The College Football Playoffs are finally here. The top four teams in the nation are set to compete in the 8th annual playoff bracket to crown this year's National Champion.
Alabama is the number one seed, Michigan number two, Georgia and Cincinnati at three and four respectively. After Alabama and Georgia's SEC Championship battle where Alabama dominated Georgia, giving the bulldogs their first loss of the season, Alabama and Georgia flipped their #1 and #3 rankings. Michigan earned their #2 rankings after beating Ohio State two weeks ago, sending the Buckeyes out of the top positions, marking Michigan's first playoff appearance. Cincinnati is the "odd-man" out after going 12-0 with the easiest schedule of any team competing.
The semi-final round is set to happen on New Year's Eve, with #4 Cincinnati vs #1 Alabama @ 3:30 EST and #3 Georgia vs #2 Michigan @ 7:30. The winners will play for the National Championship on January 10th of 2022.
Alabama will be led by their captain QB and Heisman Trophy finalist Bryce Young, a sophomore out of Pasadena, California who has been on fire with 1,567 yards, 15 touchdowns (plus one rushing touchdown) and only one interception in his last four games. Of course, Nick Saban also has a yearly contender for defense of the year, this year carried by SO Safety Jordan Battle, JR Linebacker Henry To'o To'o and SO Edge Rusher Will Anderson.
Michigan's rushing attack has brought them to the dance this year with SR Running Back Hassan Haskins who ran for 5 TD's against rival Ohio State. However, Michigan's defense is as good as it's been dating all the way back to Charles Woodson in 1995. Edge Rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo have been the best edge rusher combo in the nation the whole year, and add ball hawk Safety Daxton Hill and this defense scares everyone.
Georgia was the consensus #1 team in the nation for the entire year until Alabama beat them last week, and it's not hard to see why. Their defense will likely have 9 draft picks come April, and their offense will have 6-7 itself. The amount of talent on this team is only comparable to Alabama, and the Bulldogs expect to see the Crimson Tide again for payback and a chance at a Natty.
Finally Cincinnati, Their QB Desmond Ridder has had a Heisman-like season as well with 37 TDs, and Running Back Jerome Ford has added 19 TDs. Their powerful offense has given teams fits all year, including their biggest win against Notre Dame in October. The Bearcats are considered longshots even though they're the only team that has not lost all season.
Check out fansonlysportz.com for more sports media content and stay tuned for more content invloving the CFP 2022.
-Z.D.
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