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2024-25 College Football Playoff: R.J. Young’s three key takeaways from Round 1 highlight the intense competition and surprising outcomes of this inaugural playoff format.
The first round has concluded, and Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas, and Ohio State emerged victorious, securing their spots in the quarterfinals. Unlike the previous weekend’s thrilling matchups, the upcoming four games will take place at neutral bowl sites on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, adding an extra layer of excitement.
With the anticipation building for the quarterfinals, FOX Sports college football analyst R.J. Young shared insights on three significant lessons learned from the first round.
1. Playoff teams can face unexpected defeats.
Despite the uproar surrounding the first-round results, Young emphasizes that such outcomes are not new in the College Football Playoff (CFP) era. He pointed to past blowouts, such as LSU’s 63-28 victory over Oklahoma in 2019 and Oregon’s 59-20 win against Florida State in 2014, illustrating that even top teams can suffer significant losses.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen teams with impressive records get trounced in the playoffs,” Young remarked, noting that this is simply the first instance with home-field advantage playing a crucial role.
Young’s observations reveal that out of 30 games in the four-team playoff format, 14 were decided by at least 20 points, with 20 victories coming by two scores or more. This season, six of the 12 playoff teams had previously lost games by multiple scores, highlighting the unpredictable nature of postseason football.
2. Ohio State stands out as a contender for the title.
While all four winning teams triumphed by at least two scores, Ohio State’s 42-17 victory over Tennessee was particularly impressive. Unlike Clemson, which struggled in its 38-24 loss to Texas, or Indiana, which fell 27-17 to Notre Dame, Ohio State demonstrated dominance throughout the game.
The Buckeyes took control early, scoring touchdowns on their first three drives to establish a 21-0 lead. Although Tennessee managed to narrow the gap to 21-10 before halftime, Ohio State quickly regained momentum, scoring 21 consecutive points in the second half. Young noted that Ohio State effectively limited Tennessee’s scoring opportunities, holding them to just 10 points during regular play.
Ohio State’s offensive statistics were compelling, as they outgained Tennessee 473-256. Quarterback Will Howard threw for over 300 yards, while freshman Jeremiah Smith shone with over 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes’ balanced attack, featuring rushing touchdowns from TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, showcased their capability to excel both in the air and on the ground.
Next, Ohio State will face top-seeded Oregon in the Rose Bowl, a rematch from earlier this season where Oregon narrowly edged out Ohio State by one point.
3. Home-field advantage proved decisive.
The first round of the playoffs followed a clear trend: home teams started strong and secured wins by multiple scores. Young noted that this pattern was anticipated, given that each home team was favored by at least seven points and had an impressive combined home record of 24-4 this season.
Ohio State, in particular, has been formidable in Columbus, with only two losses at home since 2022, both against Michigan. Since 2016, they have lost just four games at The Shoe, demonstrating their dominance on home turf.
In contrast, the four visiting teams collectively recorded a disappointing 2-6 record against opponents ranked in the final CFP poll this season, with Clemson’s victory over SMU in the ACC title game being one of the few exceptions.
The outcomes of the first round were not surprising, given the established patterns of home-field advantage and the unpredictable nature of playoff football.
