HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 8: Detail view of the trophy as Michigan Wolverines players celebrate winning the 2024 CFP National Championship game at NRG Stadium on January 8, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
The college football playoffs begin this week, and here are the power rankings for all 12 teams that are playing!
12. SMU
DALLAS, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 02: Kevin Jennings #7 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs warms up before a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
QB Kevin Jennings is a good, young dual-threat player, but asking him to go out and beat Penn State on the road seems to be too much to ask.
11. Clemson
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 2: Cade Klubnik #2 of the Clemson Tigers runs the ball against the Louisville Cardinals at Memorial Stadium on November 2, 2024 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
Texas better take this game seriously, as Cade Klubnik has the game to give the Longhorns trouble.
10. Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – OCTOBER 19: The Indiana Hoosiers logo is seen on a helmet on the sidelines in the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
IU can pull off the upset, but only if QB Kurtis Rourke plays like he did before he got injured.
9. Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 31: A block with the Tennessee Volunteers logo on the sideline during the third quarter of the season opener at Neyland Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
Vols RB Dylan Sampson might be the best RB that no one has heard of. If he runs for 150+ yards, Tennessee might pull off the upset.
8. Boise State
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 16: Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos warms up before their game against the San Jose State Spartans at CEFCU Stadium on November 16, 2024 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Seeing Penn State on the blue field in Idaho is going to be special. Almost as special as watching Boise State superstar RB Ashton Jeanty run the ball.
7. Arizona State
MANHATTAN, KS – NOVEMBER 16: Running back Cam Skattebo #4 of the Arizona State Sun Devils jogs off the field in the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 16, 2024 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
If Jordan Tyson is healthy, the Sun Devils have a chance to win this game, as Cam Skattebo is unstoppable.
6. Ohio State
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 19: A view of the Ohio State Buckeyes logo on a belt before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium on November 19, 2022 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Which Will Howard will show up? The one who knows how to throw the football or the one who blew the game against Michigan?
5. Georgia
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 03: The Georgia Bulldogs logo at midfield prior to a game against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium on October 3, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Georgia is solid from top to bottom, but they are beatable. Both Georgia Tech and Texas had the Bulldogs beat before late-game heroics changed the outcome. Trevor Etienne is the key for Georgia.
4. Texas
AUSTIN, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 03: The Texas Longhorns logo is seen in the end zone before the game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
QB Quinn Ewers can sling it, but he needs RBs Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue to play well, so the offense is not predictable.
3. Notre Dame
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: The ” Notre Dame” end zone logo prior to the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
QB Riley Leonard transferred from Duke to Notre Dame for this very opportunity. If the Irish can get past the Hoosiers, they match up really well against Georgia.
2. Penn State
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12: A detail view of a Penn State Nittany Lions logo before the second half against USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
Penn State wants another shot at Oregon. Drew Allar to Tyler Warren is one of the best duos in college football.
1. Oregon
EUGENE, OREGON – NOVEMBER 9: Quarterback Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Oregon Ducks prepares for a play during the first half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium on November 9, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
QB Dillon Gabriel will need to use his entire arsenal to bring a championship to Eugene. Lucky for him, the Ducks are deep, as RB Jordan James and WR Tez Johnson are outstanding players in their own right.
