For the first time, 12 teams will decide the national championship on the field. What do you need to know about the dozen teams that made the Collage football Playoff? Let this be yoru guide to how they all got here adn how far they can expect to advance.
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College Football playoff guide: 12-team format, crucial dates, game locations
Oregon Ducks (13-0)
Seed: 1 | Committee ranking: 1
First game: Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, vs. winner of No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State
Last national title: Never
Coach: Dan lanning (third season)
Yards per play rankings: No. 15 offense, No. 21 defense
How they got here: once the successful bo Nix era ended, Lanning knew he was one more dynamic quarterback away from leading a veteran roster to a playoff berth. so the Ducks went portal shopping and landed one of the most seasoned quarterbacks in college football history, Dillon Gabriel, to see if he coudl serve as the final piece to the puzzle. He has been, and then some. Defensively, Lanning’s pedigree has paid off in spades in helping the Ducks go undefeated in their first Big Ten season.
Defensive MVP: Matayo Uiagalelei, DE. The younger brother of Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, Matayo has a team-high 10.5 sacks and plays on a stacked defensive line that, at least until the big Ten title game, established itself as difficult to run on. For the Ducks to make a deep run, they’ll need their stars on defense to shine again.
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Spotlight on: Dan Lanning, head coach. All the pieces are in place. The ducks are the lone unbeaten team in college football, the No. 1 seed and the team most likely chosen by pundits to win it all. In three short years, Lanning has built the roster into a behemoth, but the Playoff is where the margins are judged harshly because the margins matter.
What would be a successful Playoff? Win the whole thing. Oregon has been on the doorstep of a national title off and on for over a decade. With the right head coach, right staff, right personnel and most experienced quarterback in the history of the sport, it sort of feels like if the Ducks can’t do it this year, then when? They owned the Big Ten in Year 1, which is no small feat. But in the postseason, on neutral fields, anyone can be got. Especially this year. — Christopher Kamrani
Georgia went 2-0 against Texas en route to the SEC title. (Jeffrey Vest / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Georgia Bulldogs (11-2)
Seed: 2 | committee ranking: 2
First game: Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1, vs. winner of No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 notre Dame
Last national title: 2022
Coach: Kirby Smart (ninth season)
Yards per play rankings: No. 45 offense, No. 36 defense
How they got here: It was predictable this Georgia team would win the SEC and be a top-two seed in the Playoff — but few saw the rocky path to getting there. Georgia has a 4-0 record against teams in the Playoff but also lost to two teams that barely missed it,needed eight overtimes to beat Georgia Tech,beat Kentucky by one point,was tied late with Florida and generally lacked consistency on both sides of the ball. Now it might enter the CFP without its starting quarterback,Carson Beck,who hurt his elbow in the SEC championship and was replaced by gunner Stockton. but for all the
Offensive MVP: Trevor Etienne, RB. Beck may be injured, but Etienne is healthy for the stretch run after missing most of three games with a rib injury. Etienne, who transferred from Florida before the season, is a dynamic runner and receiver who the offense can lean on in the Playoff.
defensive MVP: Jalon Walker, LB. A Swiss Army knife linebacker who moves around to try to do the most damage, Walker leads the team in tackles for loss (9.5) and is also the emotional leader of a defense that has plenty of high-level talent.
Spotlight on: Mike Bobo, offensive coordinator. This is his second stint at Georgia,and while his offenses have always ranked high — his 2014 team still has the school record for scoring average — he has never been able to convince a loud part of the fan base. He finally got an SEC championship this year and did it after having to switch quarterbacks at halftime. But a national title would be sweet revenge on all those critics.
