IRVING, Texas (AP) — Talks continue on whether and how to expand the four-team College Football Playoff. One of the proposals would expand it to 12 teams. AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo says it is interesting to ponder what a 12-team format would have looked like this year with first-round games on campus and the four top seeds getting a bye until the second round. Those early games would have put Pittsburgh at Georgia; Michigan State at Notre Dame; Utah at Ohio State; and Oklahoma State at Ole Miss. The winners would advance to play Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Utah and Ohio State will meet for the first time in 35 years in the 108th edition of the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. The 10-3 Utes secured their first appearance in the Granddaddy of Them All with a 38-10 victory over Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game. Utah started the season by dropping two of its first three games but has won nine of its last 10, including two victories over the Ducks. Ohio State had hopes of appearing in the College Football Playoff for the third straight season after being in the top four most of the season. But the Buckeyes were knocked out of contention with a 42-27 loss at Michigan.
UNDATED (AP) — No. 2 seed Michigan and No. 3 Georgia will meet in a College Football Playoff semifinal on New Year’s Eve in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida. The storied programs have met only twice and not since 1965. Georgia won that game 15-7. Michigan won 26-0 in 1957. Michigan is making its first appearance in the playoff. Georgia is in for the second time. The Bulldogs’ previous appearance was in 2017-18. Michigan is coming off a 42-3 win over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game. Georgia lost 41-24 to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game.
ATLANTA (AP) — A milestone season for Pittsburgh and quarterback Kenny Pickett is continuing with a Peach Bowl matchup against Michigan State. No. 13 Pitt’s reward for its first Atlantic Coast Conference championship is the Panthers’ first New Year’s Six bowl since 2004 in the Dec. 30 game in Atlanta against No. 11 Michigan State. Pitt moved up four spots in The AP Top 25 following its 45-21 win over Wake Forest in the ACC championship game on Saturday night. Pickett threw for two touchdowns but his highlight was a 58-yard scoring run that included a fake slide.
UNDATED (AP) — No. 22 Arkansas, having its best season in years, will face Penn State in the Outback Bowl. The Razorbacks finished third in the SEC West with an offense that averaged nearly 441 yards per game with quarterback KJ Jefferson. Penn State was ranked as high as No. 4 in The AP Top 25 in early October before falling out a month later. The schools will be meeting for the first time. Arkansas is playing in its first bowl since 2016, while Penn State is making its fourth Outback Bowl appearance.
UNDATED (AP) — Wisconsin and Arizona State face off in the 30th edition of the Vegas Bowl at the brand-new Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Raiders. Wisconsin owns the third-longest active bowl streak in the country at 20, trailing only Georgia (25) and Oklahoma (23). The Sun Devils are playing in their third Las Vegas Bowl. Both teams are playing in their 33rd bowl game.
ATLANTA (AP) — After winning its first ACC championship, Pittsburgh will play Michigan State in the Peach Bowl on Dec 30. It will be the Panthers’ first New Year’s Six bowl since 2004. Pitt moved to No. 13 in The AP Top 25 after its 45-21 win over Wake Forest in the ACC championship game. Kenny Pickett threw for two touchdowns and added a highlight-worthy 58-yard scoring run that included a fake slide. No. 11 Michigan State closed its regular season by beating Penn State 30-27 on Nov. 27. The Spartans feature a strong running game led by Kenneth Walker.
