The College Football Playoffs have been criticized much since it was introduced. This year, we have seen the first 12 team playoff bracket. With many star teams in the playoffs, it was expected to be a playoff bracket to remember. There were a couple teams that were not expected to make a splash this year that really did, teams like Boise State and Arizona State. There were teams expected to make it that didn’t make it like Alabama and Ole Miss. I’d say it is time to recap this playoff bracket and see if it was good or bad. 

We are going to start with round 1 which had Clemson vs Texas, Tennesse vs Ohio State, SMU vs Penn State and Indiana vs Notre Dame. 4 teams had bye weeks, those teams were Arizona State, Oregon, Boise State and Georgia. Starting with the first game, Texas played Clemson in a game that was not remotely close. Texas put up 21 points in the second quarter and Clemson just never got ahold of themselves, final score being 38-24. Tennesse vs Ohio was another game that was a blow out with Ohio State putting up 21 in the first quarter and they never let up with the final score being 42-17. SMU vs Penn State was another blow out which is quite a common theme with this first round. Penn State won 38-10 and nothing notable happened. Same with Indiana vs Notre Dame with Notre Dame winning 27-17. 

Now, the second round had some much better matchups than round one. We are going to start with a thriller of a game in Texas and Arizona State. Texas was the eventual victor after a 2ot shootout. It ended 39-31. Arizona running back Cam Scataboo really showed himself as a NFL prospect with 30 carries, 143 yards and 2 touchdowns. Another hyped-up game was Boise state playing Penn State. This game ended up being a disappointing game with Penn State dominating 31-14. First quarter started with Boise State throwing back-to-back interceptions for defensive touchdowns. 2 of the biggest upsets happened this week with Notre Dame beating Georgia 23-10 and the number 1 team Oregon falling to number 8 Ohio in crushing fashion 41-21. 

Next on the list is the semifinals, normally full of good games and it did not disappoint. Texas played Ohio State. Ohio State would once again upset Texas 28-14. The game was close going into the fourth quarter, that was when Ohio dropped 14 unanswered points to punch their ticket into the National Championship. Penn State played Notre Dame in a nail-biting event. In a tie game, Penn State took the field. Needing a touchdown they threw the ball. Unfortunately Drew Allar forgot what team he was playing for and threw an interception. Notre Dame then stormed down the field and kicked the game winning field goal punching their ticket to the National Championship . 

The National Championship was highly anticipated with it being a showdown between 2 teams that were on fire in the playoffs. First quarter Notre Dame goes up by a touchdown. Second quarter Notre Dame goes scoreless, and Ohio State puts up 21 unanswered points on Notre Dame. Third quarter Notre Dame scores a touchdown and the 2-point conversion, Ohio state scores a touchdown and field goal. Fourth quarter Notre Dame scores a touchdown and 2-point conversion, they need one defensive stop. They put the corner 1-on-1 with one of the top Wide Receivers in the country. Ohio State throws a deep pass sealing the game. Ohio kicks a field goal to seal it 34-23.