The NFL is about to begin their playoffs this coming weekend. We have narrowed down the college football playoffs to four teams now. Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State are the final four teams remaining. My college football quarterfinals picks left me with a 3-1 record. The only defeat came when Ohio State dismantled Oregon in their rematch from earlier in the season. The Buckeyes and Jeremiah Smith jumped out to a 34-0 lead before the Ducks scored. Smith finished with seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. My overall record drops down to 85-32 because Alabama lost in the ReliaQuest Bowl to Michigan. My winning percentage dropped from 73.2% to 72.7%. In the Fiesta Bowl, the Nittany Lions used their dominant defense to slow down Boise State 31-14. The Peach Bowl was definitely the best game as Texas took down Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime.
Quinn Ewers threw for over 320 yards for the Longhorns. Cam Skattebo for Arizona State made a name for himself after being named MVP. Skattebo rushed for 143 yards, caught eight passes for 99 yards and tossed a 42-yard touchdown pass. In the finale, Notre Dame dominating defense help take down Georgia 23-10. The game was moved back a day due to the tragic events that took place in New Orleans. The game was postponed to the following afternoon as a result. In the Cotton Bowl, we have a battle between the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes. The Orange Bowl will see the Penn State Nittany Lions taking on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Penn State and Notre Dame game takes place on Thursday night. Texas and Ohio State will face off on Friday Night. Let’s see who advances to the college football national championship game?
We have the first semifinal game and it’s a battle between the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State comes into this game with arguably the two most impressive wins in the playoffs. They blew out a great Tennessee team at home 42-17. In the Rose Bowl, they blew out the No. 1 team in the country in Oregon. The Ducks hadn’t loss a game all season and Oregon also beat this Buckeyes team earlier also. Can the Buckeyes keep up this impressive run? Texas kicked off their run with an impressive win over the Clemson Tigers at home. In an instant classic in the Peach Bowl, they took down Arizona State in double overtime. Texas has two losses on the season, and both came against Georgia. Can the Longhorns continue their magical season by making a trip to the championship game?
Ohio State has the best scoring defense in the country. They allowed 12 points a game and only allowed a combined 38 points to Tennessee and Oregon. The offense put up over 40 points in both of those games and Jeremiah Smith looks like the best player in the country. Can the Buckeyes continue this play in what will feel like a Texas home game? Can Ohio State control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball? Texas is only allowing less than 15 points per game this season. Quinn Ewers will look to defeat the team where his career got started. The Longhorns will face a much more aggressive defense in the Buckeyes. Will the Longhorns have some plays for Arch Manning? This should be a great game, but at the end I’m picking Ohio State to advance. Buckeyes Win 31-20
The other semifinal game will see the Penn State Nittany Lions battle the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame and their defense has been as good as anyone’s in their first two playoff games. They held Indiana to only 17 points and Georgia to only 10. The defense is ranked second in scoring by giving up less than 14 points. The offense was one of the better ones by scoring over 39 points per game. Can they continue their defensive dominance? Penn State comes into this game with one of the better defenses also. The Nittany Lions have given up less than 16 points a game. They only allowed a combined 24 points to SMU and Boise State in the playoffs. The health of Abdul Carter is the biggest issue for Penn State. Carter left the Boise State game early due to being injured.
Riley Leonard can beat you with his arm and his legs also. Leonard has thrown for almost 2400 yards while rushing for another 800-plus yards. Jeremiyah Love, Riley Leonard and Jadarian Price rushed for at least 700 yards this season. The defense is as physical as any team in the country. Can they continue their dominance against Drew Allar and the Penn State offense? Can they have a shot at winning their first national championship since 1988? Penn State haven’t won a national championship since 1986. On offense, Drew Allar is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton both finished with 1,000 yards rushing this season. Can the defense slow down the arms and legs of Riley Leonard? This could be a low scoring; defensive battle and I’m going with Penn State to advance to the championship game. Nittany Lions Win 24-20
Are you ready for the college football semifinal games? Who do you have advancing? Who do you want to advance? What do you think about my picks? Leave some feedback below on who advances to the college football national championship game.
My College Football National Championship Game
- Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
