The College Football Playoff has now narrowed its focus to just eight teams as they advance in the inaugural 12-team format. This exciting phase includes matchups during the New Year’s festivities at renowned bowl sites, with the aim of moving closer to determining the national champion for the 2024 season. Although the first round produced some lackluster moments, fans remain optimistic that the upcoming quarterfinals will offer thrilling competition.
Tuesday marks the start of the quarterfinal action, featuring 6-seed Penn State squaring off against 3-seed Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. The excitement continues on Wednesday with 5-seed Texas taking on 4-seed Arizona State in the Peach Bowl, followed by a highly anticipated rematch between 8-seed Ohio State and 1-seed Oregon in the Rose Bowl. The day will conclude with 7-seed Notre Dame challenging 2-seed Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
As part of preparing for what’s ahead, CBS Sports experts have shared their insights on the quarterfinal matchups, providing fans with expectations for each game.
In the Peach Bowl, Chip Patterson predicts a close contest between Texas and Arizona State, suggesting that the Sun Devils’ knack for close victories and solid play could help them keep the game tight against a Texas offense that struggles in the red zone.
The Rose Bowl encounter between Ohio State and Oregon, according to Tom Fornelli, promises to be a high-scoring game given the offensive talent present in both teams. As the tradition of the “Granddaddy of Them All” suggests, this matchup is expected to thrill fans with its pace and scoring.
In the Sugar Bowl, Brandon Marcello notes Georgia’s challenges as a slight favorite. Despite their strong season finish, he highlights potential vulnerabilities that could favor Notre Dame, especially with the Fighting Irish’s outstanding pass defense.
To wrap up the quarterfinal games, in the Fiesta Bowl, Shehan Jeyarajah seems to favor Boise State, pointing out their disciplined performance and ability to minimize errors compared to Penn State.
With these matchups set, fans have much to look forward to as college football enters one of its most exhilarating periods of the season.
In summary, the quarterfinal slate showcases exciting rivalries and matchups that could redefine the journey to the championship, underlining the unpredictable yet thrilling nature of college football playoffs. The hope and excitement felt across the fanbase exemplify the spirit of competition in the quest for the national title.