2025 College Football Playoffs

As the 2025 college football season reaches its climax, the College Football Playoff (CFP) is set to deliver a thrilling end of the year’s action. With the stakes higher than ever, the best teams in the nation will compete for a chance to secure their spots in the national championship game.

Selection Overview:
The selection committee has revealed the four teams that will compete in the playoffs, following an intense season filled with upsets, standout performances, and memorable moments. These teams have shown incredible determination and skill, finishing the season with impressive records and key victories.

Playoff Format:
The playoff consists of two semi-final games, leading to the national championship game. The semi-finals will be hosted at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Matchups:

1. Notre Dame (Rank: 5) VS Penn State (Rank: 4)

• Date & Time: Thursday, Jan 9th, 2025
• Overview: After an impressive win against the number 2 ranked Georgia, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish move on to the semifinals. They were led by their quarterback, Riley Leonard, who despite only throwing for 90 yards against Georgia’s tough defense, had one passing touchdown to wide receiver Beaux Collins. They were mostly led by their Defense, including Cornerback Jayden Harrison who had an interception, and returned it for a touchdown. The Fighting Irish defense held Georgia to only one touchdown and one field goal allowed, holding running back Trevor Etienne to only 38 yards and no touchdowns. They also had to play second string quarterback Gunner Stockton, following the starting quarterback Carson Beck’s injury. On the other hand, Penn State beat Boise State to move on to the semifinals. Quarterback Drew Aller, from Penn State, passed for an impressive 171 yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 of which were caught by receiver Tyler Warren, and the other caught by Omari Evans. They also had great rushing performance, led by Kaytron Allen, who rushed for 134 yards in 11 attempts, and a touchdown from 2nd string running back Nicholas Singleton. The Penn State defense also had a major performance, mostly noted for containing Ashton Jeanty, the star running back for Boise State, who finished second for the prestigious Heisman Award, and is predicted to be a top 10 pick in the NFL draft this year. They also intercepted Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen 3 times. These two teams showed that they deserve to move on to the semis, and this will surely be a competitive and fun game to watch.

1. Ohio State (Rank:6) VS Texas (Rank: 3)

• Date & Time: Friday, Jan 10, 2025
• Overview: After a huge upset, Ohio State beat the number 1 ranked team, Oregon, who went 13-0 this season. Not only that, they beat them by and insane 20 points. They were led by quarterback Will Howard, who threw for an insane stat line for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 of which caught by star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and the other caught by another star receiver Emeka Ebuka. They were also led by running back TreVeyon Henderson, with 94 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Ohio State defense also sacked Dillion Gabriel, another Heisman finalist, 8 times. The entire Ohio State team worked together to perform a great performance to upset the 13-0 Oregon Ducks. On the other hand, in a overtime thriller, the Texas Longhorns took down the number 4 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils. Despite 1 interception, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for an impressive 322 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a rushing touchdown for himself (4 total touchdowns). The 3 throwing touchdowns were caught by Mathew Golden (7 catches, 149 yards), Gunner Helm (3 catches, 56 yards) and DeAndre Moore Jr. (2 catches, 25 yards). The Texas defense didn’t do too great, but Arizona State has a powerful offense, led by star running back Cam Skattebo, who had 143 yards and 2 touchdowns in 30 carries. He also had a throwing touchdown in a trick play. Texas and Ohio State are led by star offensive players, so many fans are intrigued to see how their defenses can hold these star players.

Key Players to Watch:

• Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: After a monster game against Oregon with 187 yards and 2 touchdowns in only 7 catches, he is projected to have another amazing performance against Texas.
• Quinn Ewers, Texas: Another star offensive player, Quinn Ewers, had an amazing game against Arizona State, throwing for 322 yards and 3 touchdowns, and capped his performance with a rushing touchdown. We could see him do it again against Ohio State.
• Kaytron Allen, Penn State: The star running back had himself a day against Boise State, with 134 yards in 17 carries. Despite no touchdowns, he is sure to be a huge part of the Penn State offense in the next game against Notre Dame.

Potential Impact:
The outcomes of these playoff games will not only determine who competes for the national title but may also have lasting implications on team legacies, recruitment efforts, and fan engagement. With so much on the line, both players and coaches will be looking to secure their place in college football history.