25 players to watch in the College Football Playoff

One of many extra fascinating tales of any participant within the new-look expanded Faculty Soccer Playoff. Alford’s faculty profession started at Texas, then over to USC, the place he recorded three interceptions in 2021. Nonetheless, an damage and the NCAA’s since-lifted two-time switch rule stored him out of the 2022 and ’23 seasons, respectively. Now, Alford finds himself at Arizona State, the place he is underneath the steerage of a well-known face in defensive backs coach Bryan Carrington, who he performed underneath with the Longhorns and Trojans. This season, Alford grew to become an All-Huge 12 first-team performer with 83 whole tackles and two interceptions for the ACC-champion Solar Devils.

Faculty soccer analysts like Penn State’s street to the Faculty Soccer Playoff nationwide championship sport, even because the No. 6 seed. Along with a seemingly favorable postseason path, Penn State boasts one of many sport’s finest defenders in Carter. The All-American expertise ranks second within the Huge Ten with 10 sacks and is the league’s chief with 19 1/2 tackles for loss. Carter is energetic, disruptive and should be accounted for on each snap as a result of he has the potential to vary the sport on the defensive facet of the ball. 

Clemson’s last-second upset of SMU within the ACC Championship sport places them within the Faculty Soccer Playoff in opposition to a national-title feeling Texas squad. Carter, although, is perhaps one of the best pro-ready expertise on the sphere on this matchup. An All-American performer, Carter continues to play at a excessive stage with 79 whole tackles, 10 1/2 tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks and 7 passes damaged up. That kind of manufacturing from Carter should proceed in opposition to the Longhorns.  

The CFP is a time for playmakers to shine. Downs, in his first season at Ohio State after transferring from Alabama, has proven why he is among the many finest defenders within the faculty sport. Nonetheless, he is additionally a significant risk as a return man. His 79-yard punt return for a landing in opposition to Indiana was a game-changing second that led to a Buckeyes rout. Ohio State, with an offense that struggled in opposition to Michigan, faces a extreme take a look at in opposition to Tennessee. It could be in want of one other spark from Downs. 

Is Dillon Gabriel one of the best total offensive participant within the CFP? Effectively, he is the chief of the one undefeated crew on the sphere, is the Huge Ten’s prime passer with 3,558 yards, and has thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions within the final two video games — 4 of which got here in opposition to Penn State within the Huge Ten Championship sport. Gabriel’s expertise (63 faculty video games in six seasons) and management shouldn’t be understated at this level within the season. Particularly with the likes of Ohio State and Texas presumably in the way in which of the Geese enjoying for a nationwide title. 

The Texas offense is well-known for its efficiency, however do not sleep on the Longhorns protection. They boast a extremely underrated defensive entrance, however the star of the present stays Hill, the standout expertise who ranks among the many SEC leaders with 90 whole tackles, a whopping 16 tackles for loss and in addition eight sacks. He will likely be a frightening problem for the Clemson offensive line, in addition to its blocking backs and tight ends, to deal with when the groups meet within the first spherical of the CFP. 

When Boise faces both SMU or Penn State within the Fiesta Bowl on New Yr’s Eve, an excellent chunk of the nation will get to see why Jeanty might be one of the best working again within the nation. The nation’s main rusher with 2,497 yards and tied for the highest spot with 29 touchdowns on the bottom, Jeanty may very effectively crack the 5,000-career-yard mark if the Broncos are to make a deep playoff run. Nonetheless, since they do not play in a significant convention, this might be the primary time most informal faculty soccer followers see Jeanty play.

One other nice CFP story, Johnson was the primary ever receiver to earn Huge Ten Championship MVP honors after catching 11 passes for 181 yards and a landing within the 45-37 victory over Penn State. And, he did all of it in entrance of his organic mom and household attending in Indianapolis. The Geese will once more depend on Johnson, who has 78 receptions for 866 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, as they make a run on the nationwide championship. 

