Snoozefests plagued the first round of the College Football Playoff but ultimately weeded out the pretenders for the national title.
As the quarterfinals approach, let’s examine the people who could have the biggest impact on the CFP, which resumes Tuesday night at 7:30 ET with Penn State (11-2) playing Boise State (12-1) in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
On Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Texas (12-2) will play Arizona State (11-2), followed by Ohio State (11-2) vs. Oregon (13-0) in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California (5 p.m. ET) and Notre Dame (12-1) vs. Georgia (11-2) in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans (8:45 p.m. ET).
Ashton Jeanty | Boise State running back
The Heisman Trophy finalist will be well rested for what could be his final attempt at breaking Barry Sanders’ all-time season rushing record of 2,628 yards, set in 1988. Against Penn State’s stingy rush defense, Jeanty needs 132 yards to pass Sanders. If Boise State — an 11-point underdog, per ESPN Bet — upsets the Nittany Lions, he’ll get two games to break the record.
James Franklin | Penn State head coach
The Nittany Lions easily handled SMU in the first round, particularly on defense, and Franklin will need the same kind of performance to stop Jeanty and Boise State.
“He’s one of the best running backs in the history of college football,” Franklin told reporters Sunday, via Mike Prater of 95.3 FM The Ticket.
How he plans for the ground-and-pound strategy Boise State will likely employ could make or break Penn State’s national title chase. Failing to advance through what is deemed an easy path to the semifinal will be a tough stain to get off Franklin’s resume if he cannot deliver.
Cam Skattebo | Arizona State running back
The Sacramento State transfer is tied for the school record for total touchdowns in a season (22) and has a great opportunity to break it against Texas. He crowned himself the “best running back in the country” after ASU won the Big 12 title. He’ll have a chance to prove it Wednesday. To upset the Longhorns, the Sun Devils — a 13-point underdog, per ESPN Bet — must get Skattebo going early. If he’s stifled, it will be a long day for the ASU offense.
Kenny Dillingham | Arizona State head coach
His gameplans this season have been to score often and to bleed the clock with an effective running game.
“Control what you can control,” he told reporters Dec. 16, shortly after finding out ASU’s spot in the 12-team bracket, via Blake Niemann of SunDevilSource.com.
Arizona State must overcome a stout Texas defensive front. If Dillingham can solve that puzzle and pull off an upset, the Sun Devils might be the most dangerous dark horse remaining in the bracket.
Quinn Ewers | Texas quarterback
Ewers has his doubters, but he had a strong showing in the first round against Clemson (202 yards passing and a touchdown). However, he has thrown four interceptions in his past four games, so he has vulnerabilities for Arizona State to exploit. Getting WR Isaiah Bond back from injury could be just the confidence booster he needs to quash the inexperienced Sun Devils.
Dillon Gabriel | Oregon quarterback
The Ducks and Buckeyes will get their long-awaited rematch on the game’s biggest stage. A Rose Bowl between the teams can only be good for college football, and having a quarterback such as Gabriel at the center of it will draw eyeballs. In the first meeting this season, a 32-31 Oregon win, the senior transfer threw for a season-high 341 yards and two touchdowns. The same kind of performance will be needed to ensure Ohio State cannot get its revenge.
Ryan Day | Ohio State head coach
Under fire from his fan base for four straight losses to Michigan, Day hopes to ride the momentum of Ohio State’s 42-17 thumping of Tennessee in the first round all the way to the Rose Bowl. That’s a venue the Buckeyes are accustomed to winning in. In Ohio State’s first and only meeting against Oregon in Pasadena, the Buckeyes won 26-17 in 2010.
Gunner Stockton | Georgia quarterback
With starter Carson Beck ruled out with an elbow injury, Stockton is the player under more pressure than any other on Georgia’s roster. He relieved an injured Beck during the SEC Championship Game, throwing for 71 yards and an interception in the 22-19 overtime win against Texas. Sacked twice against the Longhorns, he will likely feel a lot of pressure from Notre Dame’s impressive pass rush.
Kirby Smart | Georgia head coach
The mastermind behind Georgia’s run to the playoffs has had ample time to craft a new offensive plan with the sudden quarterback change.
“That kid played tough as nails,” Smart told reporters of Stockton’s performance after winning the SEC title game. “He’s a phenomenal leader, and I think everybody rose up around him.”
There’s no Alabama in the CFP to foil Smart, but Notre Dame cannot be underestimated. If Smart is Nick Saban’s replacement in the sport, a Sugar Bowl win in New Orleans will help cement that status.
Riley Leonard | Notre Dame quarterback
The one person who could spoil Smart’s ascension is Leonard. The only loss for the Fighting Irish this season came in Week 2 against Northern Illinois. Since then, the Irish have won 11 straight, including a 27-17 dismantling of in-state foe Indiana in the first round of the CFP. Leonard has six interceptions this season, three in the past four games. Leonard will need a near-perfect performance to lead Notre Dame — a 1.5-point underdog, per ESPN Bet — to one of the bigger upsets in program history.
