The College Football Playoff is set to kick off with its first round this Friday and Saturday. This inaugural 12-team format brings a new level of excitement and competition to the sport. Four first-round games will be played on campus, with teams like No. 10 Indiana facing off against No. 7 Notre Dame on Friday at 8 p.m. EST, No. 11 SMU taking on No. 6 Penn State on Saturday at noon EST, No. 12 Clemson battling No. 5 Texas at 4 p.m. EST, and No. 9 Tennessee clashing with No. 8 Ohio State at 8 p.m. EST.

The Path to the Quarterfinals

After the first-round games, the quarterfinal action will take place in the prestigious Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. Notable teams such as No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Boise State, and No. 4 Arizona State have earned a first-round bye and will await their opponents in the next stage.

Student-Athletes in the Transfer Portal

Ahead of the first-round games, student-athletes from playoff teams have entered the NCAA transfer portal. This winter transfer window, open from December 9th to 28th for the 2024-25 school year, has seen several key players make their moves. One such player is Devin Brown from Ohio State. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound junior quarterback appeared in eight contests for the Buckeyes in 2024. He completed 10-of-19 passing attempts for 108 yards and one touchdown, while also adding 13 rushing yards on seven attempts. Another player is Ryan Damron from Tennessee. The redshirt freshman quarterback appeared in one game during the 2024 regular season against Kent State at Neyland Stadium but did not record any statistics. He did not play in any games in 2023 and earned a redshirt.

Quarterbacks in the Playoff Mix

Preston Stone from SMU is in his fourth season as a quarterback. He played in seven games this year, completing 30-of-51 passing attempts for 421 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He also had 24 rushing yards on 11 attempts and is expected to remain with the team during the College Football Playoff. Malachi Nelson from Boise State is a redshirt freshman who appeared in three games in the 2024 regular season. He completed 12-of-17 passing attempts for 128 yards and one interception, with 6-foot-3 and 193-pound frame. He transferred from USC and had -11 rushing yards on two attempts. Beau Pribula from Penn State is a sophomore who had an impressive 2024 season. He completed 26-of-35 passing attempts for 275 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He also had 242 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 38 attempts and entered the transfer portal on December 15th.These student-athletes bring their unique skills and experiences to the College Football Playoff, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament. As the games unfold, fans will be on the edge of their seats to see how these players perform and which teams will advance to the next round.