Seven Players Who Will Decide the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals

Because the Faculty Soccer Playoff whittles all the way down to eight groups, the extent of competitors ought to intensify after 4 lackluster first-round contests. The quarterfinals characteristic intriguing matchups and a possibility for numerous gamers to issue into pivotal roles. 

Among the playmakers poised to be the distinction of their quarterfinals are apparent; others, much less so. All determine right into a central subplot of their respective matchups.

Fiesta Bowl: Boise State vs. Penn State

QB Maddux Madsen, Boise State

Whereas working again Ashton Jeanty’s historic dashing manufacturing is the plain cornerstone of Boise State’s push to the Playoff, the stableness Maddux Madsen has supplied at quarterback performed a vital position within the Broncos’ 11-game successful streak.

Defenses focusing extra on slowing Jeanty every week pressured Madsen to maintain the opposition sincere. He responded with 22 landing passes in opposition to solely three interceptions and 5 dashing scores.

Penn State’s protection is the deepest and most proficient Boise State will see since visiting No. 1 total seed Oregon again in Week 2. The Nittany Lions’ stifling run protection, which has held opponents to only 3.1 yards per carry, figures to focus closely on Jeanty.

Madsen’s response early on, maybe forcing Penn State defenders out of the field, will decide Boise State’s fortunes within the quarterfinals.

DT Zane Durant, Penn State

Penn State’s line of defense causes opposing offenses complications on all sides, most notably with Abdul Carter’s uncanny potential to get into the backfield. A significant a part of releasing up the push comes on the inside, the place Zane Durant causes loads of issues for blockers.

The deal with’s mixture of measurement, pace off the road, and energy produces mismatches that contribute to the Nittany Lions’ stingy dashing yields. Durant’s contributions are hardly restricted to commanding blocking consideration, although, as he has added a wholesome 10 tackles for loss to Penn State’s whopping 102 complete as a crew.

With Durant within the center, Boise State may discover it robust to ascertain Jeanty on the bottom, forcing the Broncos’ offense to work exterior of the hashes.

Peach Bowl: Arizona State vs. Texas

RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State

At simply 75 yards from surpassing Eno Benjamin as Arizona State’s single-season dashing record-holder, Solar Devils working again Cam Skattebo has historical past forward of him within the Peach Bowl. Extra importantly for the crew’s targets, Skattebo carries the burden of an offense chasing an inconceivable nationwide championship, bolstered by its different star offensive participant.

The lack of extensive receiver Jordan Tyson within the regular-season finale dealt the Solar Devils a big blow, with Tyson’s 1,101 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns accounting for a big bulk of Arizona State’s aerial offense.

Not having Tyson within the lineup didn’t sluggish the Solar Devils within the Large 12 Championship Recreation romp in opposition to Iowa State, thanks in no small half to Skattebo’s 170 dashing yards on simply 16 carries and two receptions for 38 yards. Skattebo is Arizona State’s main receiver in yardage for the season with Tyson sidelined, so his twin position within the run and cross recreation solely magnifies his significance to the offense.

LB Colin Simmons, Texas

Freshman Colin Simmons has been spectacular since his Longhorns debut and has solely gotten higher because the 2024 marketing campaign has gone alongside. The lightning-quick, hard-hitting linebacker heads into the Playoff with 4 sacks in three of Texas’ remaining 4 video games, together with one within the SEC Championship matchup with Georgia.

Simmons additionally pressured his third fumble of the season in opposition to the Bulldogs.

Having performed a few of his finest video games within the Longhorns’ greatest spots, stepping up in key, late-season wins over Arkansas and Texas A&M, count on Simmons to once more step up within the crew’s greatest spot but. 

The Longhorns protection should set the tone early in opposition to a prolific Arizona State offense and stamp out any hope for the Solar Devils to show the Peach Bowl right into a monitor meet.

Rose Bowl Recreation: Ohio State vs. Oregon

LB Cody Simon, Ohio State

In a gathering of two of school soccer’s highest-scoring groups, with Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s position being entrance and middle, the Granddaddy of ‘Em All guarantees to return all the way down to defensive playmakers.

The engine driving the nation’s finest scoring protection, Cody Simon leads Ohio State into what may very well be the most effective of the 4 quarterfinals. Labeling the Rose Bowl Recreation with such a designation isn’t conjecture, both, given these similar two groups performed to a one-score distinction once they met in October.

In that recreation, which Oregon received at residence 32-31, Geese working again Jordan James’ efficiency was crucial.

Simon, key to the Buckeyes’ rush protection, ought to show instrumental to Ohio State’s containment of James, and the linebacker additionally units the tone for placing strain on Geese quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

With a team-high 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, it’s hardly a stretch to counsel Oregon wouldn’t be within the place it’s with out Matayo Uiagalelei’s presence on the Geese protection.

One play specifically, nonetheless, looms massive with Oregon heading into the Rose Bowl Recreation because the Playoff’s No. 1 total seed: His heads-up interception of a cross deflected on the line sealed the Geese’ gritty 16-13 win at Wisconsin on Nov. 16.

That recreation was a part of an impressive seven-game stretch for Uiagalelei wherein he recorded seven of his sacks, one among which got here within the win over Ohio State. That his quietest particular person effort coincided with Oregon permitting a season-high 37 factors in its eight-point win over Penn State within the Large Ten Championship Recreation might be no coincidence.

Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Notre Dame

QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia

The elbow damage Carson Beck sustained within the SEC Championship Recreation shrouded Georgia’s quarterback scenario in uncertainty forward of the Playoff. As of this week, it’s unsure no extra: Beck underwent surgical procedure that can stop him from taking part in the remainder of the season.

Whether or not that the rest of the marketing campaign is three video games or fewer relies on how reserve quarterback Gunner Stockton performs within the begin in opposition to an impressive Notre Dame protection.

Stockton went 12-of-16 passing in opposition to Texas however managed simply 71 yards and was intercepted.

The turnover is important in opposition to a Preventing Irish secondary that has been particularly adept all season at producing takeaways.

Stockton doesn’t have to be spectacular for Georgia to advance past the Sugar Bowl, however the Bulldogs will want him to be higher than he was within the SEC Championship Recreation.

DL Howard Cross III, Notre Dame

With a large number of accidents plaguing Notre Dame’s line of defense, the return of Howard Cross III forward of the Preventing Irish’s first-round win over Indiana couldn’t have come at a extra opportune time. Notre Dame heads to New Orleans with Rylie Mills, Jason Onye, and Boubacar Traore all sidelined on account of damage, leaving Cross to anchor a youthful entrance in opposition to a bodily Georgia line.

Cross made 5.5 tackles for loss with 4 sacks earlier than lacking the ultimate three video games of the common season.

Cross eased again in in opposition to Indiana, however the Irish will want the veteran to choose up the strain within the Sugar Bowl to rattle a largely untested Bulldogs quarterback.