College Football Playoff Picks 2024-25: Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl

Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Fiesta Bowl: (6) Penn State Nittany Lions @ (3) Boise State Broncos (Glendale)

Line: Penn State -11.5

O/U: 54.5

For much of the BCS era, Boise State was the lovable underdog, crashing a system designed for the sport's heavyweights. As we've transitioned to the 12-team CFB Playoff era, they're in a slightly different position, operating as the higher seed and "home" team in this year's Fiesta Bowl. In the way of the Broncos this time around are the Penn State Nittany Lions, fresh off a dominant showing in their first round win over SMU. With entry into the Playoff semifinals on the line and fun matchups all across the board in this game, it should be a fun way to kick off the quarterfinals of the first 12-team Playoff.

Needless to say, Boise State's offense revolves around superstar tailback Ashton Jeanty, in the midst of one of the greatest running back seasons in college football history. Jeanty has rushed for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns, and it certainly hasn't been simply racking up huge stats against meager competition. In games against Boise State's two toughest opponents on the season, Oregon and UNLV, Jeanty rushed for 192, 128, and 209 (played UNLV twice). He should relish this opportunity against a strong Penn State defense, a program that has long been known as a factory of elite linebacker play. This Nittany Lion defense is particularly strong up front - Abdul Carter sets the edge as a relentless pass rusher after transitioning from linebacker, and the trio of Kobe King, Tony Rojas, and Dom DeLuca plays all over the field, sideline-to-sideline. Jeanty is still a candidate to take a big run or two to the house, as he often does, but he'll have to work for every yard in a way he hasn't often this season. The Nittany Lions will certainly do everything they can to force the Broncos to use their passing game in a way they simply haven't for much of the season in an effort to get them out of their rhythm. Maddux Madsen has been efficient under center and taken care of the football, doing just enough to put Boise in position to win games with Jeanty leading the way. But, is he ready for this type of stage against a blitz-heavy Penn State defense? Former Indiana transfer Cam Camper on the perimeter knows Penn State well, and tight end Matt Lauter and Latrell Caples will also be featured heavily. How effective they are against a Nittany Lion secondary that is still occasionally prone to the big play will be a fascinating watch.

The Penn State offense may not have an Ashton Jeanty, but this is a balanced group that enters the game averaging over 35 points per contest. You'll see play-caller Andy Kotelnicki mix things up quite a bit with this group, including using shifts and unique formations to keep the defense honest. Quarterback Drew Allar is the figurehead, and he's had an impressive junior season, but the Nittany Lions also lean heavily on the running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Allen is more of the short yardage specialist, while it's Singleton that can break open games with his breakaway speed. No matter who is on the field, they'll put pressure on a Boise defense that hasn't really seen a two-headed monster in the backfield quite like this, even against their toughest opponents. The Bronco defense will also have to contend with tight end Tyler Warren, one of the most interesting players in college football. Warren will line up truly everywhere, even taking some snaps out of the backfield. The Broncos must be creative in how they cover him, without leaving themselves too exposed to the other weapons Penn State can throw at them. You also get the feeling Andy Kotelnicki may have further tricks up his sleeve for this type of big stage. Trick plays, gadget plays, another different formation - he's going to keep Boise constantly guessing for the entire sixty minutes. 

In their fourth Fiesta Bowl, Boise State will rock their usual uniform combination - a blue, white, orange look that they are currently 3-0 in. Certainly the energy and "vibes" will be there for the Broncos, but this is an incredibly tough matchup for them. Penn State is an exceptionally balanced and well-rounded football team, and they are focused in after their first round dominance. I figure they do just enough to contain Jeanty and they pound the rock the other way, where they hold a superior edge in the trenches. I don't suspect a super pretty football game, but I figure the Nittany Lions will come out victorious.

The Pick: Penn State, 30 Boise State, 17

College Football Playoff Picks 2024-25: Texas-Clemson, Ohio State-Tennessee

Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

College Football Playoff First Round: (12) Clemson Tigers @ (5) Texas Longhorns

Line: Texas -12

O/U: 51.5

After a three-year hiatus, the Clemson Tigers are returning to the College Football Playoff. Their reward? The fifth-seeded Texas Longhorns, who were battling for a potential top overall seed in the SEC Championship Game before ultimately coming up short against Georgia. It will be an uphill battle for Dabo Swinney and the Tigers as they travel to Austin as two touchdown underdogs, but also an opportunity to prove they still belong in the conversation of truly elite teams on a national level.

