The College Football Playoff is set with Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State and Oklahoma as the Final Four teams and those schools will play for chance to win the national championship this season. The Tigers, Spartans and Crimson Tide all won conference championships over the weekend and those teams are ranked ahead of the Sooners heading into the playoff.
Clemson remained undefeated this season with a win over North Carolina and they remained in the top spot for the selection committee. Oklahoma comes in as the Big 12 champion and they will play the Tigers in the semifinals after getting ranked at number four. The committee felt that Michigan State winning the Big Ten championship game over Iowa was enough to put them in the three spot and that sets up a showdown with Alabama, who the committee ranked at number two.
Clemson and Oklahoma will play on December 31 in one of the CFP semifinal games at the Orange Bowl, while Alabama and Michigan State will play in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Alabama made it to the playoff last season and lost to Ohio State and now they will be matched up with the Spartans after Michigan State spoiled the perfect season for Iowa. Clemson and Oklahoma played last year in the Russell Athletic Bowl and that game saw the Tigers win big, but this time things should be more evenly matched.
Connor Cook and Michigan State ended the undefeated season for Iowa and the team also knocked off Ohio State and now they will face off against Alabama. MSU only lost against Nebraska this season and that loss was controversial and now they will try and beat the SEC champs in the Crimson Tide. Cook did not looks healthy in the conference championship game, but he will have time to heal up before the game at the end of December.
Alabama is coming in looking very strong after winning over Florida and the team now has Derrick Henry looking like the Heisman favorite after another big game. Jake Coker is going to have to be smart when he matches up with Michigan State and the team has a long time to watch film on the defense. Nick Saban will be facing a former team in MSU and Alabama will be looking to make it to the title game after losing in the semis last season.
Check here for the CFP rankings and schedule.
Predictions: Alabama wins over Michigan State. Oklahoma beats Clemson
Alabama wins over Oklahoma.
Here is the schedule for the playoff (all TV coverage on ESPN):
Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 Alabama
Dec. 31, Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium
Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl
No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Clemson
Dec. 31, Sun Life Stadium
College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T
Jan. 11, University of Phoenix Stadium, 8:30 p.m.
