The College Football Playoff (CFP) has reached its first 12-team semifinals. Ohio State, now the favorite to win the national championship, will face Texas in one of the semifinals.
The CFP’s first round featured home games for the top-seeded teams before shifting to bowl games for the quarterfinals and semifinals. All four higher-seeded teams won comfortably, raising questions about the seeding process. However, a thrilling matchup between the fourth and fifth seeds (Texas over Arizona State) kept fans engaged. The Sugar Bowl was delayed due to a tragic truck attack in New Orleans, and the quarterfinals saw the top four seeds lose after receiving a bye.
Eleven games will be played between December 20 and January 20, all broadcast nationally. The semifinals are as follows:
Orange Bowl: Penn State vs. Notre Dame
Date & Time: Jan. 9, 8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
BetMGM Odds: Notre Dame favored by 1.5
How They Got Here: Penn State defeated 11th-seeded SMU (38-10) and 3rd-seeded Boise State (31-14). Notre Dame won against 10th-seeded Indiana (27-17) and 2nd-seeded Georgia (23-10).
What to Know: Penn State’s defense and balanced offense have propelled them into the semifinals. They will face a tough Notre Dame squad, led by quarterback Riley Leonard and a strong defense.
The Winner: Advances to the national championship on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
Cotton Bowl: Ohio State vs. Texas
Date & Time: Jan. 10, 8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
BetMGM Odds: Ohio State favored by 6.5
How They Got Here: Texas beat 12th-seeded Clemson (38-24) and 4th-seeded Arizona State (39-31, 2OT). Ohio State defeated 9th-seeded Tennessee (42-17) and top-seeded Oregon (41-21).
What to Know: Ohio State has dominated its first two games, defeating Tennessee and Oregon. Quarterback Will Howard and receivers Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka will look to exploit Texas’s strong defense, especially in the secondary.
The Winner: Advances to the national championship on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
Ohio State is now the 11-10 favorite to win the national title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The Buckeyes moved to the top spot after their Rose Bowl win, while Texas needed two overtimes to defeat Arizona State in the quarterfinals.
The rest of the odds are: Texas and Notre Dame at 7-2, and Penn State at 9-2.
The CFP selection committee, a 13-member panel, spent six weeks evaluating teams before setting the bracket on December 8. The five highest-ranked conference champions were guaranteed spots, regardless of their overall ranking. For instance, Clemson, ranked 16th, earned the 12th seed as the fifth-highest league champion. The top four seeds received byes to the quarterfinals, where all four lost.
The CFP expanded from four teams to 12 this year, marking its first expansion since its inception in 2015. Many believe it could expand further, possibly as early as 2026.
Each conference earns $4 million for every team that makes the final 12, with an additional $4 million if those teams reach the quarterfinals. Teams with byes are worth $8 million to their conferences. Advancing to the semifinals adds another $6 million, and making the final earns an additional $6 million. Conferences distribute these funds differently, and there is also a $300,000 stipend for each academically eligible team. Teams making the playoffs also receive $3 million to cover expenses for each round.
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