Texas. The fourth contest will see the nation's best offensive player, Ashton Jeanty, chase history against a stout Penn State defense.Don't worry, college football fans - the blockbuster matchups are on their way.

STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 21: A view of the scoreboard during the fourth quarter between the Southern Methodist Mustangs and Penn State Nittany Lions in the Playoff First Round Game at Beaver Stadium on December 21, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania.

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CFP opening round had blowouts, and that's OK

College Football Wrap-Up recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Penn State shows home field matters</h3>SMU faced arguably the toughest road test of the opening round - a school from Dallas playing in 20-degree temperatures with over 100,000 Penn State fans screaming for three hours. The Mustangs didn't just fail that test - they never had a chance.We highlighted in our <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161279" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161279">CFP preview piece</a> earlier this week that SMU needed to hit explosive plays against Penn State. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, it was the Nittany Lions who hit explosive plays at Beaver Stadium.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Kevin Jennings opened the game by throwing not one but two pick-6s to immediately spot Penn State a 14-0 lead. Not all pick-6s are the fault of the quarterback. However, it's fair to pin both of these on Jennings, especially the backbreaking second interception that came in Penn State territory.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ANOTHER PICK-SIX FOR PENN STATE 😱 THE CROWD IS GOING WILD IN HAPPY VALLEY 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/pxw89CKvXE">pic.twitter.com/pxw89CKvXE</a>— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1870531359418003706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Jennings and Co. were clearly having issues with noise throughout the game, as indicated by three interceptions and a whopping 11 tackles for loss. The home favorites took it from there, putting SMU in a crock pot and slowly roasting the visitors for a dominant 38-10 victory.The second half was played for official purposes, but the game was long done before the final whistle. Penn State rested its starters in the final quarter.James Franklin's team certainly has flaws, but there are two things we trust with the Big Ten runner-ups: their rushing attack and defense. Both shone bright Saturday. The running-back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton combined for 160 yards and three touchdowns on just 25 carries.The reward for the Nittany Lions is Ashton Jeanty and Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, a contest in which the 6-seed should be heavy favorites over No. 3. Jeanty needs just 131 yards to break Barry Sanders' all-time single-season rushing record, a number he's hit in every game this year. However, Penn State has yet to allow that many to a single player this season, and you can be damn sure it doesn't want to be on the wrong side of history.<h3>Run Texas, run</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761758/cropped_GettyImages-2190993123.jpg?ts=1734829824" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761758/w220xh124_GettyImages-2190993123.jpg?ts=1734829824 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761758/w320xh180_GettyImages-2190993123.jpg?ts=1734829824 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761758/w640xh360_GettyImages-2190993123.jpg?ts=1734829824 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761758/w768xh432_GettyImages-2190993123.jpg?ts=1734829824 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761758/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2190993123.jpg?ts=1734829824 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jack Gorman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>We implored Texas earlier in the week to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161279" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161279">run the dang ball on Clemson</a>. Whew buddy, did Steve Sarkisian do exactly that Saturday.The Longhorns coach once again showed he's one of the sport's best play-callers, calling an eye-popping 48 rushing plays that resulted in 292 yards and four touchdowns.How rare is it for Texas to run the ball 48 times? The Longhorns rank 63rd in attempts per game with 36. Only Army and Air Force topped 48 rushing attempts per contest this season, and they both employ triple-option attacks. Clearly, Sarkisian saw a massive mismatch with Clemson's run defense and repeatedly took advantage. The main benefactors were Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner, who combined for 256 yards rushing and four touchdowns.Texas' dominant ground game limited the number of times the offense had to lean on Quinn Ewers, which is a very productive strategy for the Longhorns. His 24 passing attempts were the lowest of the season against Power conference competition.Ewers is certainly talented but is now up to 10 interceptions this season after another one versus Clemson. The Longhorns arguably possess the country's best defense; it's virtually impossible to consistently drive down the field against them. Avoiding turnovers ensures the opposition won't have the benefit of a short field.Texas' blueprint to progress through the bracket is clear: Run the ball, avoid turnovers, and let the defense dominate. Arizona State knows it's coming in the Peach Bowl. Let's see if the Sun Devils can do something to alter what seems like the inevitable.