This year’s College Football Playoff (CFP) selection? Wild. The CFP committee made a handful of moves that set off heated debates everywhere—fans, analysts, you name it.
The big shocker? Indiana landed at No. 1. That’s a huge nod to their wild turnaround under coach Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers, once pretty much the poster kids for losing, now have an undefeated record. They capped it with a win over defending champs Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.
Looking at the playoff matchups, Indiana’s not the only team with a real shot at the title. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get into it.
CFP Committee’s Controversial Choices
The committee mostly stuck with what made sense at the top of the final rankings. Indiana’s jump to No. 1? Honestly, it tracks, given their perfect season and that Big Ten championship.
Ohio State, even after losing to Indiana, only dropped one spot. Georgia and Texas Tech held onto their top-four spots after winning the SEC and Big 12 titles.
Unsurprising Final Slots
The last two spots in the top four didn’t really surprise anyone. Virginia’s loss to a five-win Duke team in the ACC Championship knocked both out of playoff contention.
That left two Group of Five (G5) champs to step in. Tulane, after taking the AAC, grabbed the No. 11 seed. James Madison earned the No. 12 slot after their Sun Bowl win.
Eyebrow-Raising Decisions
The committee’s choices at No. 9 and No. 10, though? A little sketchy. Alabama, after getting blown out 28-7 by Georgia, didn’t budge in the rankings.
Critics weren’t shy. Other teams—Ohio State, BYU, Virginia—all dropped after their title game losses. CBS College Football analyst Damien Harris even called out Alabama’s offense as not playoff-caliber. Hard to argue with that, honestly.
First-Round Matchups
The first round is set up to be a blast, with some matchups that could go either way. Here’s what’s coming up:
Friday, December 19
- No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC
Saturday, December 20
- No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC
- No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Mississippi at 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV, HBO Max
- No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV, HBO Max
Quarterfinals and Beyond
Once the first round wraps up, the quarterfinals should turn up the intensity. Here’s what’s on tap:
Wednesday, December 31
- Cotton Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Thursday, January 1
- Orange Bowl at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Rose Bowl at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Sugar Bowl at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Semifinals and Championship Game
The semifinals are locked in for Thursday, January 8, and Friday, January 9. The Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl will host, both at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The College Football Playoff Championship Game lands on Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. ESPN’s got the broadcast.
Indiana’s Remarkable Season
Indiana’s climb to the top of the CFP rankings? Almost no one saw that coming. Coach Curt Cignetti’s crew not only snagged the No. 1 spot, but their quarterback Fernando Mendoza took home the Heisman.
Cignetti’s not getting ahead of himself, though. He keeps saying the job isn’t done yet.
Top Contenders
Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech all get a first-round bye, which definitely helps as they prep for the quarterfinals. These four teams have the depth and skill to go all the way.
Indiana and Ohio State are the favorites, but don’t sleep on Oregon, Texas A&M, or Mississippi. It feels like almost anything could happen this year.
CFP Championship Odds
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, here are the odds for the CFP Championship:
- Ohio State +215 (bet $100 to win $215)
- Indiana +280
- Georgia +550
- Texas Tech +800
- Oregon +900
- Texas A&M +2000
- Alabama +2500
- Mississippi +2500
- Miami +2500
- Oklahoma +5000
- James Madison +70000
- Tulane +80000
Want to see the full CFP bracket and schedule? Take a look at the Bleacher Report.
This playoff season could get wild. Is someone ready to knock off Indiana, or will the favorites hold strong?
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