THURSDAY

#7 NOTRE DAME VS. #6 PENN STATE

4:30PM PT/7:30PM ET [ESPN] ORANGE BOWL

Notre Dame was more confident, more fired up, and more physical from the get-go. Riley Leonard was competitive and didn’t waver. Receiver Jordan Faison played his best ball and represented the receivers that was so needed from the program. Defense came out attacking Georgia’s offense that was limited at all levels with no urgency to respond. The 98-yard kick return was the backbreaker to Georgia’s season. The Irish won the line of scrimmage and were imposing in the trenches. Now, they are in the semifinals for the third time in program history.

Penn State brought the physicality (and reality) to Boise State. The run game dominated from the start with Nic Singleton and Kaytron Allen combining for 221 yards. They forced three turnovers (2 INTs and 1 fumble) and stifled Ashton Jeanty for the majority of the game. Penn State took advantage of a former Group of Five team in SMU and Group of Five playoff representative in Boise State during their playoff run. Now, they face a tough challenge against a proven ranked powerhouse program and must prove they’re a National Championship contender.

Is this…the battle in the trenches??? Yes, please!!! This is a classic matchup of two teams with plenty of history. Both teams meet for the first time since 2007 when the late great Joe Paterno was still around coaching. Both are tied at 9-9-1 all-time, so this matchup goes to a national level to see who deserves to be in the National Championship. Both have quarterbacks that can be physical, can run the ball, can win in the trenches, and don’t make too many mistakes. However, penalties, turnovers, and key injuries prior to this matchup will tell the story of who will survive and win the war of attrition with lesser mistakes. As good as Penn State has been all season, Notre Dame seems more imposing and have more will to do whatever it takes to win.

MY PICK: NOTRE DAME

FRIDAY

#8 OHIO STATE VS. #5 TEXAS

4:30PM PT/7:30PM ET [ESPN] COTTON BOWL

Ohio State came out angry, fired up, and motivated. They were off and running from the start and cooked the ducks left, right, and up the middle with their running backs, Will Howard, and receivers with their offensive line grinding them out. Jim Knowles’ defense continues being the monsters of college football. They got after Dillon Gabriel and company and the run game was nowhere to be found too. Now, Ohio State takes their frustration further towards Texas, the team that beat Michigan.

Texas was outplaying Arizona State and using their strength, size, and speed against them. Unfortunately, that somehow dissipated as Cam Skattebo, Sam Leavitt, and company miraculously fought their way back to force overtime. I mentioned that Quinn Ewers failed to win a big game since Alabama last season. When the team needed him, he finally came through with the defense making a huge stop. Ewers hopes to keep the Longhorns alive as they’re a win away from their first National Championship appearance since 2009.

This is the first meeting since 2009 when Jim Tressel and Mack Brown faced last faced each other. The programs may belong to Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian, but it’s still special. Texas is the only returning playoff team to return to the semifinals while Ohio State plays their fifth semifinals all-time. Also, Will Howard and Quinn Ewers never faced each other in the two meetings in Big 12 play due to their injuries from separate seasons in 2022 and 2023. Both defenses are pretty dang elite, so it’ll be difficult to tell who will likely falter as the game progresses. However, Texas’s second half struggles are a problem, and that could ultimately decide their fate in the last 30 game minutes. Ohio State’s defense could make things complicated and squeeze every bit of opportunity away from Texas’ offense.

MY PICK: OHIO STATE