<h3>Ohio State hits the easy button</h3>The biggest easy button in college football might belong to Ohio State with Jeremiah Smith. The true freshman receiver is arguably the biggest offensive weapon in the country not named Ashton Jeanty, which is what made the Buckeyes' decision not to throw him the ball in the final 25 minutes of their loss to Michigan even more baffling. However, Ohio State rectified that issue in a big way Saturday, and, not surprisingly, the school cruised to victory.Smith hauled in six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-17 blowout win over Tennessee. Will Howard had his most impactful game as a Buckeye, completing 24 of 29 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan Day and Chip Kelly seemed very content to let Howard open it up and throw from the jump - a strategy that promptly led to a 21-0 lead. With the passing attack opening up lanes in the run game, the Buckeyes comfortably moved the ball for 150 yards on the ground and four touchdowns.Ohio State's defense had no interest in this being close, relentlessly pressuring Nico Iamaleava from the first play of the night. Four sacks, six tackles for loss, and countless pressures later, and the Vols barely topped the 100-yard passing mark in the game. That type of performance left zero questions about whether the Buckeyes' defense is good enough to win the national title.The win sends Ohio State west for another battle against Oregon after the two played arguably the game of the year in October. Smith had nine catches for 100 yards and a score in the first edition. Don't be shocked if those numbers increase on New Year's Day.<h3>SMU still deserved to be there</h3>First off, let's pour one out for the wealthy SMU donors whose private jets were diverted from State College to Williamsport, forcing them to shuttle a bus to Beaver Stadium and arrive an hour late. Hopefully that party bus was rocking because the game was essentially over by the time they arrived.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Several jets carrying SMU donors were diverted from the State College airport to Williamsport. They’re in a shuttle (party bus!) en route to the game &amp; will arrive an hour after kick. Photo by donor Bill Armstrong (bottom left). There's Craig James on right, drink cup raised. <a href="https://t.co/p8zyL8EXAg">pic.twitter.com/p8zyL8EXAg</a>— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) <a href="https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/1870527953962213496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Fair or unfair, the Mustangs got the Indiana treatment throughout the game as social media exploded with complaints over their inclusion in the CFP as an at-large team. We can debate forever over whether Alabama, Miami, or Ole Miss is better than SMU - that's exactly what those fanbases will do - but this game shouldn't change how you feel about the Mustangs' inclusion.It's fine if you don't think an 11-2 team that lost its conference championship and had zero wins over AP top-20 opponents should make the CFP. But that resume also describes the Nittany Lions, who just beat the Mustangs by 28.The playoff has largely yielded blowouts, whether it's four teams playing or 12. Twelve of the 20 previous CFP semifinals were decided by at least 14 points, yet most of the losing teams were rarely told that they shouldn't have been involved.<h3>Tigers are who we thought they were</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761769/cropped_GettyImages-2191001048.jpg?ts=1734833798" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761769/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191001048.jpg?ts=1734833798 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761769/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191001048.jpg?ts=1734833798 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761769/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191001048.jpg?ts=1734833798 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761769/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191001048.jpg?ts=1734833798 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761769/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191001048.jpg?ts=1734833798 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Insert Denny Green's classic clip yelling, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWmQbk5h86w">The Bears are who we thought they were</a>," and swap the animal for a Tiger. That's what the college football world should be yelling about Clemson after Saturday's loss to Texas.The Tigers were undoubtedly one of the country's top programs the majority of the past decade. Dabo Swinney's outfit remains very good in 2024, but Texas supplied the latest evidence that Clemson is no longer elite.The Tigers found themselves in Austin playing a CFP game largely because Miami gagged away a bid with a shocking season-ending loss to Syracuse. Credit should be given to Swinney and Clemson for upsetting SMU in the ACC title game to grab the automatic berth, but the Mustangs showed Saturday that they also aren't among the country's best teams.Clemson has now dropped all three of its games against the SEC this season by a combined score of 89-44. The Tigers lost badly to both Georgia and Texas, while South Carolina won at Death Valley on a late touchdown.The most jarring drop-off has been defensively, where Clemson used to rank among the nation's best. The three SEC teams ran all over the Tigers, averaging an outrageous 242 yards per game. That number would be third worst in the nation across an entire season.Clemson will remain one of the top ACC teams next season with Florida State dropping off and Miami losing Cam Ward to the NFL. The Tigers could very well be in the CFP once again with a conference champion berth. However, we shouldn't expect them to be a serious player in the tournament until we see otherwise.<h3>Tennessee needs help for Nico</h3>Tennessee enters the offseason with one major objective: do everything it can to improve the passing game. That means weapons at receiver and an upgraded offensive line to protect Nico Iamaleava. The Volunteers' passing attack again looked awful against a top opponent, with Iamaleava barely topping 100 yards on the night.Iamaleava spent most of the game running for his life from a vicious Ohio State pass rush. His receivers did very little to help him when he had time to throw, recording countless drops. It was clear Iamaleava was gun-shy by the third quarter, as he opted to tuck and run on multiple occasions instead of airing it out.Tennessee suffered three losses and a narrow win over Alabama in its four toughest games this season. During that stretch, Iamaleava completed just 54% of his throws and averaged 155 yards passing per game. That's not good enough to compete on the national level.Josh Heupel's most successful offensive seasons with the Volunteers had the offense blowing up scoreboards thanks largely to explosive receivers such as Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman. Bringing in talent like that to help Iamaleava is a must for next season.

