The College Football Playoff has officially advanced four teams to the semifinals for this first year of the expanded format. Following the thrilling quarterfinals, which took place from December 31 to January 2, we've seen some significant matchups and unexpected outcomes.
One notable aspect from the quarterfinals is the trend of the higher-seeded teams faring worse than expected; each of the four teams receiving first-round byes found themselves on the losing end. This ignites discussions about whether future formats might look differently, perhaps even considering expansion beyond the current 12 teams.
First up was the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl held in Glendale, Arizona, featuring the #3 seed Boise State and #6 Penn State. The Nittany Lions, with their stellar defense, effectively contained Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, this year's Heisman Trophy runner-up. Despite Jeanty's solid rushing performance—104 yards on 30 carries—his efforts fell short against Penn State's prevailing strategy. The Nittany Lions quickly notched two touchdowns, establishing momentum. Closing the third quarter, Boise State threatened with 17-14 but couldn't overcome Penn State, who surged to win 31-14.
The most exhilarating contest of these quarterfinals was undoubtedly the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl, where fifth-seeded Texas squared off against #4 Arizona State. Texas seemed dominant throughout, establishing a commanding 24-8 lead late in the fourth quarter. But just when it seemed the Longhorns had the game secured, the Sun Devils mounted an astonishing comeback, scoring two touchdowns along with two-point conversions within just 1:31, leveling the match at 24-24 by the end of regulation.
Overtime was where the tension intensified. Both teams scored touchdowns, but it was Texas's Quin Ewers who delivered under pressure, throwing for the decisive touchdown and conversion to Matthew Golden. Andrew Mukuba then sealed the win for Texas with a pivotal interception during Arizona State's final drive, finalizing the score at 39-31 after double overtime.
Meanwhile, the Rose Bowl presented yet another rematch, this time featuring Ohio State versus Oregon, two Big Ten teams aiming for redemption. Ohio State came out swinging—with quarterback Will Howard connecting with Jeremiah Smith for substantial gains—taking the early lead at 14-0. They continued to dominate, amassing a 34-0 lead by the second quarter. Oregon managed to find the end zone before halftime, but they entered the locker room facing a 34-8 deficit. Ohio State kept the momentum going and secured their place with a convincing 41-21 victory, avenging their earlier loss to Oregon earlier this season.
The final game featured #5 Notre Dame and #2 Georgia at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which unfortunately was delayed by one day due to horrific events earlier on January 1. Notre Dame surged past Georgia, controlling the early part of the game with their strategic plays. Taking advantage of their solid start, the Fighting Irish went to halftime up 13-3, and they didn’t stop there; Jayden Harrison’s sensational 98-yard kickoff return started the second half with dominance. Despite Georgia scoring later on, they couldn't get the momentum back, with Notre Dame putting up another field goal to secure their advancement with a final score of 23-10.
With these results, the upcoming semifinals appear promising. Penn State faces off against Notre Dame at the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9, reminding fans of intense rivalry games past. Meanwhile, Texas will go toe-to-toe with Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl on January 10, almost a home game for the Longhorns, making it intriguing to see how both teams adjust to the pressure of this monumental game.
The championship is set to take place on January 20, and anticipation is building as this new playoff format throws teams and fans alike exciting twists. Could we see more expansion? Only time will tell. For now, football enthusiasts eagerly await what could be history making games right around the corner.