The College Football Playoff semifinals are scheduled for Monday, marking the culmination of a month filled with speculation and debate since the selection of the final four teams.
Michigan, holding the top spot according to the CFP committee, is set to face off against No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Meanwhile, No. 2 Washington will take on No. 3 Texas in the later Sugar Bowl game.
The victors of the Alabama-Michigan and Texas-Washington matchups will vie for the national championship in Houston on January 8.
Michigan vs. Alabama
This clash features two renowned teams with massive fan bases. Alabama’s head coach, Nick Saban, seeks his seventh national title with the Crimson Tide. While quarterback Jalen Milroe and linebacker Dallas Turner bolster the team’s strength, critics note that this squad may be among Saban’s less cohesive ones. Michigan, led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy, aims for its first national title since 1997. Coach Jim Harbaugh, in his ninth season, guides the Wolverines to their third consecutive semifinal, yet they have not secured a national championship appearance.
Rose Bowl kickoff in Pasadena, Calif., is set for 5 p.m. ET.
Washington vs. Texas
The Texas Longhorns make their inaugural appearance in the CPF, while the Washington Huskies return for the second time after their 2016 showing. The teams previously met in the 2022 postseason, with Washington emerging victorious over Texas with a score of 27-20 in the Alamo Bowl.
Quarterback and Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. leads the Huskies, guided by coach Kalen DeBoer, who seeks his first NCAA title win after steering the team through an undefeated season. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, experiencing a career resurgence since his 2015 firing from USC for alcohol abuse, leads the Longhorns in his playoff debut as head coach. Quarterback Quinn Ewers heads the Longhorns.
The Sugar Bowl in New Orleans kicks off at 8:45 p.m. ET.
Controversy Surrounding Selection
Alabama and Texas aim to validate the playoff selection committee’s decision to include them in the semifinals. Despite each team having suffered a single loss, the undefeated Florida State was notably excluded. The committee justified this decision by citing the absence of star quarterback Jordan Travis due to a late-season leg injury. Alabama secured its spot by defeating two-time defending champion Georgia in the SEC championship game, while Texas had previously defeated Alabama.
The attention surrounding the New Year’s Day double-header is anticipated to result in a significant surge in bets, with the games being played on New Year’s Day instead of New Year’s Eve, contributing to a record-breaking handle. Analysts suggest that Michigan is the slight favorite to win, but underdog Alabama attracts the highest percentage of bets and money for the game. In the Washington-Texas matchup, the underdog Huskies lead in both the amount of money and bets, while Texas holds the favorite position.