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CFB Wrap-up: Takeaways from Saturday's CFP games

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti defended his decision to punt from Notre Dame territory despite ...

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti defended his decision to punt from Notre Dame territory despite trailing by 17 in the fourth quarter in the Hoosiers' College Football Playoff loss Friday.Down 20-3 and having just blocked a Notre Dame field-goal attempt, Cignetti opted to punt on fourth down from the Fighting Irish 48-yard line with 12 minutes to play instead of going for it to try to keep the drive rolling.He was frank following the game when asked about the decision, citing the struggling offense as his reason for the call.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I didn't want to punt, but we were doing nothing on offense. And our defense was fighting. That was the only positive that I could draw was that our defense was still fighting, because offense was doing nothing." Cignetti said after the game, per <a href="https://x.com/awfulannouncing/status/1870338055841939835">Awful Announcing</a>. "I didn't want to go fourth-and-10, you're just wishing and hoping, you have nothing to base it on that you can convert fourth-and-10 at that point."There's still time if you punt to win the game. So that was the reason why. I didn't want to do it, but I felt like it was the best move."While many questioned the choice, there's no debate the offense looked dreadful up until that point for Indiana. That was the team's third drive in the second half, with the offense totaling 5 yards on 11 plays over that span.It was a long night for Indiana, with Notre Dame beating the Hoosiers comfortably in South Bend. While the 27-17 scoreline doesn't look terrible for the visitors, two touchdowns in the final minutes hide the reality that the Hoosiers looked overmatched throughout the affair.The Hoosiers moved the ball well against a prevent defense in the dying minutes, finding the end zone twice after putting up a total of 152 yards over the first 55 minutes of game action.

SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 20: Indiana Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti yells at a referee during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 20, 2024, during the CFP First Round playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

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Cignetti explains late punt: 'Offense was doing nothing'

The first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff is officially in the books, with Notre Dam...