Klubnik has made main strides in his second full season as a starter whereas throwing for 3,303 yards with 33 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, and in addition dashing for seven scores. If 1,100-yard working again Phil Mafah is wholesome sufficient to be issue and carry the load, among the stress will likely be off Klubnik, named ACC Championship sport MVP together with his 4 TD passes. Nonetheless, his margin for error in opposition to a stifling Texas protection appears very slim for the upstart Tigers. 

By the primary three video games of his Notre Dame profession this season, Leonard threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. Since then, he is thrown 16 TDs and been intercepted simply thrice. Leonard just isn’t a star and wasn’t anticipated to be one for the Irish, however he is settled into his position and has the offense buzzing amid the crew’s 10-game profitable streak. Now, he is about to play within the largest sport of his profession, Dec. 20, in opposition to Indiana to open the Faculty Soccer Playoff. 

SMU will get a deserved spot within the CFP, however faces a stiff take a look at in opposition to Penn State. That may enable extra faculty soccer followers to take a look at Nwokobia, the sturdy, high-octane performer who ranks second on crew with 96 whole tackles, together with a program-best 51 solos. Nwokobia, an All-ACC first-team performer, can be tied for the crew lead with three interceptions. With a view to pull off the CFP upset at Completely satisfied Valley, Nwokobia possible should stay a defensive playmaker.

Pearce is projected to be an NFL star, and it is easy to grasp why. An explosive protection expertise, Pearce is a bodily drive that may critically take a look at an above-average but in addition banged-up Ohio State offensive line within the first spherical of the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Pearce has 7 1/2 sacks this season and is all about disruption. An idea that the Volunteers protection might want to ship typically as a way to take down a Buckeyes’ squad that may nonetheless be reeling from that loss to Michigan. 

The Hoosiers’ 11-1 dream season continues with an in-state CFP contest in opposition to Notre Dame to kickoff the 12-team event. Whereas Indiana’s offense, which averages 43.3 factors, has been the story of this historic marketing campaign underneath first-year coach Curt Cignetti, its protection was impressively stout. Solely three opponents have scored greater than 17 factors in opposition to the Hoosiers in 2024, and Ponds, a bodily defender, is a first-team All-Huge Ten performer. He ranks amongst league leaders with 9 passes defended, and in addition took again considered one of his two interceptions for a landing. He is additionally second on the crew with 35 solo tackles. 

Indiana’s dream 11-1 season continues with an anticipated matchup at in-state foe Notre Dame to kickoff the CFP playoff. Rourke was a strong quarterback throughout his 5 seasons at Ohio, however was basically reborn in 2024 as a Hoosier underneath first-year coach Curt Cignetti. Rourke has accomplished 70.4 p.c of his passes for two,827 yards with 27 touchdowns and simply 4 interceptions whereas posting a Huge Ten-best 181.4 passer ranking. Nonetheless, it will likely be fascinating to see how Rourke handles this monumental problem at a famed stadium in opposition to an Irish protection that enables simply 13.6 factors per sport.  

The SEC Offensive Participant of the Yr, Sampson enters the CFP with 1,487 dashing yards and 22 floor touchdowns. He was held to fewer than 100 dashing yards twice this season however faces an Ohio State protection on the Horseshoe that enables simply 96.8 yards on the bottom per contest. That stated, the Buckeyes did hand over a season-high 172 dashing yards throughout that 13-10 disheartening dwelling loss to rival Michigan. If the Volunteers are going to tug off the street upset, Sampson and the run should prepared the ground. 

Discuss enjoyable to look at. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound bruising Skattebo all the time had expertise, as famous together with his 1,373-yard season for FCS energy Sacramento State in 2022. Nonetheless, this season, Skattebo established himself as one of many nation’s finest, dashing for 1,568 yards with 19 touchdowns on the bottom. He is totaled 494 of these yards within the final three video games, together with a formidable 170 on simply 16 carries with three whole touchdowns in ASU’s 45-19 rout of then-No. 16 Iowa State within the Huge 12 Championship Sport. 

The versatile Smith, who spent most of his three seasons at Miami, Fla., enjoying receiver, has blossomed into one of many nation’s most under-the-radar working backs as a Mustang. Smith earned All-ACC first-team honors whereas dashing for 1,270 yards with 14 touchdowns. He additionally caught 35 passes and registered 4 TDs through the air. If SMU is win at Penn State, it should be all arms on deck and Smith must be a constant issue. 

