College Football Playoff Reaction
On Dec. 4, The College Football Playoff Committee released its final rankings. The selection committee answered our questions that we were left with after a crazy weekend of conference championships.
It was to no surprise that undefeated, conference champions Georgia and Michigan claimed the number one and number two spots.
Heading into the week, TCU and USC sat comfortably in the third and fourth spots. All they had to do to hold onto those spots was win their respective conference championships.
The TCU Horned Frogs fell to the Kansas State Wildcats 31-28 in overtime. Because of their undefeated regular season, and this championship being a close game, the playoff committee did not penalize the Horned Frogs.
The same, however, cannot be said for the USC Trojans who fell hard to the Utah Utes in the Pac-12 championship game. The conference championship game brought the Trojans their second loss, the first one also coming from the Utes in the regular season.
After the Trojans lost, there was a lot of discourse over who should claim the fourth spot. Could they still give it to USC? Would it be 11-1 Ohio State? Or 10-2 Alabama? Maybe 10-2 Tennessee? Perhaps ACC champions 11-2 Clemson?
The College Football Playoff committee has never taken a two-loss team to the playoffs, even if they are a conference champion. Despite this, there were still arguments as to why Alabama should be in over Ohio State.
Although Alabama’s two losses were closer games than Ohio State’s bad loss to Michigan, its resume ultimately does not compare to the Buckeyes.
The playoff is now set, No. 1 Georgia will face No. 4 Ohio State in the Peach Bowl and No. 2 Michigan will meet No. 3 TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.
All scenarios that can come from these matchups are appealing.
Georgia can handle Ohio State just as they have its competition all season and become the first team to be back-to-back champions in the College Football Playoff era.
The Buckeyes could pull off an upset and show everyone that they can play at the level that is expected of them. The Buckeyes are out for revenge after their fall to Michigan at the end of November. If the Buckeyes meet the Wolverines again in the championship game, we could see different results.
The Horned Frogs have the chance to continue their miracle season and become the first Big 12 team to win the College Football Playoff.
As for Michigan, this team has proven all season that they can handle their competition with ease. The Wolverines want this national championship and will do what they need to achieve it.
Michigan played Georgia in the semifinals last year and the Bulldogs showed absolutely no mercy. However, this Michigan team is on a whole new level, and it could be the Wolverines year.
No matter what scenarios play out, this playoff will be an exciting one!
Julianna Steinmetz is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email jfs6759@psu.edu.
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Julianna Steinmetz
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