Now that the 12-team College Football Playoff has arrived, Penn State has a chance to compete. Eleven other teams, however, also wanted to compete for this year’s national championship.
Now that the bracket has been determined, let’s examine each of the 12 CFP teams—including Penn State—and identify any shortcomings that might prevent them from taking home the national championship.
OREGON (13-0)
Committee ranking: 1; seed: No. 1
First game: January 1 Rose Bowl matchup against the Ohio State-Tennessee victor
Biggest weakness: Oregon is the nation’s last unbeaten team for a reason. There aren’t any obvious vulnerabilities with the Ducks. However, it’s important to note what transpired when Oregon faced the most explosive rushing backs on its schedule. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for 229 rushing yards in Indianapolis, while Ashton Jeanty of Boise State ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns in September.
In the third quarter of the Big Ten Championship game on December 7, 2024, Penn State rushing back Kaytron Allen eludes an Oregon defender.
[email protected] Joe [email protected] Joe Hermitt
Georgia (11-2)
Ranking by committee: No. 2; seed: No. 2
First game: Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl matchup vs Notre Dame-India victor
The quarterback position is the biggest vulnerability. Against Georgia’s toughest opponent, Carson Beck appeared disoriented at times and threw 12 interceptions this season. His CFP fate is uncertain after he sustained an injury during the SEC championship. The only significant game experience that backup Gunner Stockton has was during the second half of the SEC championship game.
BOISE STATE (12-1)
Ranking by committee: No. 9; seed: No. 3.
First game: Dec. 31 Fiesta Bowl against the Penn State-SMU victor
Top-to-bottom talent outside of Jeanty, the Heisman-candidate running back, is the biggest issue. The Broncos have other players, so this isn’t meant to belittle the rest of Boise State’s squad. However, the roster is also a Group of Five. Are they capable of competing with the top power conferences?
State of Arizona (11-2)
Ranking by committee: No. 12; seed: No. 4.
First game: January 1 Peach Bowl against the Texas-Clemson victor
Biggest weakness: Arizona State’s entire talent pool is concerning, much like Boise State. After all, this was a 3–9 team the previous season. More precisely, though, the defense raises concerns. The Sun Devils are ranked 103rd in tackles for loss (57) and 87th in sacks (21).
Texas (11-2)
Ranking by committee: No. 3; seed: No. 5
First game: Dec. 21 at Clemson, No. 12
Biggest weakness: Quinn Ewers’ play has declined since suffering an oblique injury in the middle of the season. Last year, the quarterback helped Texas advance to the four-team CFP. However, Ewers has only averaged 6.9 yards per attempt and completed 61.3% of his passes in his last four games. I’m interested to see how much Arch Manning, the backup quarterback, and his legs are used.
PENN STATE (11-2)
Ranking by committee: No. 4; seed: No. 6.
First game: Dec. 21 at SMU, No. 11
The biggest shortcoming has been a tendency toward slow starts. Six of the Nittany Lions’ 13 games this season have ended in a tie or a loss at the half. When playing elite teams, you cannot afford to lose and yet hope to win. It stands out that the wide receiver position lacks elite talent. James Franklin’s 1-14 record versus top-five teams at Penn State is also unavoidable if we’re discussing a run to the national championship.
After Penn State’s Nov. 2, 2024, 20–13 loss to Ohio State, athletic director Pat Kraft and head coach James Franklin join the alma mater.
[email protected] Joe HermittPennLive
DAME NOTRE (11-1)
Ranking by committee: No. 5; seed: No. 7.
First game: Dec. 20 vs Indiana, ranked No. 10
The biggest weakness is whether quarterback Riley Leonard’s arm can win a huge game. Only once this season have the Irish been behind at the half, and that was in the defeat to Northern Illinois. Can a run-first Leonard, who is ranked 95th in the country in passing yards per game, do enough through the air to escape out of a hole if Notre Dame is unable to control play with its ground game and gets there early?
State of Ohio (10-2)
Ranking by committee: No. 6; seed: No. 8.
First game: vs. No. 9 Tennessee on December 21
Biggest weakness: Josh Simmons, a left tackle, and Seth McLaughlin, a center, both sustained season-ending injuries for Ohio State. Can the Buckeyes, who didn’t add offensive line depth to their roster, withstand a formidable Tennessee defense? Will quarterback Will Howard be able to prevent a disastrous error if under pressure?
Tennessee (10-2)
Ranking by committee: No. 7; seed: No. 9.
First game: Dec. 21 at Ohio State, ranked eighth
Josh Heupel’s reputation as an attacking magician is his biggest vulnerability. The Vols, however, aren’t as explosive as you might imagine. Out of the 12 teams in the field, the Vols rank 10th with 56 plays of 20 yards or more this season, ahead of just Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Indiana (11-1)
Ranking by committee: No. 8; seed: No. 10.
First game: Dec. 20 vs Notre Dame, ranked seventh
The biggest flaw is that Indiana’s 11 victories were remarkable. However, we witnessed what transpired when the Hoosiers weren’t the favorites. The Buckeyes dominated to a 23-point victory, demonstrating that Ohio State possessed superior talent overall. Is Indiana able to handle this kind of competition?
SMU (11-2)
Ranking by committee: No. 10; seed: No. 11.
First game: Dec. 21 vs Penn State, ranked sixth
The biggest problem is that SMU has only defeated one school that is currently in the top 25 of the committee. The Mustangs turned the ball over six times during their victory over Duke in overtime. With 21 turnovers, SMU has the second-highest total of any club in the league (Texas has 22). Can SMU avoid deadly errors against a defense like Penn State’s after a very simple route to the CFP?
CLEMSON (10-3)
Ranking by committee: 16; seed: No. 12
First game: Texas at No. 5 against No. 21
Biggest weakness: The Tigers appear different when running back Phil Mafah is in form. However, in Clemson’s last four games, the veteran has only accumulated 125 rushing yards. Prior to the ACC championship game, Dabo Swinney disclosed that Mafah is battling a persistent injury. When facing the perhaps finest secondary in the nation, Texas, Clemson cannot afford to be one-dimensional.
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