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 54 percent to make the semifinals, 31 percent to make the championship game and 13 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? Considering the favorable draw, anything less than making it back to Atlanta for the national championship will be a failure. And even then, let’s be honest: This is a program with two recent national titles, so being runner-up isn’t good enough either. — Seth Emerson
Boise State Broncos (12-1)
Seed: 3 | Committee ranking: 9
First game: Fiesta Bowl, Dec. 31, vs. winner of No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State
Last national title: Never in the FBS, 1980 in the FCS
Coach: Spencer Danielson (first full season)
Yards per play rankings: No. 5 offense, No. 71 defense
How they got here: By hopping on the back of star running back Ashton Jeanty. Boise State locked up one of the automatic bids reserved for the five highest-ranked conference champions and will be the Playoff’s lone Group of 5 team as the Mountain West winner. But while most assumed entering the season that the G5 representative would get the 12-seed,the Broncos ended up at No. 3 with a first-round bye.
Boise’s only loss came on Sept. 7 on a last-second field goal on the road against Oregon, which is now the undisputed No. 1 team. That was the only Power 4 opponent on the schedule this season,but Jeanty and Boise State ran roughshod over the rest of the schedule. Boise has frequently enough carried the banner for the Group of 5, dating back to the Statue of Liberty upset of Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. It’s only fitting the Broncos will do it again in the first 12-team field.
Offensive MVP: Ashton Jeanty, RB. This one’s easy: Jeanty has already registered one of the most proficient seasons in college football history. He leads the FBS in rushing with 2,497 rushing yards, good enough for fourth-best all-time, and total touchdowns with 30.
Defensive MVP: Ahmed Hassanein, DE. A stout defensive front is anchored by Hassanein, a senior and back-to-back All-Mountain West first team honoree with 42 total tackles and 8.5 sacks.
Spotlight on: Jeanty’s pursuit of history. There are plenty of quality players on this Boise State roster, but Jeanty is the straw that stirs the drink. He’s vying with Colorado’s Travis Hunter for the Heisman Trophy. Jeanty is just 132 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record, set over the course of 11 games in 1988.
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 33 percent to make the semifinals, 10 percent to make the championship game and 3 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? In most years, a G5 team simply reaching the Playoff will qualify as a rousing success. That applies to this Boise State squad, especially considering it earned a first-round bye. This will go down as a historic season for the Broncos nonetheless of what comes next. However, a win in the quarterfinals would definitively justify the first-round bye. — Justin Williams
Ashton Jeanty has rushed for at least 127 yards in every game. (Loren Orr / Getty Images)
First game: Peach Bowl, Jan. 1, vs. winner of No. 12 clemson at No. 5 Texas
Last national title: Never
Coach: Kenny Dillingham (second season)
Yards per play rankings: No. 32 offense, No. 40 defense
How they got here: Picked to finish last in the Big 12,the Sun Devils turned into one of the season’s best stories. After a 3-9 debut, Dillingham and his staff deftly made use of the transfer portal to stage a reversal no one expected. The Sun Devils beat four ranked teams,including a 45-19 rout of Iowa State to win the Big 12 championship. Dillingham calls his team a group of “misfits,” but it’d be a mistake to underestimate the Sun Devils. They have won six in a row and are playing with confidence.
Offensive MVP: cam Skattebo, RB. Most backs run from contact; Skattebo seeks it out. At 5-11, 215 pounds, the Sacramento state transfer, who attracted minimal college attention out of high school, is a load to bring down. He is the nation’s only back to post 1,500-plus rushing and 500-plus receiving yards and is shouldering an even bigger load with top receiver Jordyn Tyson out for the season as of an injury.
Defensive MVP: Xavion Alford, S. A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Alford is a key part of an Arizona State defense that has limited opponents to 21.3 points per game.Alford is second on the team with 82 tackles and has two interceptions. Arizona State hasn’t allowed more than 23 points since Nov. 9.
Spotlight on: Sam Leavitt, QB. In his first full season, Leavitt has proven to be among the nation’s top young quarterbacks. He has a strong arm and throws well on the run. He also is not afraid to run from pressure and pick up first downs. Leavitt missed Arizona State’s Oct.19 loss at Cincinnati as of an injury. When he’s on the field, the Sun Devils are 11-1.
