College Football Playoff: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Notre Dame

This CFP format, in effect since the 2014 season, has seen Alabama and Clemson each win the national title twice. Ohio State won the CFP’s inaugural season, while LSU won last season.

What Will This Latest College Football Playoff Look Like During a Pandemic? A big change has already occurred. Officials announced on Saturday that the Rose Bowl semifinal has been moved to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as families of the football teams would not be able to attend the game in California due to coronavirus restrictions.

Alabama (11-0) will face Notre Dame (10-1) in Texas, while Clemson (10-1) and Ohio State (6-0) will face each other for the second consecutive season in the semifinals, this time at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

The reason Alabama plays in Arlington instead of the Sugar Bowl? The benefit of more fans, Gary Barta, chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee, said of ESPN.

“Related to this year’s uniqueness, the commission’s No. 1 team is getting the benefit of the doubt or perhaps the greatest benefit,” Barta said. “In this case, we know that there will be 16,000 fans who will be able to watch in Arlington, and we know that there will be 3,000 fans who will be able to watch the game in New Orleans. The committee decided the advantage was for the No. to have fans to watch them play. “

The national championship game will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 11.

Texas A&M falls short at number 5

Just outside the playoffs, Texas A&M was at number 5. The Aggies, who went 8-1, lost to Alabama earlier in the season and didn’t make it to the Southeastern Conference championship game.

What gave Notre Dame – who was blown away by Clemson 34-10 Saturday in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game – the upper hand against Texas A&M?

“Very similar resumes, but in the end the committee felt that Notre Dame had earned its way there based on the full analysis of the resume, and that probably amounted to an extra win against a ranked team,” Barta said. The Aggies’ signature victory was against Florida, while Notre Dame had beaten Clemson and North Carolina during the regular season.

Oklahoma (8-2) moved up to sixth place after winning the Big 12 championship game. American Athletic Conference champion Cincinnati was pulled from the top six despite the 9-0 record and three wins against ranked teams. The Bearcats are eighth, behind Florida.

This season, the committee rated teams that played just six games and as many as 11 – with conferences such as the Big Ten starting the season in late October and Pac-12 in early November. The Big 12, SEC and ACC launched in September.

Alabama then beat Florida to win the SEC crown 52-46 on Saturday. Ohio State, despite having 22 players behind him, came back to beat Northwestern 22-10 in the Big Ten Championship game.

Barta said there was no disagreement in the house about putting Ohio State in third place, despite having played only six games.

“The committee decided that Ohio State belonged in the field because they were unbeaten, they had beaten two ranked teams all year round, including last night, and they won their Big Ten championship.”