South Bend, Indiana, is buzzing with excitement as the 12-team College Football Playoff kicks off this Friday night, featuring a showdown between in-state rivals, the No. 7 seed Notre Dame and the No. 10 seed Indiana. This first-round game will take place at Notre Dame Stadium and marks the first time these two teams have faced each other since 1991. Fans are eagerly anticipating the match, especially given the close proximity and rivalry between the two schools.
The excitement continues on Saturday with a thrilling tripleheader set to unfold. The first game at 4 p.m. ET will see the No. 11 seed SMU travel to take on the No. 6 seed Penn State. Both teams will be making their College Football Playoff debuts, raising the stakes as they aim to make a memorable impression. Following this contest, the No. 5 seed Texas will host No. 12 seed Clemson in a highly anticipated matchup. Texas enters the game with an impressive record of 11-2, while Clemson finds itself as the first three-loss team to qualify for the playoffs after a late season charge.
The final game of the first round features No. 8 seed Ohio State taking on No. 9 seed Tennessee. Ohio State will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss to rival Michigan just weeks ago. Meanwhile, Tennessee hopes to make a statement in its inaugural playoff appearance, creating an interesting tension heading into this contest.
As CBS Sports experts have weighed in on their predictions, one popular pick for Friday’s game is that it might be a close contest, particularly given both teams’ explosive offenses. Saturday’s matchups also promise to be filled with excitement, with predictions suggesting a competitive environment for the teams trying to prove themselves in the playoff landscape.
With just a few days to go before the action starts, fans are gearing up for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of college football.
