CLEVELAND, OH — With the College Football Playoff semifinals featuring red-hot Ohio State vs Texas in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl and Notre Dame vs. Penn State in the Capital One Orange Bowl, both primetime games look to be very intense and exciting.
(8) Ohio State vs. (5) Texas: Thanks to two dominating performances vs. Tennessee and top-ranked Oregon, a case could be made that the Buckeyes are THE team to beat in the CFP playoffs.
There are not enough superlatives to describe freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, except, dominant and unstoppable. At just the age of 19, Smith has already made his case as possible the best Ohio State receiver, ever.
Yes. As in ever.
When you think of the names who have played WR in Columbus, it’s hard to believe but Smith had already surpassed them.
Cris Carter, David Boston, Terry Glenn, Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn Jr. Michael Thomas, Devin Smith, Garrett Wilson, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Emeka Egbuka, Chris Olave and even Marvin Harrison Jr.
None of them have done, or are on a trajectory that the 6’3 217-pound phenom has done. And that should prove scary for the Longhorns.
Yes, they have one of the best defenses in college football, thanks to a defense led by defensive backs Jahdae Barron and Michael Taaffe, defensive tackle Alfred Collins, edge rusher Barryn Sorrell and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., but Texas has not seen or faced a offense as explosive and dominant as the Buckeyes.
Led by Smith, and also having the forementioned Embuka, and the 1-2 running back tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, it’s going to be a special Buckeye version of “Friday Nights” in North Texas.
Ironically, this could also be the game that vaults quarterback into the watch list of many NFL scouts looking for a QB to develop—or even build around, as the former Kansas State transfer is gunning for his first win vs. Texas in four tries.
On the other side, former Ohio State Buckeye transfer quarterback, Quinn Ewers will be looking to notch a win over the school that he left his home state for, and only to return to this past season.
Ohio State 45 Texas 31
Down in South Florida, college football fans get to see the renewal of an old-school Midwestern-style football rivalry between Penn State and Notre Dame. Despite playing only 19 times, and both teams winning nine games a piece and one tie, it’s hard to believe that the Lions and Fighting Irish don’t okay each other more.
In what is also a historical matchup featuring two African-American head coaches in Marcus Freeman and James Franklin squaring off in the warm humidity of Miami Gardens, both bring two hard-hitting and physical defenses along with big-armed and mobile quarterbacks in Riley Leonard and Drew Allar, who are both capable of making bug okays when they need to.
Leonard, a 6’4 216-pound senior transfer quarterback from Duke, could be the missing piece for a hard-nosed and tough Irish team. Will not as prolific a passer as Ewers or Howard, Leonard’s ability to extend plays and run when necessary make him a tall task for opposing defenses to handle.
If Notre Dame hopes to advance to the CFP National Championship game in Atlanta, Leonard will need to make some timely big plays versus a talented Lions defense led by projected top five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in Abdul Carter.
In the case of Allar, a 6’5 236-pound junior quarterback out of Medina, Ohio, is quickly drawing comparisons to Super Bowl XLVII MVP—and one-time Browns quarterback—Joe Flacco.
Similar in size, mobility and an ability to make big time throws, Allar is rumored to be considering entering the 2025 NFL Draft, and would be a top ten pick. Imagine if he decided to come out, only to be scooped up by his boyhood team right up the road?
In reference to his upcoming game vs. Notre Dame, it depends on which Allar shows up.
Would it be the one who completed 30-43 passes, 391 yards and two touchdowns—and three interceptions—vs. USC in a 33-30 overtime win, or the one that looked pedestrian vs his home state Buckeyes in completing 12-20 passes for 146 yards and one interception in a 20-13 home loss in Happy Valley.
Allar oozes big-plays potential and seems to rise to the occasion vs. quality opponents, and if that trend continues—and the Buckeyes do their part vs. Texas—then both Allar and the Big 10 will get their dream all-conference championship game right in the heart of SEC Nation.
Notre Dame 27 Penn State 24