College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Matchups Set

The opening round of the College Football Playoff featured decisive victories, with No. 8 seed Ohio State defeating No. 9 Tennessee 42-17, No. 5 Texas overcoming No. 12 Clemson 38-24, and No. 6 Penn State routing No. 11 SMU 38-10. Ohio State will face top seed Oregon in the Rose Bowl, while Texas and Penn State will meet Arizona State and Boise State, respectively, in the quarterfinals. Following their performances, Texas has emerged as the favorite to win the championship with +300 odds, closely followed by Oregon and Ohio State. The playoff's new format has sparked discussions about the selection committee's decisions, particularly in light of the blowout losses for SMU and Indiana. The next round of matchups is set for New Year's Eve and Day, with significant anticipation for the rematch between Ohio State and Oregon. The competition continues to highlight the disparities in team performances and the ongoing debate over playoff inclusivity.