Predicting every college football playoff game ahead of first-ever 12-team field

With the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff kicking off this week, here's our prediction for how each matchup will play out.

Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) celebrates getting an interception during a NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend.
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) celebrates getting an interception during a NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Predicting every College Football Playoff game - Semifinals: Notre Dame vs. Penn State

Somehow, this is the first real test that Penn State will have in this bracket— no matter who it is that they face off against in the semis. Sadly for Nittany Lions fans, I'm not sure it is one that they will pass.

I think this is a matchup that will see PSU moving the ball up and down the field better than ND does, but some opportunistic plays by the Irish defense will give enough short fields to Freeman's crew that they eke out a win. In other words, the yardage totals could favor the Nittany Lions, but I've got the Irish winning in a close one.

That said, as with several other games, I've got this one quite close— so it's eminently possible that one or two plays going another way could flip this matchup on its head. Though I think the Irish would win this one, I would be by no means surprised to see PSU advance.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame, 20-17

Schedule

Schedule