Clemson's three-point effort in the season-opening loss to Georgia was quite the concerning start for a program that had suffered through a startling amount of offensive woes the year prior, their worst season in a decade-and-a-half. But since that game, the Tiger offense has flipped a switch, utilizing a balanced attack to average 37.4 PPG and serve as the catalyst for the eventual ACC Champion. Quarterback Cade Klubnik has been the figurehead, a guy who had a frustrating first season as starter in 2023, but has shown tremendous growth this fall. Klubnik has always had the arm talent, but he's played with significantly more confidence this season and has been willing to air it out in a way we simply didn't see previously. This still isn't an aerial attack at the level of the prime Deshaun Watson or Trevor Lawrence years, but the Tigers can truly stretch the field vertically. It has certainly helped Klubnik that the receiver corps has also seen major improvements, with Antonio Williams solidifying himself as a solid No. 1 and the young guys, T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr., seemingly getting better each and every week. I think the momentum the Clemson passing game will take into this one has a real chance to continue. Texas has been good enough on the back-end to be successful, but they thrive off turnovers. If Klubnik and company can take care of the football, which they've done for much of the year, they have a real chance to rack up some major yardage through the air. Where the Texas defense does hold an advantage, however, is up front, where they feature a host of future NFL defensive linemen and a budding superstar in linebacker Anthony Hill. Vernon Broughton is the big name for the Longhorn defensive line on the interior, but this is a group that is deep and relentless, going up against a Clemson O-Line that hasn't seen athletes like this since the Georgia game. These Tiger blockers are experienced, but I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a bit of shell-shock initially with what Texas throws at them. And if Clemson isn't able to recover and tailback Phil Mafah is held in check, the Tigers may have to press offensively in a way they haven't had to for much of the season. If that indeed happens, how they handle that adversity will tell us a lot about this football team - when they fell behind to UGA and Louisville early, they simply were not able to recover.

The Longhorns faced their fair share of obstacles offensively on the season, albeit in a different way than Clemson. Injuries have ended up being an unfortunate theme of the fall for Texas, beginning in fall camp with a season-ending injury to C.J. Baxter, who was primed for a huge year as the feature back. Since then, the Longhorns have watched as QB Quinn Ewers has faced a myriad of health problems, and now enter the CFB Playoff with their top target, Isaiah Bond, and top O-Linemen, Kelvin Banks Jr., both banged up. It sounds like Banks is in line to return to action after missing the SEC Championship Game, but Bond's status is a little bit more up in the air as we stand at the time of publishing. Losing a player like Bond would be huge for this Longhorn offense - he's not just their most productive wide receiver, his mere presence commands the defense's attention, and opens up opportunities elsewhere. There are other weapons Ewers can take advantage of, including Matthew Golden and rock-solid tight end Gunnar Helm Jr., but it will be interesting to see how this passing game operates in this one. Fortunately, the ground game has really improved since the start of the season, with sophomore Quintrevion Wisner really emerging as a lead back. He should be eager to get back on the field after being held in check by Georgia, and able to give this strong Clemson defensive front a challenge. In fact, it's the battle between this Clemson front seven and Texas O-Line that I may be the most excited about. The Tigers remain an NFL Draft factory with what they do in their front seven, while Steve Sarkisian's buildup of the Longhorn offensive line has been the secret sauce to their recent success. Even in a game like this, with so much talent on the field, I suspect whoever maintains the edge in the trenches will come out victorious.

Heading into this Playoff, the Longhorns were my National Title pick. And they still are - despite the injury questions that still seem to be hanging over them. But, this is a tough first round game, even if this Clemson team still has their flaws. They still have NFL athletes on both sides of the ball that should be able to challenge the 'Horns, and Klubnik is enough of a weapon himself to test this Texas secondary. I still think Texas finds a way to outlast them in Austin, but I think this could be a tight one until the very end.

The Pick: Texas, 31 Clemson, 28

College Football Playoff Picks 2024-25: Notre Dame-Indiana, SMU-Penn State

Drew Allar, Penn State

College Football Playoff First Round: (10) Indiana Hoosiers @ (7) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Line: Notre Dame -7.5

O/U: 51.5

The state of Indiana has always been known for their basketball, but the success of the Indiana Hoosiers this fall now sets up an exciting in-state matchup between the state's flagship universities - on the gridiron. It really is the type of first round matchup the College Football Playoff was going for in its expansion to 12 teams, pitting the traditional power (Notre Dame) against the upstart Hoosiers, a program with almost no football history to speak of. Add to that the fact the programs are separated by just 200 miles and there's a real chance of snow in the forecast, this game has all the makings of a classic in South Bend.

