College Football Playoff Selections

Story & Graphic by Morgan Hill – Sports Editor

   The 2024 College Football season has been one of many nuances and challenges. However, the major challenge so far this season has been the College Football Playoff, especially due to it being expanded from 4 teams in previous years to 12 teams. 

   Last Sunday, December 8th, the field of 12 teams was released by the Playoff Committee and has incited many on how the committee prefers the format and therefore is starting to set precedents as to what the committee prefers to do.

   “I think they choose teams that have a complete body of work. I also think they like to have some of the usual suspects blended with a few Cinderellas,” Jason Jones, history teacher, said.

   The committee not only has to select 12 teams for the playoff but is constantly challenged with finding the best 12 teams. The 12 teams have to consist of the 5 highest conference champions as well as 5 at-large teams.

   “They have a tough job,” Jones said.

   With the release of the 12 teams, the format is set up so that the first-round games are played on campus for seeds 5-12. This surely will bring great atmospheres and even more excitement to the already thrilling games.

   “Penn State will probably have the best atmosphere in round one,” Jones said.

   With Penn State being one of the schools with the most tradition in the country they will be doing their famous “White Out” to hopefully create more of a home-field advantage in their game versus SMU.

   As the Midwest is home to some of the best football teams in the country, there are four teams that represent the Big 10 conference in the playoff, the most of all conferences. One of which is Indiana, a great team but has never reached the playoff before.

   “I think the Notre Dame/Indiana game will be a great game for CFB and the state of Indiana. Regional rivalries are the best,” Jones said.

   With two teams from the state of Indiana playing each other in a heated match-up, it will most definitely make for a great game. The playoff begins on December 20th, with this great interstate match-up, and will continue to deliver great games all throughout December, all the way to the National Championship.