College Football Playoff Semifinals: A Long-Awaited Showdown

College Football Playoff Semifinals: A Quest for Redemption

Redemption. Retribution. Revenge. These are the themes that dominate the narrative as the College Football Playoff heads into the semifinals. This year’s playoff has been a rollercoaster of emotions, with a dozen teams whittled down to four, each with its own unique story. Yet, at their core, these stories share a common thread: the pursuit of redemption.

The expanded playoff format has brought unexpected twists, with traditional powerhouses like Clemson and Georgia already eliminated. Even Oregon, which held the No. 1 ranking for much of the season, has been sent packing. Former champions Alabama and LSU, along with last year’s finalists Michigan and Washington, didn’t even make the cut.

This shake-up has opened the door for four programs to rewrite their narratives. The semifinals feature Notre Dame versus Penn State in the Orange Bowl, and Ohio State versus Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Two of these teams will advance, while the other two will face another offseason of doubt and disappointment.

James Franklin, in his 11th season as Penn State’s head coach, is experiencing his first CFP. He acknowledges the pressure on coaches but emphasizes the opportunity to reward the universities and their supporters. “To bring that championship feeling back to this town, that will make every single step to get there worth it,” he said.

For these programs, the journey has been fraught with challenges, often overshadowed by their fiercest rivals. Ohio State coach Ryan Day, after a revenge win over Oregon, emphasized the importance of focus and preparation. “We don’t need any extra motivation to win this game,” he stated. “One thing that does motivate our team is an opportunity for the team to play for another week together.”

Ohio State’s journey has been tumultuous, with two regular-season losses, including a painful defeat to Michigan. Despite playoff victories over Tennessee and Oregon, criticism of Day persists, particularly regarding his record against Michigan.

Texas, meanwhile, has struggled to live up to its “We’re back” mantra. Despite a strong season, they faltered in key games against Georgia. Their last national title came in 2005, a distant memory in the pre-playoff era. Coach Steve Sarkisian speaks of balancing the program’s storied past with the present, urging his players to seize the opportunity to become legends.

Notre Dame, a cornerstone of college football, carries the weight of its illustrious history. Critics question their continued presence in the playoff despite past failures. Their last national title was in 1989, and this season’s lone blemish was a shocking loss to Northern Illinois.

Penn State, too, has faced its share of heartbreak. Franklin’s record against top-10 teams is a sore point, but the Nittany Lions’ history of near-misses runs deep. Their last national titles were in the 1980s, and the program has often been denied glory by pollsters and politics.

• Ohio State’s last national title: 2014
• Texas’s last national title: 2005
• Notre Dame’s last national title: 1988
• Penn State’s last national title: 1986

These four programs, steeped in tradition and success, now have a chance for renewal. As Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame’s head coach, puts it, “The chance to add to that history, restore some of it and the pride that comes with it, that’s not pressure. That’s a privilege.”