The 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinals: Who's Advancing to Atlanta?

Published: Thursday, January 9, 2025

by Kyle Ferreira

The field is down to four contestants.

As the college football season nears its conclusion, the College Football Playoff semifinals are set for this week. While the teams involved are some of the sport’s most storied programs, none were among the top four seeds in this year’s Playoff. Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame, and Penn State entered as the No. 5 through No. 8 seeds, yet here they are.

The elimination of the top four seeds—Oregon, Arizona State, Georgia, and Boise State—has reignited debates about the current Playoff format. For now, though, the focus shifts to the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl, where the winners will advance to the national championship. Here’s a closer look at this week’s matchups.

Orange Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Penn State

The winners of the Sugar Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl, respectively, will face off in South Florida on Thursday night. Penn State appears to have a slight advantage in terms of rest, having last played on New Year’s Eve. Notre Dame, meanwhile, waited an extra day to secure its Sugar Bowl victory following the tragic events in New Orleans.

For the Fighting Irish, head coach Marcus Freeman has his program thriving in its first College Football Playoff run. After a first-round win at home against Indiana and a victory over Georgia last Thursday, Notre Dame is on the brink of its first national championship since 1988.

Offensively, quarterback Riley Leonard’s mobility frustrated Georgia’s defense and will remain a strength Thursday. Running back Jeremiyah Love, who suffered a knee injury in the Sugar Bowl, is expected to play and further bolster the offense. Defensively, Notre Dame has been stellar throughout the regular season and Playoff, and its ability to create pressure could spell trouble for Penn State.

For Penn State, head coach James Franklin has silenced critics in the program’s first Playoff appearance. The Nittany Lions dominated SMU in the first round and followed it with a Fiesta Bowl win over Boise State.

Defensively, Penn State has been exceptional, forcing turnovers and containing Boise State’s Heisman finalist, Ashton Jeanty. Fans are hopeful that standout defensive end Abdul Carter will be available after suffering a reported arm injury in the Fiesta Bowl. On offense, the running back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton powered the team with a combined 221 rushing yards against Boise State.

This game is as close as it gets, but Notre Dame’s balanced attack gives it the edge.

Cotton Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Texas

The winners of the Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl enter Friday night’s showdown after two vastly different paths to the semifinals. Ohio State cruised to a comfortable win in Pasadena over previously undefeated Oregon, while Texas survived a grueling battle in Georgia. Despite the Longhorns’ double-overtime victory in the Peach Bowl against Arizona State, much of the praise afterward went to the Sun Devils.

For Texas, what should have been a straightforward win turned into a thriller as Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo delivered a standout performance. The Longhorns needed their offense to carry the day, with quarterback Quinn Ewers and wide receiver Matthew Golden stepping up to propel them into the semifinals.

Defensively, Texas boasts elite talent at all three levels, a strength it has demonstrated throughout the season. Playing in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium also gives the Longhorns a home-field advantage. However, Ohio State has other plans.

The Buckeyes have been on a mission since their disappointing loss to Michigan on Nov. 30. Many expected them to lose momentum, but they’ve done the opposite. Ohio State defeated Tennessee at home in the first round and avenged their loss to Oregon with a dominant Rose Bowl performance.

This Buckeye team has lived up to its preseason hype, with contributions from freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, a strong offensive line, and a relentless defense. Head coach Ryan Day, under immense pressure in recent weeks, has silenced critics—and his team isn’t finished yet.

While the Cotton Bowl is a favorite destination for Texas historically, expect Ohio State to emerge victorious in this one.

Kyle Ferreira can be reached at kyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu. 

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