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 21 percent to make the semifinals, 4 percent to make the championship game and 1 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? Sometime soon, coverage of the Sun Devils will shift from the feel-good story to the actual team. But it’s difficult. Entering this season, fans would have been happy with bowl eligibility. A spot in the expanded Playoff (with a first-round bye!) was beyond anyone’s imagination. Just getting in the field has made this one of the more memorable seasons in school history. — Doug Haller
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orns (11-2)
Seed: 5 | Committee ranking: 3
First game: Dec. 21 vs.No. 12 Clemson
Last national title: 2005
Coach: Steve Sarkisian (fourth season)
Yards per play rankings: No. 35 offense, No. 1 defense
How they got here: A year after breaking through to the Playoff, the Longhorns loaded up for another run by returning most of their offensive line, quarterback Quinn Ewers and a host of defensive stars. Sarkisian’s high school recruiting and development paired with strategic use of the transfer portal and vast NIL resources helped construct one of the best rosters in the contry. Texas’ resume is lacking — the Longhorns didn’t beat a team ranked in the committee’s final top 25 — but 10 of its 11 wins were by double digits, with its only losses to SEC champion georgia.
Offensive MVP: Gunnar Helm,TE. Helm has emerged as the team’s most trustworthy target in the passing game. He leads the team with 49 receptions and has caught 83.1 percent of his targets, also a team-high. He moves the chains and is an invaluable red zone target that opponents must account for.
Defensive MVP: Anthony Hill Jr., LB. He leads the team in tackles (90) and tackles for loss (16) and is an explosive, versatile athlete who causes problems for opposing offenses. Hill is just a sophomore but has played at an All-America level.
Spotlight on: Quinn Ewers, QB. Texas’ third-year starter has been good but inconsistent.Since returning from an oblique injury on Oct. 12, he has thrown 17 touchdown passes and seven interceptions (that ratio ranks 53rd in the FBS in that span), averaged 7.2 yards per attempt (69th) and completed 64.1 percent of his passes (45th). When Ewers is on, he’s one of the nation’s best, but we haven’t seen that level of play consistently. Having a backup with a ton of talent and a famous last name (Arch Manning) harbored intrigue throughout the year, but Sarkisian only benched Ewers once for Manning, with the rest of the redshirt freshman’s snaps coming in mop-up duty or in place of an injured Ewers.
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 73 percent to make the second round, 61 percent to make the semifinals, 29 percent to make the championship game and 18 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? Winning the national championship is the goal, but making the title game would still be a notable accomplishment. Texas already made the semifinal last year. Getting a step further would be a success, even if a title-game loss would be disappointing. — Sam Khan Jr.
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Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2)
Seed: 6 | Committee ranking: 4
First game: Dec. 21 vs. No.11 SMU
Last national title: 1986
Coach: James Franklin (11th season)
Yards per play rankings: No. 6 offense, No. 9 defense
How they got here: Penn State’s roster was built for a Playoff run right now. Its acclaimed 2022 signing class was led by players like quarterback Drew Allar, running back Nicholas Singleton and defensive end Abdul Carter. The maturation of the nucleus of the roster, all now in their third year, aligns perfectly with the first year of the 12-team Playoff field. An 11-2 record with a loss to Ohio State and a Big Ten title game loss to No. 1 Oregon still landed Penn State with the sixth seed and a highly anticipated home Playoff game.
Offensive MVP: Tyler Warren, TE. A surprise Heisman candidate, Warren will run the ball, throw passes and catch them too. He’s the creative chess piece that offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has used in every way imaginable. On a roster that doesn’t have a stud wide receiver, warren has been asked to do it all. He’s second in the Big ten with 88 catches.
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Defensive MVP: Abdul Carter, DE. A projected top-10 NFL Draft pick, Carter moved from linebacker to end this season and has made a statement with 10 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. Carter garners extra attention from opponents and can crack a game open with his athleticism.
