The dawn of the 12-team College Football Playoff era has added an exciting new wrinkle to the time-honored tradition of bowl predictions. With the expanded field set and early-round matchups slated for campuses across the country, the potential paths to a national title have never been more intriguing. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg bravely dove into the challenge, mapping out how he sees the entire CFP and bowl season unfolding.
An Expanded Playoff Brings New Possibilities
The top four seeds – No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Boise State, and No. 4 Arizona State – earn the privilege of hosting quarterfinal games after first-round byes. Their opponents will be determined by a quartet of juicy campus-site matchups:
- No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame
- No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State
- No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas
- No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State
Rittenberg not only picks the first-round winners, but projects the entire bracket. And if his prognostications prove accurate, we’re in for a wild ride.
Notre Dame Holds Serve; Penn State, Texas Advance
No stranger to the postseason stage, Notre Dame defends its home turf against neighboring Indiana in an all-Hoosier State showdown. Penn State’s Beaver Stadium provides an imposing venue for a dangerous SMU squad, but the Nittany Lions ride their stout defense to victory.
Texas also leans on its defensive prowess to stifle a familiar foe in Clemson. The nightcap sees Ohio State rebound from a devastating loss to Michigan to turn back Tennessee in the Horseshoe.
Ducks Fly to the Title Game
In the quarterfinals, Oregon narrowly outlasts Ohio State in a Rose Bowl rematch, while Georgia holds off a late charge from Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. On the other side of the bracket, Penn State stages a thrilling comeback to stun Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, setting up an all-Big Ten semifinal with Texas, which rides its defense to victory over Cinderella Arizona State.
Rittenberg envisions the Ducks exacting some payback for their early-season loss to the Longhorns, clinching a spot in the championship game opposite a Notre Dame squad that upsets Penn State.
Oregon simply has more ways to attack than most offenses Notre Dame has faced this season… The Ducks march on.
– Adam Rittenberg on his national title game prediction
In the end, Rittenberg sees Oregon’s depth and offensive firepower being too much for the Irish. The Ducks deliver their first national championship to 86-year-old benefactor Phil Knight, cementing their status as an elite program.
Fascinating Non-Playoff Clashes Abound
Of course, the CFP isn’t the only game in town. Rittenberg runs through projections for all 36 other bowl matchups, highlighting several must-see battles:
- Alabama vs Michigan (ReliaQuest Bowl): The Crimson Tide’s offense proves too potent for the Wolverines.
- BYU vs Colorado (Alamo Bowl): Buffaloes stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders shine under coach Deion Sanders in a thrilling shootout.
- Iowa vs Missouri (Music City Bowl): The Tigers’ tempo ultimately wears down Iowa’s stingy defense in a border war revival.
While acknowledging potential opt-outs and portal entries could alter the landscape, Rittenberg nonetheless delivers a fascinating slate of matchups – and outcomes – to whet the appetite of college football fans everywhere. Let the debate and anticipation begin.
In the quarterfinals, Oregon narrowly outlasts Ohio State in a Rose Bowl rematch, while Georgia holds off a late charge from Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. On the other side of the bracket, Penn State stages a thrilling comeback to stun Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, setting up an all-Big Ten semifinal with Texas, which rides its defense to victory over Cinderella Arizona State.
Rittenberg envisions the Ducks exacting some payback for their early-season loss to the Longhorns, clinching a spot in the championship game opposite a Notre Dame squad that upsets Penn State.
Oregon simply has more ways to attack than most offenses Notre Dame has faced this season… The Ducks march on.
– Adam Rittenberg on his national title game prediction
In the end, Rittenberg sees Oregon’s depth and offensive firepower being too much for the Irish. The Ducks deliver their first national championship to 86-year-old benefactor Phil Knight, cementing their status as an elite program.
Fascinating Non-Playoff Clashes Abound
Of course, the CFP isn’t the only game in town. Rittenberg runs through projections for all 36 other bowl matchups, highlighting several must-see battles:
- Alabama vs Michigan (ReliaQuest Bowl): The Crimson Tide’s offense proves too potent for the Wolverines.
- BYU vs Colorado (Alamo Bowl): Buffaloes stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders shine under coach Deion Sanders in a thrilling shootout.
- Iowa vs Missouri (Music City Bowl): The Tigers’ tempo ultimately wears down Iowa’s stingy defense in a border war revival.
While acknowledging potential opt-outs and portal entries could alter the landscape, Rittenberg nonetheless delivers a fascinating slate of matchups – and outcomes – to whet the appetite of college football fans everywhere. Let the debate and anticipation begin.