The freshman Johnson was anticipated to have an instantaneous affect for the Buckeyes this season. And, he has not dissatisfied with 57 receptions for a team-leading 934 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns which are tied for probably the most within the Huge Ten. Nonetheless, Smith has totaled 69 receiving within the final two video games mixed/ So, if Ohio State is to make a deep playoff run, Smith should return to his big-play type that accounts for 16.4 yards per catch in 2024.

Georgia’s uncertainty at quarterback after Beck suffered an elbow damage throughout the SEC Championship Sport. The Bulldogs are the No. 2 seed and do not play till New Yr’s Day. Beck is a confirmed winner (24-3 the final two seasons), but when he cannot go, which has been reported to be the case, then Stockton is the person. The redshirt sophomore has performed in seven faculty video games however went 12-of-16 and in addition confirmed his potential to run in opposition to Texas within the league title contest. After all, he threw a key interception that allowed the Longhorns to drive extra time. This would be the largest storyline to observe main as much as New Yr’s Day.

The Huge Ten season chief with 10 1/2 sacks (plus 12 1/2 tackles for loss) in 2024, Uiagalelei is a drive that the Geese might want to stay energetic after he was an entire non-factor in opposition to Penn State, which frequently had its means offensively, throughout the Huge Ten Championship sport. Even with a vaunted defensive entrance, Oregon managed only one recorded sack in opposition to the Nittany Lions. Uiagalelei and Co. should be far more productive because the video games get extra essential. 

Boise’s Ahmed Hassanein has been inflicting havoc on opposing offenses for a while now, however teammate Virgin-Morgan actually made a reputation for himself this season. A primary-team All-Mountain West Convention performer, Virgin-Morgan leads the Broncos with 10 sacks and 15 1/2 tackles for loss. Boise State’s offense get loads of consideration, but when this system is to make a deep postseason run, Virgin-Morgan and the protection should be at its finest.

With the uncertainty at quarterback, the onus possible falls much more on Georgia’s proficient protection to dictate how its quarterfinal matchup performs out. The Bulldogs’ protection is loaded with elite expertise like potential top-10 NFL decide Mykel Williams, linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. and star defensive again Malaki Starks. Nonetheless, the versatile Butkus Award-finalist Walker is perhaps the important thing to the whole operation with crew highs of 10 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks, plus two interceptions.

Penn State’s go-to man on offense, Warren is reliable as they arrive. Which, clearly, is essential when in a playoff state of affairs. Warren leads all energy convention tight ends with 88 receptions and is considered one of two gamers nationally on the place to crack 1,000 receiving yards (Huge Ten-record 1,062) this season. Warren has scored 13 touchdowns within the final two seasons, so he has a knack for the tip zone. He is additionally rushed for 191 yards with 4 touchdowns on 23 carries in 2024, which means Warren will likely be a key issue when the Nittany Lions open CFP play in opposition to SMU.

Placing all the things collectively and searching on the full bundle, Watts is Notre Dame’s finest total defender no matter place. And, it will likely be enjoyable to see how he — and the remainder of the stout Irish protection — handles a potent Indiana offense to open the CFP. Watts leads the Irish with 5 interceptions and 9 cross breakups whereas additionally posting 49 tackles, together with 30 solos. He is a defensive standout with a game-changing potential that turns out to be useful this time of 12 months.

Texas has loads of offensive stars — quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, tight finish Gunnar Helm and receivers Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden. Nonetheless, if the Longhorns are to stay round within the CFP, it might want to successfully run the ball. The shifty and versatile Wisner (863 dashing yards, 4.9 per carry) is the person of the hour within the Texas backfield. He totaled 204 yards within the Longhorns’ closing two scheduled common contests versus Kentucky and Texas A&M, however was held to solely 51 on 19 carries within the SEC title-game loss to Georgia. Wisner should possible be a constant issue for the Longhorns to thrive within the Playoff.