How would the SEC teams fare in unfamiliar territory? This question has lingered during Bowl Season for years. With the College Football Playoff (CFP) expanding to 12 teams, the stakes are higher than ever. In the latest projections, three SEC teams are set to hit the road in the first round of the playoffs, and Georgia’s head coach, Kirby Smart, may not be thrilled about it. After the Bulldogs’ impressive 31-17 victory over Tennessee, Smart expressed his thoughts during a post-game interview, stating, “I would welcome anybody in the committee to come to this league and play in this environment. It’s a tough place to play.”
But let’s consider the matchups. How would Georgia perform against Penn State? What about Ole Miss traveling to Indiana? And could Alabama handle the challenge at Notre Dame? The cold weather could play a significant role, but will the SEC’s dominance translate on the road? With four or five playoff teams expected from the SEC, the intrigue is palpable.
Upcoming College Football Playoff Schedule
The excitement continues as the second set of College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed on Tuesday. Sporting News will provide weekly bowl projections leading up to the unveiling of the first 12-team playoff field on December 8. The first round of the new CFP kicks off with one game on Friday, December 20, followed by three games on Saturday, December 21. The quarterfinals will take place at iconic venues: the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on December 31, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl, all on January 1. The semifinals will follow at the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9 and the Cotton Bowl Classic on January 10, culminating in the CFP National Championship on January 20 in Atlanta.
First-round predictions for the College Football Playoff
As we look ahead to the first round of the College Football Playoff for the 2024-25 season, the matchups are shaping up to be thrilling. Here’s what we anticipate:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
| Dec. 20 | First-Round CFP game | No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Notre Dame |
| Dec. 21 | First-Round CFP game | No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State |
| Dec. 21 | First-Round CFP game | No. 11 Georgia vs. No. 6 Penn State |
| Dec. 21 | First-Round CFP game | No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 7 Indiana |
These matchups promise to be intense. With Alabama and Notre Dame both boasting top-10 scoring defenses, it’s unlikely we’ll see a high-scoring affair. The Georgia-Penn State clash is particularly intriguing, as these teams have never faced off on campus. The hope is to schedule this game in prime time on December 21, creating an electric atmosphere. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s defense, allowing just 90.7 rushing yards per game, will be tested against Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
Quarterfinal predictions for the College Football Playoff
Moving on to the quarterfinals, here’s what we envision for the 2024-25 season:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
| Dec. 31 | Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (quarterfinal) | No. 4 BYU vs. No. 5 Ohio State |
| Jan. 1 | Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (quarterfinal) | No. 3 Miami vs. No. 11 Georgia |
| Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential (quarterfinal) | No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 9 Alabama |
| Jan. 1 | Allstate Sugar Bowl (quarterfinal) | No. 2 Texas vs. No. 10 Ole Miss |
In this round, we have all three SEC teams advancing, although Alabama’s matchup against Notre Dame raises some eyebrows. Just imagine the buzz if the SEC manages to place five teams in the quarterfinals! Miami and BYU will face significant pressure against traditional powerhouses, while Oregon and Alabama’s clash promises to be a thrilling quarterback showdown between Dillon Gabriel and Jalen Milroe.
Semifinal predictions for the College Football Playoff
As we look to the semifinals, here’s how we see the matchups shaping up:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
| Jan. 9 | Capital One Orange Bowl (semifinal) | No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 5 Ohio State |
| Jan. 10 | Cotton Bowl Classic (semifinal) | No. 2 Texas vs. No. 11 Georgia |
Could we see three SEC teams in the final four? It’s certainly possible! Kalen DeBoer has Alabama poised for a deep playoff run, while a Texas-Georgia rematch would draw significant attention at the Cotton Bowl Classic. Ohio State, as the top pick from the Big Ten, would be a fitting opponent for Alabama, reminiscent of their thrilling semifinal in the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014.
Championship predictions for the College Football Playoff
Finally, let’s take a look at the championship matchup for the 2024-25 season, scheduled for January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta:
| DATE | BOWL | MATCHUP |
| Jan. 20 | CFP National championship | No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Georgia |
This matchup aligns with our preseason projections. Georgia, likely to miss the SEC championship game, is expected to triumph over Texas in a rematch. Meanwhile, Ohio State plans to leverage its No. 5 seed to make a championship run, showcasing a defense that could prove pivotal. The last time these two teams met in Atlanta, it was a nail-biting 42-41 classic, and fans can only hope for a repeat of that thrilling encounter.
As the bowl season approaches, the excitement is palpable. Will the SEC teams rise to the occasion? Only time will tell!
