For the reason that announcement of the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff, there have been loads of questions and hype. Lastly, it is right here. Faculty soccer will showcase a few of its finest stadiums and largest manufacturers within the first spherical of the expanded playoff.
Forward of the video games, listed below are keys to every matchup and predictions.
No. 10 Indiana (11-1) at No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1) | Friday | 8 p.m. ET | ABC
There’s loads of intrigue on this one as in-state rivals conflict for the primary time since 1991. Snow is anticipated and temperatures will likely be nicely beneath freezing.
Indiana has a lot to show. The Hoosiers dominated practically everybody they performed, however misplaced 38-15 to then-No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 23. Is IU actually one of many upper-tier groups? We’ll discover out.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is the participant to observe. The twin-threat QB will preserve a troublesome Hoosiers protection on its toes within the components.
“We’ll be higher in a hostile surroundings than we have been that specific day [against Ohio State],” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti mentioned in a Monday news conference. “On the finish of the day, it is simply soccer. The sport goes to be received or misplaced between the white strains. I would like them to go on the market, fly round, have a little bit swag, and play the best way we will play.”
Prediction: Notre Dame, 31-17.
No. 11 SMU (11-2) at No. 6 Penn State (11-2) | Saturday | midday ET | TNT
SMU narrowly made it into the sector. How will the Mustangs carry out in Joyful Valley? Penn State’s protection needs to be the difference-maker.
The Nittany Lions rank sixth within the nation at simply 282.1 yards allowed per recreation. The unit struggled to maintain No. 1 Oregon in verify through the Large Ten Championship, however hadn’t allowed greater than 300 yards of offense in three of its final 4 common season video games. SMU has solely had two video games all season beneath 400 yards offensively.
Nevertheless, one of the best protection SMU confronted all season was BYU (twentieth within the nation) and the Mustangs misplaced, 18-15. After that? Cal’s forty first ranked protection was the subsequent finest. Penn State will current issues SMU hasn’t seen this season.
Prediction: Penn State, 31-21.
No. 12 Clemson (10-3) at No. 5 Texas (11-2) | Saturday | 4 p.m. ET | TNT
Is an upset brewing in Austin? Clemson fought to get into the playoff and has one in every of solely two coaches within the 12-team area with a nationwide title to his title (Dabo Swinney, Georgia’s Kirby Sensible). Do not guess on it although.
Texas has skilled some lulls on offense, equivalent to 31 yards speeding on 28 carries within the SEC Championship recreation loss to No. 2 Georgia. Nevertheless, the Longhorns are too good defensively for it to matter in opposition to Clemson. Texas has solely allowed 300 yards of offense as soon as this season. That is a recipe for transferring on.
Prediction: Texas, 28-14.
No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) at No. 8 Ohio State (10-2) | Saturday | 8 p.m. ET | ABC
Tennessee quietly moved by its season, flying beneath the radar en path to the playoff. Ohio State alternatively, enters Saturday’s matchup nonetheless licking its wounds from a troublesome loss to rival Michigan Nov. 30.
“For 3 or 4 days you sit on it, you stew on it, you attempt to determine what went improper and you then transfer ahead,” OSU head coach Ryan Day mentioned on the CFP Selection Show.
The matchup to observe is Tennessee’s line of defense versus Ohio State’s offensive line. The Buckeyes have handled accidents to their o-line, inflicting the unit to attempt totally different mixtures. The Vols have been within the high half of the SEC with 29 sacks and rank eighth nationally permitting simply 99.6 speeding yards per recreation. That may very well be problematic for a banged-up Ohio State squad.
Prediction: Ohio State, 27-24.