As shocking as Notre Dame's loss to Northern Illinois was in early September, the Irish deserve all the credit in the world for their response over these last three months. They've won ten straight games, including three over ranked foes, and absolutely pummeled most of their competition en route to the 11-1 regular season finish. They've done so with an extremely balanced scheme and a well-coached, smothering defense that has allowed the Irish to beat opponents in any way they please. Quarterback Riley Leonard, who transferred over from Duke for a one-season run with the Irish, has looked in complete command after a shaky start. He hasn't been asked to air it out, but instead lead a methodical, quick attack passing game that relies heavily on timing. The passing game has been incredibly balanced - six different Notre Dame pass-catchers have recorded 190 or more receiving yards, but only one, Beaux Collins, is over the 400 yard mark. I'll be curious to see whether Notre Dame choses to continue that balance into the Playoffs. The knock on this program throughout much of the Brian Kelly years were that their lack of explosive playmakers on the outside restricted them from going head-to-head against the true elites of the sport. Guys like Collins and Jaden Greathouse are good enough to give opposing defenses on the perimeter, but how aggressive offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock chooses to be will tell us whether that issue has persisted into big games in the Marcus Freeman era. Either way, the Irish should still lean heavily on their ground game, especially considering this matchup. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price have been a superb 1-2 punch out of the backfield, and are operating behind an offensive line that has improved drastically since Week One of the season. This group seems like they'll be able to neutralize Mikail Kamara and the rest of a physical Hoosier defensive front, pounding the rock and limiting Indiana's offensive possessions. Notre Dame has no problem making this is a low-scoring, ugly type of game. That still is their comfort zone and considering the potential weather, it certainly feels like the right strategy.

Curt Cignetti instantly set off fireworks his brash confidence upon taking the Indiana job, but there's no denying what a superb job he has done in Year One in Bloomington. Sure, the Hoosiers played a favorable schedule, but they've looked every bit like one of the Top 12 teams in the country, one year removed from a nine-loss season under Tom Allen. The team is well-coached, disciplined, and prepared each and every week, and they should relish the opportunity to show what they can do against an in-state rival. The Irish defense will be quite the test for them with what Al Golden can draw up as offensive coordinator. However, quarterback Kurtis Rourke and the rest of these Hoosiers have not been intimidated by any opponent all season, and they should be ready to go for this one. Rourke in particular has to be feeling good after seeing what the Irish defense looked like in their final game of the regular season against USC. Although they still came out victorious, Notre Dame was regularly burned by Lincoln Riley and an aggressive Trojan passing game, a really concerning look for a group that has looked so good for much of the year. Of course, Lincoln Riley is quite the offensive genius, but Notre Dame has clearly missed star cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who is out for the season. Look for the Hoosiers to take their shots down the field, especially early on, to feel out what adjustments the Irish made over the last couple weeks. Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper aren't just Indiana's top two receivers, they're both deep threats that have proven they can break open games. Cooper is averaging over 21 yards per catch, and has to be a player to key in on for Golden and the rest of this Notre Dame defense. The Hoosiers are able to feature a rushing attack that is quite the complement to what they do throwing the football, but this will be a tough matchup for them. Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton are more than capable, but the Irish are as good of a front seven as you'll see in college football. They're not quite as athletic up front as they've been in the past, but between Jack Kiser, Drayk Bowen, and this ferocious defensive line, they're going to make Indiana work for every inch.

The first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff era should be a competitive one, but I'm not sure it's going to be the prettiest, highest-scoring game of the first round. Considering how these two will look to play and the weather element, I get the sense this is going to be a little bit of an ugly, grinding type of football game. Both of these teams are capable of winning that type of game, but I just trust the Irish a bit more in their identity and what they know they can do. The Hoosiers will not be an easy out, but ND wins the battle of Indiana this time around.

The Pick: Notre Dame, 27 Indiana, 17

NFL Mock Draft 2025: Edition 1 (Early Edition)

Cam Ward, Miami (FL)

 * Draft order determined prior to NFL Week 14 games

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

Unless something drastic changes over the course of the next week, Travis Hunter is almost sure to take home the 2024 Heisman Trophy. That's likely to be just the beginning of the accolades for the two-way superstar after an impressive 2024 campaign, with the culmination to be him crowned as the top overall pick in next spring's NFL Draft. There remains an open question what exact role Hunter will have at the next level, but a talent like this comes along once a generation - there will be little question which direction Jacksonville goes here if they do indeed secure the No. 1 pick.