The first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff is officially in the books, with Notre Dame dominating Indiana at home to start the opening round.The contest was rarely in doubt from the jump, with the 27-17 final actually flattering to the Hoosiers thanks to a pair of touchdowns in the dying minutes with the game out of hand.Here are three things we learned from Friday's playoff opener:<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Notre Dame's balance is a problem</h3>If you just learned this Friday, then you need to find NBC on the dial and watch Notre Dame more often during the regular season. Outside of undefeated Oregon, the Fighting Irish have been the best team in the country since Week 2. They've essentially steamrolled all comers on the schedule, and Indiana was no exception despite the added stakes of a playoff game.The Hoosiers entered as the nation's second-ranked run defense, with 137 yards the most they've allowed in a game this season. Notre Dame came within six yards of hitting that total ... in the first quarter. The final number was 193 yards on a gaudy 5.7 per rush.Riley Leonard is sometimes questioned as a passer, but the senior quarterback was very efficient after his opening toss of the night was a tipped interception. He finished with 201 yards through the air and added a touchdown on the ground. If Notre Dame is going to make a deep playoff run, Leonard will need to be at the forefront. He showed Friday that he's more than up for that challenge.The balanced attack on offense should give the Irish plenty of confidence heading into the quarterfinal against a Georgia team without quarterback Carson Beck.<h3>Indiana's kryptonite: Top defensive units</h3>Indiana coach Curt Cignetti wasn't totally wrong when he dropped this banger on College GameDay before the contest; he was just a little confused.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"We don't just beat Top 25 teams, we beat the s--- out of them." Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti didn't hold back on the Hoosiers' success this season 😤 <a href="https://t.co/M4FGhv6Xsy">pic.twitter.com/M4FGhv6Xsy</a>— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollegeGameDay/status/1870246917596135493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>There's no question that Indiana absolutely "beat the shit" out of a group of teams this season, but not those with a number beside their name. The man deserves some props for trying - with a straight face, no less - to wedge Nebraska in as a ranked win for being the final team in the Week 9 coaches poll, but the Cornhuskers were nowhere to be found in any poll by the end of the year.The collection of teams that Indiana did "beat the shit" out of this season was anybody without a top-25 defense. Indiana faced 10 of those in 13 games on the schedule and beat the brakes off all 10. The Hoosiers averaged an eye-popping 48.5 points and 487 yards of total offense in those games. The drop-off versus top-25 defensive units is outrageous - just 15.6 points and 225 yards per game.There's no question Cignetti maximized his team's potential and delivered an all-time season with Indiana. He opened his tenure by grabbing a microphone and telling a packed basketball stadium that "<a href="https://x.com/JeffRabjohns/status/1730744811659882572">Purdue sucks ... but so does Michigan and Ohio State</a>" and topped that later with the epic quote, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNeXIVH5t08">I win. Google me</a>."However, their performances against top teams should temper expectations for the Hoosiers if the schedule doesn't fall favorably in future years.<h3>Bloated conferences cause problems</h3>The funniest thing about Big Ten realignment is that it would be closer for Rutgers to fly to Iceland than to a game in Washington. However, the most serious problem might just be the scheduling issues that arise once these leagues hit 16 teams. Indiana is an excellent example of what can happen with the perfect storm that comes from removing divisions and randomizing schedules. The Hoosiers played only two teams in the top half of the Big Ten: a narrow 20-15 win over Michigan and a 38-15 loss at Ohio State. It's the only two games the Hoosiers didn't win by at least 14 points this regular season.While Indiana's loss Friday brought this issue to the forefront for the Big Ten, it's not the only conference experiencing this unintended consequence of expansion. Texas played two regular-season games against top-nine teams in the SEC this year - a home loss to Georgia and a road win at unranked Texas A&amp;M. The Longhorns followed that up with another loss to the Bulldogs in the SEC title game. They now host a playoff game Saturday with zero wins over currently ranked teams and just one victory over a program in the top half of the league.Balancing a schedule can be damn near impossible in college football given the volatility of teams on a year-to-year basis. In a unique twist, both Indiana and Texas had defending national champion Michigan on the schedule this year and registered wins over the Wolverines. That would be a ranked victory most years, but Michigan struggled to a 7-5 record and remains unranked.It would have been cruel to leave Indiana out of the playoff after the Hoosiers ran over almost everybody on the schedule. However, Friday's result should put an added emphasis on strength of schedule for the committee in subsequent years.

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3 things we learned from Notre Dame-Indiana

Picking a bracket in a four-team College Football Playoff was a very quick exercise, but the adve...