Spotlight on: Drew Allar, QB. Penn state’s offense looked the best it has all season during the conference championship game despite the loss —
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 67 percent to make the second round, 49 percent to make the semifinals, 26 percent to make the championship game and 12 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? Penn State needs to overcome its big-game shortcomings. With its Playoff path, it could get as far as the title game and at least needs to get to the semifinals. First, the Nittany Lions need to beat SMU in Beaver Stadium — in a game that will be a White Out — and then see if they can upend Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Franklin’s teams are 1-14 against top-five opponents. Penn state showed in the Big Ten title game against No. 1 Oregon that it can play with anyone, but will it finally make a run? — Audrey Snyder
How they got here: Notre Dame did it the hard way because of its home loss to Northern Illinois in early September when it was booed off its home field. But the Irish have been among the most impressive teams nationally as, winning 10 in a row. Notre Dame finally has an offense that can complement Al Golden’s elite defense. The schedule makes it hard to get a complete read on the Irish, with just one CFP Top 25 win (Army) and plenty of blowouts of weaker Power 4 competition.That full examination is coming soon.
Offensive MVP: Jeremiyah Love, RB. A knee injury suffered at USC shouldn’t keep Love out of the Playoff, where the sophomore running back could become a national star. He’s averaging 7.1 yards per carry, and many of those carries have been stunning.
Defensive MVP: Xavier Watts, S. Last year’s Nagurski’s Trophy winner has actually improved as a leader and tackler. His 100-yard pick six at USC showed he still has the ability to control a game, too.
Spotlight on: Riley Leonard, QB. Leonard has grown as a quarterback as that brutal loss against Northern Illinois, but the Irish haven’t had to rely on the Duke transfer as a passer to win. That moment is coming. Can Leonard deliver?
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Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 65 percent to make the second round, 33 percent to make the semifinals, 19 percent to make the championship game and 8 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? Make the semifinals. Simply hosting a first-round game means Notre Dame’s season gets a passing grade.For it to be considered a success, the Irish must win at home and beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. That would give Notre Dame its first major bowl win in 31 years. — Pete Sampson
Jeremiyah Love averages 7.1 yards per rush with 15 TDs. (Michael Reaves / getty Images)
ohio State Buckeyes (10-2)
Seed: 8 | Committee ranking: 6
First game: Dec. 21 vs. No.9 Tennessee
last national title: 2014
Coach
How they got here: Ohio State brought back one of the most talented rosters in the country and an elite defense. For much of the year, it looked destined for a rematch with oregon in the Big Ten title game, but an upset loss to Michigan as a three-touchdown favorite at the end of the season crushed those dreams. Still, two top-10 wins against Penn State and Indiana helped Ohio State earn a home CFP game. The expectations have been high for ohio State all season, but they have actually gotten higher after the loss to Michigan. Many beleive only a national championship would take the sour taste of the michigan loss out of their mouth.
Offensive MVP: Jeremiah Smith, WR. The wide receiver of the year in the Big Ten is only a freshman, but he is making the case that he might be one of the best in Ohio State history before he’s done. The No. 1 recruit in the 2024 class has 934 yards and broke Ohio State’s freshman touchdown record with 10.
Defensive MVP: Caleb Downs, S. An Alabama transfer, Downs is a game-wrecker against the run, can blitz from every angle and can blanket tight ends. The Big Ten defensive back of the year has 61 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, one interception and a punt return touchdown.
Spotlight on: Ryan Day, head coach. No othre coach in the Playoff is under a bigger microscope than Day after losing his fourth consecutive game to Michigan. A first-round loss would turn even the biggest Day supporters against him, while a deep playoff run could get more fans back on his side.
