College Football Playoff Preview: 4 Teams, 1 Champion

http://presstelegraph.com/2015/12/07/our-writers-rank-the-college-football-playoff-teams.html Photo made by Sporting News

http://presstelegraph.com/2015/12/07/our-writers-rank-the-college-football-playoff-teams.html Photo made by Sporting News

Caden C. and Tate S.

On December 5, 4 major championship games were played to decide who would earn a spot in the 2016 College Football Playoff, or a bowl berth. The day after, 4 teams claimed a spot in the final rankings, looking to advance further for a national championship. On December 31st, New Year’s Eve, we will see two interesting semifinals, with the winner of each heading to Glendale, Arizona for the National Championship Game. Here are the match-ups and teams in both semifinals.

Capital One Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, Thursday, Dec. 31, 3:00 pm on ESPN
#1 Clemson Tigers (13-0) vs. #4 Oklahoma Sooners (11-1)

Clemson stays unbeaten at 13-0 after beating #10 North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game. Two explosive offenses meet, as Heisman candidate QB DeShaun Watson leads Clemson against Oklahoma and walk-on QB Baker Mayfield. Clemson crushed the Sooners last year in the Russell Athletic Bowl, so OU looks for redemption to advance.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, Thursday, December 31, 7:00 PM on ESPN
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) vs. #3 Michigan State Spartans (12-1)

Alabama and Heisman hopeful RB Derrick Henry get a chance at another Big Ten opponent after losing to Ohio State last year, though this time facing Michigan State, who had huge wins against Ohio State and Iowa. The winner will be the team who can grind it out with the running game and defense.