This is only the second season of the 12-team College Football Playoff, but this bracket is among the weirder in the playoff era. Two Group of Five teams? One Group of Five team seemed unfathomable just
a few years ago. Now, two are in the playoffs.
The top four teams are seemingly on another tier in this year’s postseason, but there are some intriguing teams seeded 5-12. Let’s take a look at each team in the playoffs and one player to watch on each team.
1. Indiana Hoosiers
Wide Receiver, Elijah Sarratt: Stats: 51 receptions, 687 yards, 12 touchdowns
Sarratt is a scary good, athletic receiver. He caught what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in the Big Ten Championship in the third quarter. Opposing secondaries are going to have to have a good game plan to prevent him from taking over the game.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Defensive End, Caden Curry: Stats: 11 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, 6 quarterback hurries, 1 blocked kick
Curry played with his hair on fire in the Big Ten Championship. That’s nothing new, though. He’s been playing that way all season. With his pass-rushing prowess, Curry can wreck any opposing offensive game plan.
3. Georgia Bulldogs
Quarterback, Gunner Stockton: Stats: 70.7 completion percentage, 2,691 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
Stockton has settled in nicely after a subpar performance in relief of Carson Beck in the SEC Championship and Playoff Quarterfinals matchup. Opposing defenses can’t take him lightly.
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Linebacker, Jacob Rodriguez: Stats: 117 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered
There may be no defensive player in college football more impactful than Jacob Rodriguez. The stats speak for themselves. Should Ohio State play the Red Raiders in the National Championship, it will be fascinating to see how the Buckeyes’ offense game plans for Rodriguez.
5. Oregon Ducks
Quarterback, Dante Moore: Stats: 72.5 completion percentage, 2,733 yards, 24 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
Moore is having a really good season. It will be interesting to see how he will perform on the Playoff stage.
6. Ole Miss Rebels
Quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss: Stats: 65.5 completion percentage, 3,016 yards, 18 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; 118 rushes, 470 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns
Chambliss started the season as Ole Miss’s backup, but he has taken off as the starter this season and has flourished. It will be interesting to see if he will be distracted by the drama surrounding Lane Kiffin’s departure going into the Playoff.
7. Texas A&M Aggies
Quarterback, Marcell Reed: Stats: 61.8 completion percentage, 2,932 yards, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions; 89 rushes, 466 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns
If the Aggies play the Buckeyes in the Quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl Classic, it will be fascinating to see how the Buckeyes’ defense does against Reed’s dual-threat abilities.
8. Oklahoma Sooners
Defensive Lineman, Taylor Wein: Stats: 6 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 6 quarterback hurries
The Sooners’ defense is what drives this team. Wein is the engine of it up front. How far the Sooners go will be contingent on his play.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide
Quarterback, Ty Simpson: Stats: 64.3 completion percentage, 3,268 yards, 26 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
Simpson is a really good quarterback, but he’s coming into the playoffs on a bit of a cold streak. He struggled in the Iron Bowl and the SEC Championship, but Simpson is still a dangerous quarterback who must be taken seriously.
10. Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Wide Receiver, Malachi Toney: Stats: 84 receptions, 970 yards, 7 touchdowns
Toney is a physical beast at wide receiver. He has 25 receptions for 272 yards and two touchdowns in the Hurricanes’ last two games. Should the Buckeyes play the Hurricanes in the Quarterfinals, their secondary could be tested by Toney’s athletic and prolific pass-catching.
11. Tulane Green Wave
Outside Linebacker, Harvey Dyson: Stats: 7 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss
If the Green Wave is going to beat Ole Miss, it’s going to start at the line of scrimmage. Dyson is the leader of the Green Wave’s defense.
12. James Madison Dukes
Running Back, Wayne Knight: Stats: 190 rushes, 1,263 yards, 9 touchdowns; 37 receptions, 379 receiving yards
Knight is having a really good season in what’s been a dream season for the Dukes. Running games travel, and James Madison will need Knight to have a big day to have a chance at pulling a major upset in Eugene against the Ducks.
