EAST LANSING- As bowl season arrives, the much-anticipated inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff is just days away from its debut. After a season marked by upsets and dramatic finishes, Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame, and Penn State will host this weekend’s games, setting the stage for the quarterfinals.
While some teams have more favorable paths to the national championship, these five programs stand out with the highest expectations this postseason.
Honorable Mentions:
Drew Allar turned a corner for Penn State in the Big Ten title game, throwing for 226 yards with four scores. Tyler Warren is the best tight end in the country, and Nick Singleton is one of the true difference-makers at running back. With a favorable draw, James Franklin and company are not to be slept on.
The turnaround for Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State has been tremendous. Cam Skattebo and Sam Leavitt have emerged as one of the most dangerous offensive duos in the nation. However, the Sun Devils (who won the Big 12 in their first year in the conference) must face the winner of Texas and Clemson in their first matchup, a daunting task.
Following an early-season heartbreaker to Northern Illinois, Notre Dame eclipsed 30 points in every remaining game this season. With Duke transfer Riley Leonard under center and a prolific Irish defense, winning the “Battle of Indiana” will be a tall task for Indiana.
- Boise State
The Broncos finished with a 12-1 record in a masterful season in which their only loss came at the hands of No. 1 Oregon. Boise State was fueled to success by junior running back Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for a staggering 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Jeanty, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, was the catalyst behind BSU’s fourth-ranked scoring (and rushing) offense while firmly placing himself on the first-round NFL Draft radar.
Alongside Jeanty, this team is far from mesmerizing. Maddux Madsen threw 22 touchdowns to just three interceptions and Cameron Camper forged a solid season of his own, amassing 837 receiving yards and four scores. Madsen completed 62% of his passes in 2024 but is not a difference-maker like other QB1s in the CFP.
However, where the Broncos will be the most susceptible is in the secondary. Boise State is 12th-worst in the FBS in pass defense, so the potent passing attack of Penn State’s Drew Allar or SMU’s Kevin Jennings could be their undoing in the quarterfinals.
As transcendent as Jeanty is, Boise State could shock people if more than just their superstar weapon steps up on the big stage.
- Ohio State:
The Buckeyes are reeling following their fourth consecutive loss to Michigan in The Game’’, which this season was plagued by the post-game scuffle. Ryan Day’s tenure in Columbus has been headlined by an inability to win big games, with Michigan and the CFP proving to be his kryptonite.
Despite throwing 27 touchdowns, the Will Howard experiment has been something of a roller coaster for OSU. Questions regarding the Kansas State transfer’s consistency arose after his two-interception game against the Wolverines. To add insult to injury, the fanbase ran Kyle McCord out of town, who thrived at Syracuse this season.
Ohio State’s running back tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins is among the best in the country, if not the best. Jeremiah Smith has lived up to his generational billing as a true freshman at wideout alongside fellow NFL hopefuls Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate.
On defense, Denzel Burke has regressed heavily from his 2023 form, but Alabama transfer safety Caleb Downs is a budding superstar for the Buckeyes. J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer form a formidable duo off the edge who combined for 10.5 sacks in 2024.
A rematch with the Ducks does not serve Ohio State well, especially after the disheartening loss suffered in October at Autzen Stadium. With a tough draw and two potential tough foes in Oregon and Tennessee, the talent is there for OSU. But can they fight their playoff demons?
- Texas
Quinn Ewers has yet again thrived for Texas, throwing 25 touchdowns to just nine picks, but looked like a train wreck in the Longhorns’ overtime loss to Georgia in the SEC title game. Ewers threw six of those interceptions against ranked opponents and has struggled mightily in recent weeks.
Fans are clamoring for golden boy Arch Manning to replace the Ohio State transfer under center, but Ewers has gotten the most out of the explosive skill groups down in Austin.
The tandem of Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue has been one of the most productive in college football, in large part due to bookend tackles Kelvin Banks Jr and Cameron Williams. Receiver Isaiah Bond has shown glimpses of superstardom after transferring from Alabama, but his status for Saturday is unknown due to an ankle injury.
In his absence, Matthew Golden stepped up as the WR1, tallying his highest receiving total of the season (162 rec yards) against the Bulldogs.
Where the Longhorns truly shine is on defense. Cornerback Jahdae Barron was the recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award (for the best DB in the country), and the safety duo of Michael Taafe and Andrew Mukuba (formerly of Clemson) has produced as advertised in burnt orange.
Texas is third in the country in total defense and second in points allowed, only surrendering 12.5 points per contest. Cade Klubnik and Clemson are tough, but UT’s defense put quarterbacks in purgatory all season long, including Marcel Reed, Carson Beck, and Diego Pavia.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian and company have a bad taste in their mouths after last year’s CFP loss to Washington, but Texas’ postseason hopes solely depends on which Quinn Ewers shows up.
- Georgia
The biggest red flag surrounding Georgia is their quarterback situation. Carson Beck was injured in the SEC Championship, and with no timetable for his return, Gunner Stockton, his replacement, did not look promising.
Stockton completed 75% of his passes, but after a fourth-quarter interception, it became apparent that head coach Kirby Smart did not fully trust the redshirt sophomore.
Transfer running back Trevor Etienne reached the end zone nine times in 2024, with five of those coming in two contests with the Longhorns. Etienne, the younger brother of Jaguars halfback Travis Etienne, and true freshman Nate Frazier combined for 1,205 yards and a sizzling 17 touchdowns in 2024.
Graduate wide receiver Dominic Lovett recorded a career-high six touchdowns this season while matching his career best of 56 receptions from 2022, establishing himself as the top option for Beck (or Stockton) through the air.
On defense, NFL-bound playmakers such as Malaki Starks, Mykel Williams, and Jalon Walker have been key contributors to yet another strong defensive unit in Athens.
Even without Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, Beck led the Bulldogs to the 12th-best passing offense in the country this past season. With Smart at the helm, Georgia has all the makings of a championship team. If Beck is available against Notre Dame or Indiana, the sky’s the limit for the Bulldogs.
- Oregon
Does Oregon even have a hole on their roster? The country’s sole unbeaten team, Oregon, has victories over Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State on their resume. Head coach Dan Lanning continued to establish himself as one of the most productive coaches in the nation
Lanning struck gold in the transfer portal, landing key contributors such as Gabriel, Stewart, and former Michigan State defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, all of whom could be selected within the first 64 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft.
In his inaugural season in Eugene, Gabriel totaled 35 touchdowns to just six interceptions. The Bo Nix effect continued as the former UCF and Oklahoma signal-caller
Elite skill players such as Stewart, Tez Johnson, and running back Jordan James were the catalysts to Gabriel’s (and the Ducks’) success this season. The trio combined for 30 touchdowns, with half of those courtesy of the 20-year-old James. Stewart averaging a
Jabbar Muhammad entered the season as one of the best returning cornerbacks in the country and boasted another strong season. Muhamad tied for eighth in the nation and first in the Big Ten with 11 passes defensed.
Joining Muhammad and Harmon (who recorded five sacks) in defensive success was transfer defensive tackle Jordan Burch, who led the Ducks with seven tackles for loss.
Oregon averaged 35.9 points per game in 2024 and allowed just 17.8 points per game. Through dominant victories and a plethora of difference-makers on both sides of the football, Oregon has their best shot at glory since the Marcus Mariota and Chip Kelly days.
As the College Football Playoff field narrows, the road to the national championship is wide open. With so many strong teams in the mix, expect drama, surprises, and unforgettable moments throughout the postseason. Who will take home the title? Only time will tell.
