🏈 🔵 Notre Dame Hosts First-Ever Home Playoff Game & Previewing Ohio State vs. Tennessee
Tonight, snowy South Bend will take center stage as the underdog Hoosiers are prepped to invade college football's cathedral.
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Notre Dame’s Playoff Anticipation
It’s officially College Football Playoff weekend, and there couldn’t be a better way to kick off the sport’s new era than a Friday night spectacle in South Bend.
Fans awoke on Friday morning to a fresh snowfall gracing the field at Notre Dame Stadium, with the athletic department’s Twitter sharing an image of a snowman overlooking the turf.
Per Mike Golic Jr., caravans of Fighting Irish fans lined the campus streets as early as 7 a.m. this morning ahead of tonight’s in-state battle with Indiana.
Buckle up, it will be a wild weekend of reinvented traditions — creating a perfect mix of old and new.
Garrett Greene
Quarterback, West Virginia
Mountaineer gunslinger Garrett Greene played his final game in the blue and gold on Tuesday in a bowl game against Memphis, and he excelled as an all-around offensive force.
Greene completed 73% of his passes in Tuesday’s 42-37 loss to the Tigers, compiling 328 passing yards and two touchdowns.
On the ground, Greene toted the mail seven times for 95 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 56-yard scamper.
Following the game, Greene declared for the NFL Draft, announcing he’d pursue opportunities at the next level as a wide receiver. He’s a can’t-miss pure athlete.
Sam Houston State
Sam Houston State entered the FBS ranks on July 1, 2023, and less than two years later, the inspired Group of Five cohort now reigns as bowl champions at the Division I-A level.
The Bearkats took down Georgia Southern 31-26, winning the game without head coach KC Keeler, who recently departed for the Temple head coaching job.
Although dozens of players entered the transfer portal following Keeler’s move, Sam Houston State finished the campaign strong with a 10-3 record.
The stellar season includes victories over Texas State, Liberty, and eventual C-USA champion Jacksonville State.
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Transfer Portal Parameters
Despite Penn State being poised for a deep College Football Playoff run after earning the No. 6 seed from the College Football Playoff Committee, the Nittany Lions will be without their backup quarterback throughout the postseason.
Signal caller Beau Pribula announced his intentions to hit the transfer portal on December 15, but it wasn’t because he wanted to hang up the black shoes and basic blues before the season’s end.
Pribula cited the college football calendar as his main reason for leaving the program, putting him in a bind to make an “impossible decision.”
If Pribula had waited until the end of Penn State’s playoff run, the current transfer window would’ve likely already closed — with its expiration date set for December 28.
At that point, most potential suitors would’ve already found their quarterback, forcing Pribula into another undesirable situation.
College Football Playoff Ticket Demand
Speaking of the current college football calendar, it appears as though fans haven’t adjusted to the lengthened postseason structure from an attendance standpoint.
With just a day remaining before most College Football Playoff First-Round action takes place, ticket demand has hit a surprising low.
According to SeatGeek, here are the get-in prices for Saturday’s games:
SMU at Penn State — $36
Clemson at Texas — $85
Tennessee at Ohio State — $81
If these matchups took place in the regular season, prices would be triple the cost. But, fans being able to watch their favorite teams affordably is never a bad prospect.
Best Position Battle Of The Weekend
Tennessee’s Run Defense vs. Ohio State’s Ground Attack 💪
Not many squads have been better at consistently stopping the run like Tennessee has all season.
The Volunteers allow just 99.6 rushing yards per game, sitting at No. 8 nationally, propelled by Josh Heupel’s physical front seven.
Conversely, Ohio State averages nearly 170 ground yards per contest, led by two quality backs in Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.
Against Michigan, the Buckeyes struggled to garner sustained success on the ground against the Wolverines’ stout front.
Ohio State posted just 2.96 yards per carry, with zero carries by either Judkins or Henderson going for 20 yards or more.
If Tennessee can take a page out of Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore’s book and make Ohio State one-dimensional on offense, it could be a long day for Will Howard, who will have to carve a talented SEC defense with his arm alone.
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Hot Prediction Heading Into Playoff Saturday 🔥
Indiana Shocks Notre Dame To Open Playoff Action 🤯
Home playoff games are unprecedented, so what’s the harm in picking a shocking upset to kick off the slate?
Indiana holds a 1-13-1 all-time record at Notre Dame Stadium, but in a matchup like this, all history should be thrown out the window.
Hoosiers’ linebackers Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker will be crucial in helping Curt Cignetti’s defense stay off the field, prohibiting Notre Dame’s run-first offense from sustaining extended drives.
Both Irish running backs, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, average over 7.0 yards per carry, and are anchored by dual-threat quarterback Riley Leonard’s leadership and athleticism.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman holds an 18-0 record when the Fighting Irish rush for 200 yards or more.
I expect Indiana’s defense to hold Notre Dame in check, allowing Hoosier signal caller Kurtis Rourke and the visiting offense to play the game on its terms.
If Indiana’s offensive protection holds up and the Hoosiers can consistently limit crushing gains on the ground, Indiana will win it close in upset fashion.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email at adam@brenemanmedia.com.
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Shoutout to Connor Krause for helping to write this newsletter and putting it together!
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