In the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP), the top four teams: Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State failed to advance. A large number of teams in the playoffs allowed more opportunities for college teams. In the inaugural season of the 12-team CFP, semifinal matchups included: 6th-seed Penn State Nittany Lions vs. 7th-seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Capital One Orange Bowl and 5th-seed Texas Longhorns vs. the 8th-seed Ohio State Buckeyes at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
ESPN Bet had Notre Dame favored by 1.5 points over Penn State, which was a tight line compared to OSU’s 5-point favorite over Texas. This 1.5-point line was the closest that the CFP saw this year.
The Capital One Orange Bowl was an emotional roller coaster. The game started slow, with both teams failing to score in the first quarter. The game had a lack of offense in the first half, where a late Irish field goal had Notre Dame trailing 10-3 as the teams walked into their locker rooms. In the third quarter, the Irish were able to even the score with a touchdown run by quarterback Riley Leonard.
The fourth quarter brought intense energy. On the Irish’s first drive, they were able to march down the field and score, putting Notre Dame on top, 17-10. After that, the Nittany Lions responded to the Irish with a touchdown followed by an interception to lead to another touchdown drive, putting the Irish on top 24-17 with eight minutes left to play.
With one of the best plays of the game, the Irish evened the score once more with a 54-yard touchdown reception with five minutes left. They got the ball back, and as the clock struck zero, kicker Mitch Keller knocked in the game-winning field goal to secure Notre Dame’s win and a spot in the CFP National Championship Game.
LFA Alum ‘23 and current sophomore at Notre Dame University, Diana Bishopp said, “It was probably the most intense game I have been at, especially after we won because it was up in the air all game.” After Jeter, the Notre Dame kicker made the game-winning field goal, “the student section went crazy,” Bishopp said.
Ohio State University vs Texas brought intense energy from across the country, as both teams have large fan bases. Right from the opening kickoff, the game was competitive both offensively and defensively. The Buckeyes ended the first quarter up 7-0, with a touchdown scored by running back Quinshon Judkins; as well as impressive defensive play from the Buckeyes, with notable sacks from JT Tuimoloau and Ty Hamilton.
The second quarter was anticlimactic until the Longhorns turned on the heat with a combined sack from Anthony Hill Jr. and Barryn Sorrel. Ex-Buckeye and current Longhorn quarterback, Quinn Ewers was subbed out for a short time as Arch Manning, the brother of super bowl winning quarterbacks- Eli and Peytion Manning, a redshirt freshman, took his place on the field to run 8 yards for a 1st down. In the last thirty seconds of the quarter, Ewers was able to complete an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jaydon Blue to tie up the game. The Buckeyes came back fast with wide receiver Treveyon Henderson scoring a touchdown on a 75-yard pass thrown by Will Howard. The Buckeyes went into halftime with a 14-7 lead over the Longhorns.
Texas had high hopes as they started the second half with an interception by David Gbenda, however, they were unable to score. Later, Blue made himself useful again, securing another touchdown thrown by Ewers to tie the game at 14. In the third quarter, Vernon Broughton of the Longhorns played outstanding defense, letting the teams go into the fourth quarter tied.
Ohio State started the fourth quarter with possession. They capitalized on their first drive, with Judkins catching another touchdown pass. Tension rose with the ball in Texas’s control. A few penalties stopped Texas from scoring, and a game-changing sack by defensive end Jack Sawyer put the nail in the coffin. Ewers was sacked by Sawyer and fumbled the ball, leading to an 83-yard scoop-and-score by Sawyer, putting the Buckeyes ahead 28-14. Ohio State held on, winning the game and with it a trip to Atlanta for the National Championship.