Picking a bracket in a four-team College Football Playoff was a very quick exercise, but the advent of the 12-team field has lent itself to a much more intriguing process for the postseason.The importance of seeding will be on display immediately with a legitimate argument to be made that No. 6 Penn State has an easier path to the title game than No. 1 Oregon.That factored immensely into our bracket picks with a highly entertaining title game awaiting at the end of the line.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>First round</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/cropped_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758889/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187651609.jpg?ts=1733345070 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>No. 5 Texas over No. 12 ClemsonClemson actually has something on its resume that Texas doesn't heading into Saturday - a win over a team currently ranked in the top 25. However, the Tigers have faced SEC competition twice this year and lost both times by a 51-17 margin. It's tough to see that changing unless the Longhorns gift the visitors a number of turnovers.No. 6 Penn State over No. 11 SMUSMU is the 11-seed but found itself ranked No. 10 in the final CFP rankings. That means you are going to hear the stat that James Franklin is 3-19 against top-10 teams in his time at Penn State repeatedly on Saturday. There's never been a better time - or situation - for Franklin to get win No. 4 with the Nittany Lions sitting as 8.5-point favorites. Drew Allar feasts on the SMU defense after Cade Klubnik threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns in the ACC title game.No. 7 Notre Dame over No. 10 IndianaIndiana is the Cinderella team in the opening round and is rewarded with an in-state matchup against Notre Dame. The Hoosiers looked to be a tier below Ohio State in the penultimate week of the season and will face a similar talent discrepancy against the Irish. Expect Curt Cignetti to make some adjustments and keep things interesting for much longer than Notre Dame wants in this one. However, the Irish's depth eventually pays off in the home win.No. 9 Tennessee over No. 8 Ohio StateAny good tournament sees some early upsets, and this one comes in the final game of the opening round in Columbus. The horrific vibes around the Ohio State program remain as Tennessee uses the Michigan blueprint to run the ball, play great defense, and hand the Buckeyes a second consecutive loss.<h3>Quarterfinals</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745142/cropped_GettyImages-2172024194.jpg?ts=1726355122" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745142/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172024194.jpg?ts=1726355122 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745142/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172024194.jpg?ts=1726355122 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745142/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172024194.jpg?ts=1726355122 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745142/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172024194.jpg?ts=1726355122 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745142/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172024194.jpg?ts=1726355122 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>No. 7 Notre Dame over No. 2 GeorgiaThe last update on Carson Beck had the senior quarterback seeking a second opinion on his arm injury. That usually doesn't happen just to confirm good news, so it's likely Gunner Stockton will be the Georgia quarterback versus Notre Dame. An untested passer against the Irish is not a fair fight as the defense tops the nation with five pick-6s on the season. It seems crazy that a team with a home loss to Northern Illinois would be in the CFP semis, but that's how the world will look as we ring in 2025.No. 1 Oregon over No. 9 TennesseeOregon's multitude of weapons eventually breaks down the Tennessee defense, and the Vols can't keep up with the nation's only undefeated team. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel shines in his 64th collegiate game with the man who coached him in his first - Josh Heupel - on the other sideline.No. 5 Texas over No. 4 Arizona StateTexas is a team with a couple of flaws but the borderline impenetrable defense isn't one of them. The Longhorns slow down Cam Skattebo and Arizona State can't come up with a Plan B on offense. Steve Sarkisian's outfit returns to the CFP semis for the second straight year with another victory.No. 6 Penn State over No. 3 Boise StateBoise State's Ashton Jeanty needs just 131 yards to break Barry Sanders' all-time single-season rushing record. The Nittany Lions allowed just one 100-yard rusher this season with Woody Marks hitting 111 for USC. Something has to give in this one with a CFP semifinal spot on the line. Our money is on the defense standing tall once again and forcing someone other than Jeanty to win it for the Broncos. Spoiler alert: They won't.<h3>Semifinals </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749673/cropped_GettyImages-2178157453.jpg?ts=1728788520" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749673/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178157453.jpg?ts=1728788520 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749673/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178157453.jpg?ts=1728788520 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749673/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178157453.jpg?ts=1728788520 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749673/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178157453.jpg?ts=1728788520 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749673/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178157453.jpg?ts=1728788520 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alika Jenner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>No. 1 Oregon over No. 5 TexasAfter a comfortable two-game stretch versus Clemson and Arizona State, Texas gets shocked back to life by the mighty Ducks. The Longhorns' defense has thrived all season but has yet to face an offense with Oregon's weapons. Gabriel spreads it around to hand Texas a semifinal loss for the second season in a row.No. 6 Penn State over No. 7 Notre DameMany will paint this as a matchup of a coach who struggles against top opponents versus one with some shocking losses as a heavy favorite. It's probably more important that Penn State's top-20 run game gets a favorable matchup in Notre Dame's 51st-ranked rush defense. That mismatch keeps the chains moving and puts the Nittany Lions in the championship game.<h3>National title game</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761381/cropped_GettyImages-2188513102.jpg?ts=1734591477" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761381/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188513102.jpg?ts=1734591477 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761381/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188513102.jpg?ts=1734591477 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761381/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188513102.jpg?ts=1734591477 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761381/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188513102.jpg?ts=1734591477 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761381/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188513102.jpg?ts=1734591477 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>No. 6 Penn State over No. 1 OregonIf the rematch is anything like the Big Ten title game, we are in for a banger of a national championship tilt. Oregon took the first battle largely thanks to Tez Johnson's incredible 11-catch performance for 181 yards. Penn State may have lost, but the Nittany Lions exposed a weakness by gashing the Ducks for an eye-popping 8.3 yards per rush. The rushing attack putting up those numbers again seems more sustainable than Johnson having another career-best game. Freed from the gauntlet of the former Big Ten East, Penn State wins its first national title since 1986.

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CFP picks: Predictions for how the bracket unfolds

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