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 74 percent to make the second round, 38 percent to make the semifinals, 25 percent to make the championship game and 16 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? It’s national championship or bust for Ohio State. ohio State has some real concerns with a banged-up offensive line and an inconsistent kicker, but when you spend $20 million in NIL and go all offseason preaching “natty or bust,” the stakes are clear. — Cameron Teague Robinson
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Tennessee Volunteers (10-2)
Seed: 9 | Committee ranking: 7
First game: Dec. 21 at No. 8 Ohio State
Last national title: 1998
Coach: Josh heupel (fourth season)
Yards per play rankings: No. 33 offense, No. 4 defense
How they got here: The power-spread offense had the Vols just outside of the four-team Playoff in 2022 fueled by Hendon Hooker and a
Offensive MVP: Dylan Sampson, RB. Sampson has been a bell cow,breaking the program’s 95-year old record for rushing touchdowns with 22.His 256 carries and 1,485 rushing yards are both in the top 10 nationally. No SEC team held him under 90 yards this year, though he also had more than 150 yards in just one game: the season finale against Vanderbilt.
Defensive MVP: James Pearce Jr., Edge. The likely first-round pick is the star of an experienced,physical defensive line that’s one of the nation’s best. He leads the team with 11 tackles for loss, has freakish speed and flourishes in obvious passing downs.
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 26 percent to make the second round, 8 percent to make the semifinals, 4 percent to make the championship game and 2 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? The Vols are mildly disappointed to not be selected as a host, but it has been predictable for a couple weeks. Before the SEC’s implosion late in the season, there was no guarantee the Vols would even be in the field. With a first-year starter at quarterback,winning the first-round game in Columbus would make it unfeasible to categorize the season as anything other than a success. There will likely be bigger expectations next year. — David Ubben
Indiana Hoosiers (11-1)
Seed: 10 | Committee ranking: 8
First game: Dec. 20 at No. 7 Notre Dame
Last national title: Never
Coach: Curt Cignetti (first season)
Yards per play rankings: No. 12 offense, No. 3 defense
How they got here: In a season full of surprises, the losingest team in college football history making the first 12-team Playoff still has to rank No. 1. Cignetti came in from james Madison defiantly predicting instant success and delivered, thanks largely to several JMU transfers and Kurtis Rourke, the quarterback he got from Ohio. The Hoosiers won 11 of 12 games, losing 38-15 at Ohio State, a result that threatened their standing before some key upsets helped.Indiana doesn’t have a ranked win to its name but does have consistent domination,beating FBS teams by an average of 29.3 points per game.
Offensive MVP: Kurtis Rourke, QB. The nation’s leader in pass efficiency rating (181.38) has been solid to the point of spectacular, completing 70.4 percent of his passes for 2,827 yards and 27 touchdowns, with just four interceptions. He is well supported with productive backs in Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton, several capable pass catchers, and tremendous scheming and coaching.
Defensive MVP: Mikail Kamara, DE. this is a close call over inside linebacker Aiden Fisher. Kamara, a James Madison transfer, has 10 sacks after he collected 6.5 in 2023 for the Dukes in the Sun Belt. He elevated his game for the Big Ten, as offensive coordinators who have had to double team him regularly can attest.
Spotlight on: Offensive line. Depth is an issue for the most talented teams in college football, let alone a team like Indiana. And the loss of starting left guard Drew Evans to an Achilles tear before the Michigan game has hurt. The Hoosiers struggled to protect in the second half of that 20-15 win and at Ohio State. Indiana is going to need to manufacture some rushing yards and keep Rourke comfortable to have a chance.
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 35 percent to make the second round, 13 percent to make the semifinals, 6 percent to make the championship game and 2 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? One win would be a success. Realistically, a competitive loss is a success. Historically speaking,success has been achieved already. But Cignetti and his Hoosiers certainly don’t feel that way, and that’s exactly why they’re here with an possibility to keep shocking people. — Joe Rexrode
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SMU Mustangs (11-2)
Seed: 11 | Committee ranking: 10
First game: Dec. 21 at No. 6 Penn State
Last national title: No consensus titles
Coach: Rhett Lashlee (third season)
Yards per play rankings: No. 26 offense, No. 9 defense
How they got here: Decades after the “Death Penalty” of the 1980s and the Southwest Conference collapse in the 1990s sent the program into purgatory, the Mustangs are back on the biggest stage and in a major conference.SMU finished alone atop the ACC standings in their first season with an 8-0 record. But they didn’t play Miami,Clemson or syracuse.Facing Clemson in the ACC championship, the Mustangs fell behind 31-14 entering the fourth quarter. They rallied to tie the game with 20 seconds left before Clemson kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired. SMU had to sweat it out Sunday morning but made the field as the last at-large team in, ahead of Alabama.
