Bill Connelly, ESPN Staff Writer
Without the College Football Playoff expansion in 2024, there would have been a four-team playoff with Georgia and Texas facing off for the third time and Oregon and Penn State facing off for the second time. Ohio State wouldn’t have gotten the extra mulligan and used it to go into World Destroyer mode, and Cam Scatterbo wouldn’t have gained 242 yards from scrimmage in his only CFP game. Sho. Notre Dame clinched the final spot in the final weeks of the season.
In other words, the original 12-team playoffs were more fun than the alternative playoffs, even if there was only one true classic game in the first two rounds. And you have three more chances to create something great. The CFP semifinals kick off Thursday, with two rivals from the 1980s, Notre Dame and Penn State, playing a nearly even game on paper before the nation’s hottest team (Ohio State) faces Texas and their clutch. Fight against formers. Buckeyes quarterback (Quinn Ewers) on Friday. Who will advance to the national title match? Here’s everything you need to know about the semi-final round.
Jump to section:
Best player of the semi-finals
notre dame penn state
Ohio-Texas
CFP’s biggest play
