The College Football Playoff has reached its final four teams, but not without major surprises and a dose of disappointment for SEC supporters.
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum, a prominent voice in college football, has been grappling with the fallout from the quarterfinals, which saw his original championship predictions crumble.
No. 8 Ohio State completely dismantled No. 1 Oregon, while No. 7 Notre Dame put on a toughness clinic against No. 2 Georgia, sending both top seeds home early.
Finebaum, who had forecasted a championship showdown between Oregon and Georgia with the Bulldogs emerging victorious, was forced to reevaluate his stance.
Now, the semifinals are set: Notre Dame will clash will Penn State tonight in the Orange Bowl. Meanwhile, Texas will take on Ohio State tomorrow evening in the Cotton Bowl.
Finebaum has adjusted his prediction, tipping his hat to Ohio State and Notre Dame as the frontrunners for the national title.
“Today, I would take Notre Dame and Ohio State because they’ve been the most impressive,” Finebaum said.
“I just can’t get excited about Penn State beating SMU at home and Boise State… and Ohio State doesn’t have to play that well, they just have to play consistently.”
The expanded 12-team playoff format has produced (somewhat) unexpected results.
All four top-seeded teams – winners of their respective conference championships with first-round byes – were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State fell to lower-seeded opponents, raising questions about whether having a bye week was actually an advantage.
Each of the top seeds showed signs of rust. Oregon never commanded its game against Ohio State, while Georgia, after taking an early 3-0 lead, was outscored 20-0 before falling 23-10 to Notre Dame.
Arizona State put up a late fight but couldn’t overcome Texas, and Boise State struggled throughout in its loss to Penn State.
In contrast, Ohio State and Notre Dame have emerged as the most consistent teams through two playoff rounds. Finebaum’s praise for both programs reflects their dominance thus far.
The semifinals promise to deliver thrilling matchups.
Notre Dame enters the Orange Bowl as a slight 1-point favorite over Penn State, while Ohio State is favored by 5.5 points against Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
The Longhorns will have the advantage of playing in Arlington, Texas, but the Buckeyes’ consistency makes them a very dangerous threat.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is doing exactly what he should and is playing up the “nobody believes in us” and it’s “us against the world” angle.
As Finebaum noted, the playoff has delivered excitement but remains a work in progress.
For now, the focus is on the semifinals and the battle for the national championship.
What are your thoughts on Finebaum’s (revised) championship prediction? … Do you think a Notre Dame – Ohio State title game awaits us???