Offensive MVP: Kevin Jennings, QB: He didn’t take over the starting job until a few games into the season, but he kick-started this offense with his decision-making, athleticism and zip on throws. Nick Saban called him one of the most underrated players in the country.
Defensive MVP: Kobe Wilson, LB: Wilson does everything for this underrated SMU defense, with 110 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions. He earned second-team All-ACC honors for a unit that leads the league in points allowed.
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Spotlight on: SMU’s tempo. The mustangs run their offense at a fast pace.How will Penn State’s defense handle that and how will it work in the cold temperatures of Pennsylvania in late December?
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 33 percent to make the second round, 18 percent to make the semifinals, 7 percent to make the championship game and 2 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? SMU is playing with house money at this point. It has had arguably the best move from a Group of 5 league to a power conference ever, and it’s already proven it belongs at this level. People around the Mustangs always said they just needed a chance — just give them a P4 invite — and they could unlock their potential. that
seed: 12 | Committee ranking: 16
First game: Dec.21 at No. 5 Texas
Last national title: 2018
Coach: dabo Swinney (16th full season)
How they got here: The Tigers are the first three-loss team to make the Playoff, thanks to an improbable run through the ACC Championship Game. Just seven days before Clemson beat SMU in Charlotte to clinch its spot, the Tigers lost an emotional rivalry game to South Carolina and were devastated about missing the opportunity to state their case for an at-large bid. But Syracuse beat Miami in the final game of the regular season, which propelled the Tigers into the conference championship game and had Swinney thanking Orange coach Fran Brown all last week. Clemson got the last automatic Playoff bid thanks to a 56-yard field goal as time expired after SMU erased a 17-point deficit.
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Offensive MVP: Cade Klubnik, QB. For as much scrutiny as the junior from Texas has been under at various points in his career, the Tigers’ QB has total control of Clemson’s offense, throwing 33 touchdowns to just five interceptions.
Defensive MVP: T.J. Parker, DE. The sophomore has been everywhere,setting a school record for forced fumbles in a single season with six while ranking fourth in the FBS with 19 tackles for loss.
Spotlight on: Sammy Brown, LB: The freshman five-star recruit had 14 tackles against SMU and is already one of the most disruptive defensive players in the ACC. He has 11 TFLs and five sacks.
Odds to advance, according to austin Mock: 27 percent to make the second round, 18 percent to make the semifinals, 5 percent to make the championship game and 2 percent to win the national title
What would be a successful Playoff? Even getting into the Playoff is a major win for Clemson this year. But this is a program that made six CFP appearances with two national titles in the four-team era. Winning a first-round game at Texas would show the Tigers can still play with anyone. — Grace Raynor
(top photo of Tez Johnson: Michael Allio / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Spotlight on: Defensive line. The SMU defensive line has played a critical role in the team’s success this season. With a good mix of size and speed, they have been effective in stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback.Their performance will be pivotal against Penn State, where every yard counts in a playoff setting.
Odds to advance, according to Austin Mock: 40 percent to make the second round, 15 percent to make the semifinals, 8 percent to make the championship game, and 3 percent to win the national title.
What would be a successful Playoff? A win in the frist round would be a significant achievement for SMU, validating their return to prominence. The Mustangs are focused on not just making an appearance but leaving a mark and proving that they belong on this stage. — Mark Schlabach
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