After a season full of upsets, intrigue, and arguments over which teams should compete for the national championship, the 12-team College Football Playoff is finally here.
Now that we have our twelve teams and the first round is drawing near, it’s time to forecast how things will turn out.
Here are my predictions for Penn State’s performance and the 12-team CFP.
Johnny McGonigal of PennLive predicts the College Football Playoff bracket.McGonigal, Johnny
ORIGINAL ROUND
Indiana defeats Notre Dame: I understand why many national pundits have inflated Notre Dame as a potential championship candidate. But when others zag, I’m going to zig. Riley Leonard’s weakness is throwing, but I believe Indiana’s run defense is strong enough to force him to do so.
Penn State defeats SMU: We have discussed how Penn State may have the greatest CFP path. Don’t sleep on the Mustangs, though. They have enough pass rush talent to stay competitive and an explosive attack. This one, I believe, turns out to be closer than some anticipate.
Texas defeats Clemson: I think Texas will win handily. I thought Clemson would win hands down. That s how inconsistent the Longhorn offense has been. But Texas defense might be the most trustworthy unit in the CFP, leading the Longhorns to a rock fight win.
Ohio State beats Tennessee:Ohio State s offensive line injuries and recent inability to run the ball are concerns. But Tennessee s offense, outside of Dylan Sampson, has not impressed me. Ohio State bounces back from the Michigan loss with a convincing performance.
Penn State cornerback Zion Tracy (7), celebrates his pick-six with safety Zakee Wheatley and cornerback A.J. Harris during the first quarter on Nov. 2, 2024.
[email protected] Joe HermittPennLive
Quarterfinals
Ohio State beats Oregon:Oregon is really, really good. But the Big Ten championship showed weaknesses in the Duck defense. Ohio State wins the rematch after losing close in October.
Texas beats Arizona State:Cam Skattebo and the Sun Devils have been a fun story. But they haven t faced a defensive front like Texas. That ll show up.
Georgia beats Indiana:Injured Carson Beck probably won t play. But Gunner Stockton goes full game-manager mode, and the Dawgs defense is nasty enough to suffocate Indiana.
Penn State beats Boise State:Ashton Jeanty has been awesome, and I think he gets his 132 rushing yards needed to break Barry Sanders single-season record. But he ll have to work for it against Penn State. Tyler Warren wins the battle between Heisman vote getters.
Johnny McGonigal of PennLive predicts the College Football Playoff bracket.Johnny McGonigal
SEMIFINALS
Ohio State beats Texas:If these two teams meet, it might be the lowest-scoring game of the bracket. Ohio State ranks first nationally in scoring defense and total defense while Texas ranks second and third, respectively. Give me Jeremiah Smith to make a game-winning play.
Penn State beats Georgia:Stockton can t game-manage his way through the entire bracket. Drew Allar and Nick Singleton have signature performances, and the narrative around James Franklin s inability to beat a top-five team is put to rest (for the time being).
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ohio State beats Penn State:I swear I m not trolling here. My gut reaction when the bracket was revealed was this very matchup. And I m sticking to it.
I think Penn State has what it takes to make it to the national title game. With high-end playmakers and a favorable draw, it s within the Nittany Lions reach. It would be a massive accomplishment to get that far in the first 12-team CFP even if it ended in an all-too-familiar loss to Ohio State.
As for the Buckeyes, I wouldn t be shocked if they got knocked out by Tennessee. But in my mind, Ohio State is the most talented team in the country. It had to pay big bucks for it, but still. The Buckeyes were preseason favorites for a reason. Now, they re well-rested after not playing in the Big Ten championship game, and I think they ll use the Michigan loss as motivation.
Check back after the first round for updated picks when this bracket surely goes up in smoke.
Stories by
Johnny McGonigal
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!