SMU secured the final spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, edging out Alabama for a place in the bracket that placed undefeated Oregon as the top seed. The selection committee chose the Mustangs over the Crimson Tide due to their better record, despite a less challenging schedule. The expanded bracket signifies a new era for college football, with the first-round games scheduled for December 20-21 and the national title game set for January 20 in Atlanta. Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State also earned first-round byes, with Alabama missing out on the playoff spot.
Clemson clinched the 12th seed with a win over SMU, leading to the Tigers securing the final spot in the field. Other notable matchups include Clemson facing Texas, SMU playing Penn State, Indiana against Notre Dame, and Tennessee taking on Ohio State in the first round. The inclusion of conference champions in the playoff raised some concerns, with the SEC having three teams, the Big Ten with four, and the ACC earning two bids. The committee’s decision in awarding automatic byes and bids sparked debate and controversy in the college football community.
Source
Photo credit www.dailynews.com
