The final College Football Playoff has been decided by four teams, and there has been drama about which teams will be in the field before the format expands next season.
Michigan is the No. 1 seed after going through the Big Ten series undefeated, including wins over Ohio State and Iowa to close out the season. It’s the third straight appearance for the Wolverines, who overcame two separate three-game suspensions for coach Jim Harbaugh. They have been classified #1 in US LBM Coaches Survey For the first time since December 8, 1997.
No. 2 seed Washington clawed its way into the field with a second defeat of Oregon. After beating the Ducks in the regular season, the Huskies did it again in dramatic fashion in the Pac-12 title game to secure a second-place playoff spot. Their last time was in 2016, which was also the only other Pac-12 appearance during the four-team system’s 10 years.
The difficulty came with the last two places. Texas and Alabama were one-loss champions in the Big 12 and SEC, respectively. The Longhorns had the advantage over the Crimson Tide due to their road win in Tuscaloosa in Week 2. The committee captured both, and Florida State became the first undefeated Power Five team eliminated from the semifinals. The Seminoles were hurt by the loss of quarterback Jordan Travis to a season-ending injury.
“This was the decision with Alabama at four. Florida State is a different team than it has been the first 11 weeks,” College Football Playoff Committee Chairman Beau Corrigan said. “Coach Norvell, their players, their fans, amazing season. “Look at who they are as a team now without Jordan Travis, without the offensive dynamism that he brings to them, they’re a different team, and the committee voted Alabama a four and Florida State a five.”
Georgia dropped from first to sixth after its loss to Alabama ended its 29-game winning streak.
With the seeds set, Michigan and Alabama will meet in the Rose Bowl. Washington and Texas will face off in the Sugar Bowl.
Both semi-final matches will be played on January 1. The two winners will meet in the College Football Playoff championship game on Jan. 8 in Houston.
