Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, And Oklahoma Round Out CFP
The committee has spoken, and after an eventful Championship Saturday in college football, the team with the most explosive offense in college football this past season received the nod.
Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Oklahoma were selected for the College Football Playoff on Sunday afternoon.
The committee did not make a final decision until just before 1:30 am/CT, which speaks to just how compelling a case could be made for Oklahoma, Georgia and Ohio State, but ultimately, it was Oklahoma that got the edge.
The Oklahoma Sooners (12-1) — who entered the game No. 5 — knocked off their bitter rival Texas Longhorns 39-27 in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday.
Heisman hopeful Kyler Murray continued to dazzle, finishing the game with 379 passing yards and three touchdowns.
The Georgia Bulldogs — who entered the game No. 4 and came in at No. 5 behind Oklahoma on Sunday — loss to Alabama 35-28 in the SEC Championship in Saturday. They held double digit leads in both the first and second halves of the game, but ultimately came up short of a victory thanks to Jalen Hurts rallying the Crimson Tide in place of an injured Tua Tagovailoa.
Conference championship won, strength of schedule, Head-to-Head, outcomes of common opponents and other relevant factors.
Georgia finished the season 3rd in FPI and 5th in strength of schedule, better than both Oklahoma and Ohio State, but their 11-2 mark — which included a 20-point loss to LSU — coupled with not winning their conference championship, hurt Kirby Smart’s team.
Georgia surprisingly came in at No. 5 ahead of Ohio State, which highlights that the popular belief that it was a two-team race between Oklahoma and Ohio State for the last playoff spot following yesterday’s games was actually a two-team race between Oklahoma and Georgia.
Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, who are 13-0 this season, will play Lincoln Riley’s Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl.
Dabo Sweeney’s Clemson Tigers, who are also 13-0 this season, will face Brian Kelly’s Notre Dame Irish in the Cotton Bowl.
Both games will take place on December 29th, with the National Championship Game set for January 7th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
What are your thoughts on the College Football Playoff committee’s decision? Did they get it right? Leave your comments below!