College Football Playoff is set: Semifinal, Rankings, New Year's Bowl Games announced
It's finally here: the College Football Playoff and Bowl Season is upon us, as the selection committee has announced its final decisions on the top 25 rankings.
We came into Selection Sunday with a vague idea of what the final four would look like, especially after Georgia and Michigan won their respective conference championship games, all but locking up the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds this postseason.
Losses by TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game and by USC in the Pac-12 title made things a little more interesting, all but knocking the Trojans out of the semifinal picture, but most analysts expected the Horned Frogs would stay in.
Where do things stand now? Here's your exclusive look at the complete College Football Playoff semifinal and New Year's Six bowl game schedule, according to the Selection Committee.
College Football Playoff
The official College Football Playoff field is set
USA Today Images
- Georgia
- Michigan
- TCU
- Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl: TCU vs. Michigan. This 2 vs. 3 semifinal brings us a Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup of two teams that can pack a punch offensively, and it'll be interesting to see if the Wolverines can match up with the speed of the Horned Frogs' skill threats a year after going against Georgia in the playoff. These two schools have never faced off on the same field. Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN and fuboTV (Try for free)
Peach Bowl: Georgia vs. Ohio State. This should be a fun matchup between a Georgia defense that leads the nation in points per game allowed and boasts a sweltering front seven push against an Ohio State passing attack that has some of the premier receiving talent in the country. Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV (Try for free)
New Year's Six bowl games
Rose Bowl: Utah vs. Penn State. After stomping on USC to win the Pac-12 title game, the Utes should head back to Pasadena this postseason, where they lost a thriller to Ohio State a year ago, but this time against a Penn State team that won 10 games, including its final four outings behind an inspired offensive output. Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV (Try for free)
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Tennessee. This is the 20th meeting between the schools, with the Volunteers leading the series 11-6-2, but they have played just three times since World War II. UT will test Clemson's up-and-down secondary with its superb offensive attack while newly-installed Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik should find some room against the Vols' back seven. This game should be a fun shootout. Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV (Try for free)
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Kansas State. The rare non-CFP game for the Tide, which would draw the new Big 12 champion in this one. The two schools have never met before, but the Wildcats boast a dynamic rushing attack behind star back/receiver Deuce Vaughn, whose agility and speed has bedeviled Big 12 defenses for three seasons now. Dec. 31 at 12 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV (Try for free)
Cotton Bowl: USC vs. Tulane. The new AAC champion Green Wave put on a show offensively to beat UCF for the league crown and draw USC as a result fresh off the Trojans' poor defensive effort against Utah and now facing questions about quarterback Caleb Williams' health. His being hobbled doesn't help USC's otherwise stellar offense. Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV (Try for free)
College Football Playoff rankings
- Georgia
- Michigan
- TCU
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- Tennessee
- Clemson
- Utah
- Kansas State
- USC
- Penn State
- Washington
- Florida State
- Oregon State
- Oregon
- Tulane
- LSU
- UCLA
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Notre Dame
- Mississippi State
- NC State
- Troy
- UTSA
More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | All Teams