College Football Bowl Games: Latest Buzz Ahead of Top Matchups

It's almost time for the 2015-16 College Football Playoff, one year after the sport was turned on its head when a No. 4 seed shocked the world and brought home a national championship with a third-string quarterback.

So what do this year's matchups have in store for us?

Oklahoma starts off Friday's action with a 4 p.m. ET kickoff against the No. 1-ranked Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl.

Revenge is certainly a factor for the Sooners after getting dominated by Clemson in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl. Neither side has to look far for motivation, and it's clear no love will be lost when things get underway on Friday afternoon.

Both teams feature much more prolific passers than when they faced off a year ago, as Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield will look to stay hot against Clemson's Deshaun Watson and his undefeated Tigers.

The Sooners suffered an inexplicable midseason loss to their bitter rival, Texas, while Clemson coasted through its ACC schedule unscathed.

Yet Oklahoma enters the game as favorites, largely due to its pristine reputation in comparison to Clemson, a team that is well-known for its struggles on the national stage.

But to this point in the season, the Tigers have bucked that trend thanks to their stud sophomore quarterback who has led one of the most prolific offenses in all of college football.

Oklahoma features a high-powered offense of its own, with a bruising running back in Samaje Perine to complement Mayfield's playmaking ability.

Plenty of points are going to be put up in the Orange Bowl, with Mayfield and Watson likely lighting up the opposition with their bevy of playmakers.

In the end, you've got to beat the best to be the best, and so far nobody has taken down Dabo Swinney's bunch in 2015. I don't see that changing today, as Clemson moves on to the CFP National Championship Game after outscoring the Sooners on the strength of a late Watson touchdown run.

Alabama's matchup with Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl likely won't feature the same offensive fireworks as the day's first game, but rather it's poised to be a low-scoring affair.

The Spartans have the edge in the quarterback battle, but almost every other statistic favors the Crimson Tide. Connor Cook has put together a storied career as a Spartan, and he would love to end his time in a Michigan State uniform with a national championship.

Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry has been an absolute terror for opposing defenses this season, but Michigan State features a defensive bunch that has allowed just 50 points over their last four games and is seemingly trending upward.

Alabama, however, has been one of the best defensive teams in the country all year long and could prevent the Spartans from moving the ball effectively from the start.

The underlying talking point here is, of course, the "mentor vs. pupil" storyline between Nick Saban and Mark Dantonio, one that explains exactly why these two teams play such a similar, hard-nosed style.

Despite all of the statistics, the Spartans have been a team that just doesn't go away, always staying close and taking advantage when opportunities strike. 

With all due respect to Alabama's smothering defense, Michigan State just seems like a team of destiny.

I believe the Spartans are able to stay close all game long before forcing a Henry fumble in the fourth quarter that leads to their winning touchdown drive.

But this is just one writer's opinion, and we all know college football is wonderfully unpredictable.

The most thrilling aspect of this year's playoff is the fact that there is no clear favorite to win it all, and each matchup could yield different outcomes.

One thing is certain: 2015 is going to end with two of the most highly anticipated games of the year, games that will vault certain players and coaches into legendary status for their respective schools.

With everything on the line for these playoff teams, all four programs will be ready to put on a show under the lights on Friday night.