College Football Playoff 2015: Breaking Down Format, Bowl Predictions and More
The world of college football has been a much happier place the last two seasons than it had been in previous years thanks to the College Football Playoff.
The NCAA is in its second year of determining an actual champion on the field and and not one voted on by "experts."
The current system is not perfect. Four teams will have an opportunity to earn college football's crown, and in an ideal scenario, the field would be expanded to eight teams. That would require three rounds of playoff games instead of two, and the NCAA decision-makers have not decided to go that route.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The format of the College Football Playoff couldn't be simpler. The top four teams in the nation, as determined by the College Football Playoff rankings, will compete for the title.
Final rankings will be announced Sunday after conference championship games have been played, and that will determine both semifinal games.
Heading into the weekend, it appears top-ranked Clemson (12-0) will hold onto its position as long as it can defeat North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game. No. 2 Alabama (11-1) will have to hold off Florida in the SEC title game, while No. 4 Iowa (12-0) and No. 5 Michigan State (11-1) will meet in the Big Ten title game.
Oklahoma (11-1), the No. 3 team in the nation, has completed its season and is virtually assured of its spot in the playoffs.
"Oklahoma's in, but here's how the rest of the playoff field will shake out. @slmandel: https://t.co/hq81yalABv
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) November 29, 2015"
Barring any major upsets, Clemson and Alabama appear poised to join Oklahoma in the semifinals. The Big Ten title game appears somewhat closer, but Michigan State has played a much tougher schedule than the Hawkeyes. The Spartans have beaten Oregon, Michigan and previously undefeated and defending national champion Ohio State, and that resume appears to give them an edge over Iowa.
"My new Top 10: #OU & BigTen champ seem to be set to make the Playoff: https://t.co/qqUAsFRSlq
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 29, 2015"
While Kirk Ferentz's team has passed every test to this point, the toughest opponents Iowa played this season were Wisconsin and Northwestern, and the Hawkeyes are clearly facing a step up in competition. That's the primary reason Michigan State is favored by 3.5 points, according to Odds Shark.
We see the final College Football Playoff Rankings including Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma and Michigan State.
Clemson, the No. 1 team in our scenario, will meet Michigan State in the first semifinal, while Alabama and Oklahoma will meet in the other.
The Clemson-Michigan State game will be played Dec. 31 in the Orange Bowl, while the Sooners and the Crimson Tide will meet in the Cotton Bowl on the same date.
The two semifinal winners will meet in the Championship Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, Jan. 11.
Orange Bowl
Clemson was tested early in the season by Louisville and Notre Dame in back-to-back games. After beating the Cardinals by a 20-17 margin on the road in mid-September, the Tigers took on the Fighting Irish in a home game played in a driving rain storm.
Clemson was pushed to the limit but emerged with a 24-22 victory. The Tigers weren't tested again until last week when in-state rival South Carolina stayed within range before Clemson survived with a 37-32 victory.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson has had a remarkable season, completing 261 of 371 passes for 3,223 yards with a 27-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Watson is also a tremendous runner, gaining 756 yards on the ground and running for nine touchdowns.
"Clemson QB Deshaun Watson is named ACC's player of the year. He led league with 3,223 Pass yds and 27 Pass TD. pic.twitter.com/5AVAPb15b5
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 2, 2015"
Wayne Gallman is the Tigers' leading rusher with 1,145 yards and nine touchdowns. He is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and is a threat to get to the second level and break long plays. Wide receiver Artavis Scott has had a big year and is the Tigers' leading receiver with 77 receptions, 709 yards and four touchdowns.
Michigan State is a well-rounded offensive team that has been put to the test throughout the season.
The Spartans overcame their first challenge early in the season when they outlasted the Oregon Ducks 31-28. Once they got to the Big Ten portion of the schedule, huge games against Michigan and Ohio State loomed large.
Michigan State was largely outplayed by Michigan, but the Spartans were able to turn Michigan's special teams error into a final-play touchdown and a 27-23 victory in Ann Arbor.
The Spartans pulled off their signature win when they defeated Ohio State 17-14 in Columbus. Michigan State's defense, which has appeared vulnerable at several points this season, clamped down on the Buckeyes and keyed the victory.
While the Spartans dropped a game at Nebraska, the win over Ohio State more than made up for it.
Quarterback Connor Cook had an injured shoulder and did not play against the Buckeyes, making that win even more impressive. Cook is back in the lineup and has had a wonderful season, throwing for 2,730 yards with a 24-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Aaron Burbridge leads a crew of excellent wide receivers, catching 75 passes for 1,158 yards and seven TDs. Macgarrett Kings and R.J. Shelton are also impact receivers, while LJ Scott and Gerald Holmes have combined for 1,139 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.
Prediction: Michigan State 27, Clemson 24. The Tigers have been a consistently impressive team, but the Spartans are battle-tested and will find a way to win the fourth quarter and emerge with the victory.
Cotton Bowl
Alabama is back in the College Football Playoff for a second consecutive year, and that's not a surprise.
Nick Saban has become one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of college football, and any time his team has a chance to play for the national title, it is almost a matter of course.
That route got thrown off a bit early in the season when the Tide suffered a 43-37 home loss to Ole Miss, but Alabama has reeled off nine consecutive wins since that defeat, and eight of those wins have been one-sided.
The Crimson Tide love to show off their dominance in the running game, and Derrick Henry has had a sensational season. He has rushed for 1,797 yards with an eye-catching 6.1 yards-per-carry average. He has found the end zone 22 times.
Quarterback Jake Coker has completed 204 of 31 passes for 2,285 yards with a 15-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Freshman Calvin Ridley is the team's leading wide receiver with 67 catches for 791 yards and five touchdowns.
Oklahoma dropped a shocking 24-17 decision to traditional rival Texas in mid-October, but the Sooners have played with a vengeance since that game.
They have a devastating offense, having exceeded the 50-point mark six times this season and the 60-point mark twice. They established their credentials by beating No. 6 Baylor, No. 18 TCU and No. 11 Oklahoma State the last three weeks of the season.
Baker Mayfield has had a tremendous year under center for the Sooners. The former walk-on has completed 243 of 354 passes for 3,389 yards with 35 touchdowns and just five interceptions. While those numbers are spectacular, the junior quarterback has shown excellent leadership skills as well.
"Baker Mayfield sees himself as a role model for other walk-ons https://t.co/7OgqBpZGwM pic.twitter.com/1P6p4QNjXl
— OU Sports Extra (@OUSportsExtra) December 3, 2015"
Sterling Shepard has emerged as a game-changing receiver, catching 79 passes for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns. Running back Samaje Perine has gained 1,291 yards, is averaging 6.1 yards per carry and has scored 11 touchdowns.
Prediction: Alabama 34, Oklahoma 28. The Sooners may look unstoppable on offense, but the Crimson Tide are not going to let Oklahoma push them around or let their passing game take over. Alabama will come up with a couple of key stops in the second half and survive.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