2. Las Vegas Raiders

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

There's a very real chance Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders go 1-2 when it's all said and done this next spring. Sanders has his fair share of detractors, but there's little denying the huge numbers he's put up over the course of two seasons at Colorado, and his huge arm would jolt this Las Vegas offense out of a long slumber. There's also something to be said about the fit here - Shedeur just feels like a future Raider, doesn't he?

3. New York Giants

Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)

At long last, the Daniel Jones experiment is over. The Giants will undoubtedly be looking for a new franchise signal-caller to guide the franchise starting next fall, and Miami's Cam Ward fits the bill. Ward's decision to hold off on the NFL for an extra year after flirting with going pro last winter has proved to be an excellent decision, giving him more time to show off his skillset to scouts and vaulting him into Top 5 pick territory.

College Football Picks 2024: Week Fifteen (Championship Week)

Jordan James, Oregon

Current Picks Record: 75-41

Upsets: 5-10

Supderdogs: 7-4

Big Ten Championship Game: (#3) Penn State Nittany Lions @ (#1) Oregon Ducks (Indianapolis)

Line: Oregon -3.5

O/U: 50.5

In a college football season defined primarily by parity at the top, Oregon has been one of the few constants as the final remaining undefeated team in college football. As they look to secure the top overall seed in the College Football Playoff and win a Big Ten title in their first year in the league, it's the one-loss Penn State Nittany Lions who stand in their way.

Statistically, Oregon's offense hasn't quite played at the level of the 2023 group, but it's been remarkably consistent. Aside from their season opener against Idaho and16-point outing against Wisconsin, two games the Ducks still managed to win, this group has scored 31 points or more in every single outing this fall. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel dealt with turnover problems early on, but he's been near perfect since Oregon's massive win over Ohio State, with just three interceptions in that span. Surrounding him is a fun cast of characters, with Tez Johnson, Evan Stewart, and Traeshon Holden putting pressure on opposing defenses on the perimeter, and tailbacks Jordan James and Noah Whittington pounding underneath. The ability of James to pound the ball between the tackles opens up this entire unit, and the versatility of the receiver corps is a real problem for opposing defenses. Johnson is a problem with what he can do after the catch, and Stewart's ability to win 50/50 balls gives Gabriel quite an out when he's under pressure. Tight end Terrance Ferguson should also get some love, an underrated piece of the puzzle who has played out in some of Oregon's most crucial games this year. All in all, it's quite the challenge for Tom Allen and a Penn State defense that has had an incredible year themselves. The Nittany Lions have more than enough up front to make Oregon work for every yard, but I am concerned about this secondary holding up over the course of four quarters. Either way, it should be a really fun matchup to watch, and I'm zoning in on one position battle in particular: Abdul Carter vs. this Duck O-Line. There's a good chance we see potential first-rounders battling it out in Carter going up against tackle Josh Conerly Jr.

Andy Kotelnicki has been a superb hire by James Franklin in running this Penn State offense, but now comes his most important test. The Nittany Lions have opened things up this fall, and Kotelnicki has become quite the tactician with this group, running some of the most interesting formations and shifts you'll see in college football. The result has been a unit that averages 33.3 points per game, with a real mix of the run and the pass. However, one game has overshadowed the success of this group: a 13-point showing in a loss to Ohio State, in which the Nittany Lions managed just 270 yards per game and zero offensive touchdowns. This is a program looking to shed their reputation of not showing up in the most important games, and that pressure falls squarely on the offense, namely Kotelnicki and quarterback Drew Allar. Allar has continued to develop in his second full season as starter, and has shown an excellent command of this offense. But is he ready to lead Penn State to victory against this fierce Duck defense? There are weapons to help out, namely do-it-all tight end Tyler Warren, the dynamic duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and a solid receiver corps. But it really feels like it's going to be Allar who is going to make all the difference. Taking care of the ball is one thing, but I do feel like the Nittany Lions are going to have to take some shots to keep the Ducks on their toes. The way Penn State has won against other Big Ten teams, where they have relied on their physicality to outlast foes, it just won't work here. Oregon has the athletes and depth on the defensive side of the ball - it will be fascinating to see what Kotelnicki comes up with.

It's so hard to go undefeated in the modern era of college football just in the regular season, but winning 13 games, including a conference championship game? Oregon is certainly going to have to work hard for this one, but they still like the smarter pick. We haven't seen Penn State win these types of games regularly under James Franklin. That doesn't mean they can't, they certainly have the talent on this roster. But, until we see it, I'm picking the Ducks to win.

The Pick: Oregon, 35 Penn State, 24