In which BracketCat simulates first-round results for the “right side” of the 16-team playoff bracket for 2018.
The first day of this playoff may have been a little chalky, but rest assured the upsets make an appearance today. Scroll down to see who will move on to the second round!
Today’s Games
Game 1: No. 14 Kentucky (9-3) @ No. 3 Notre Dame (12-0)
I really can’t imagine more of a “new money” vs. “old elites” matchup than this. Go upset!
No. 3 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #3): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #7 Michigan, @Wake Forest (7-6), Stanford (9-4), Pittsburgh (7-7), @ #22 Northwestern, vs. #20 Syracuse
Losses: none
Head Coach: Brian Kelly (9th season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Ian Book
Running Backs: Dexter Williams and Jafar Armstrong
Wide Receivers: Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool
Tight End: Alize Mack
No. 14 seed Kentucky Wildcats (9-3; AP #16; BCS #14; Coaches #15): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #10 Florida, #18 Mississippi State, South Carolina (7-6), @ #23 Missouri, Middle Tennessee (8-6)
Losses: @ #19 Texas A&M, #5 Georgia, @Tennessee
Head Coach: Mark Stoops (6th season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Terry Wilson Jr.
Running Backs: Benjamin Snell Jr. and Kavosiey Smoke
Wide Receivers: Lynn Bowden Jr. and Allen Dailey Jr.
Tight End: C.J. Conrad
Final Score: Kentucky 39, Notre Dame 35 (OT)
Notre Dame Stadium – South Bend, Indiana
Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 – 7 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 40
Wind: N 10 MPH
Player of the Game: Kentucky RB Benjamin Snell Jr.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Benny Snell Jr. capped a five-touchdown performance with a 15-yard walk-off touchdown run in overtime to lift No. 16 Kentucky past No. 3 Notre Dame 39-35 in a wild, back-and-forth, first-round College Football Playoff showdown on Friday night.
Snell carried the Wildcats (10-3) to the upset road victory with 115 yards on 22 bruising carries and scored in every quarter, including the game winner after Notre Dame had taken a 35-32 lead in overtime on Jonathan Doerer’s seventh field goal of the night.
Notre Dame (12-1) looked poised to escape with the win in regulation after Ian Book led a clutch fourth-quarter drive that ended with Doerer’s 48-yard field goal to tie the game with 28 seconds remaining. Doerer was flawless on the night — connecting from 24, 37, 48, 45, 46, 48 and 39 yards — and accounted for 21 of the Fighting Irish’s points.
Snell scored four of his five touchdowns on short-yardage plunges and added a crucial two-point conversion late in the fourth to give Kentucky a 32-29 lead. The Irish responded with Book’s 6-yard touchdown run and the game turned into a late exchange of haymakers.
Kentucky’s Terry Wilson Jr. managed the game efficiently, throwing for 208 yards on 20-of-31 passing while adding 50 yards on the ground.
Notre Dame’s quarterback tandem of Book and Brandon Wimbush combined for 326 passing yards and 70 rushing yards, with Wimbush also scoring once on the ground.
The Fighting Irish held the edge in total yards (500-385) and time of possession, but three costly lost fumbles proved decisive. Kentucky’s defense never forced an interception but recovered each loose ball on the ground to keep momentum on the Wildcats’ side.
It’s the first College Football Playoff win for Kentucky, which now advances to face the LSU–Ohio State winner in the quarterfinals.
Game 2: No. 11 LSU (9-3) @ No. 6 Ohio State (12-1)
Two programs that win national championships, no matter who’s coaching, clash in Columbus as Joe Burrow returns to take on his former team in a game dripping with drama.
No. 6 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1; AP/Coaches #5; BCS #6): Big Ten Champ (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. TCU (7-6), Tulane (7-6), @ #12 Penn State, Minnesota (7-6), @Michigan State (7-6), #7 Michigan, vs. #22 Northwestern
Loss: @Purdue
Head Coaches: Urban Meyer (7th season; remainder of season) / Ryan Day (first 3 games)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Dwayne Haskins
Running Backs: Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins
Wide Receivers: Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin
Tight End: Luke Farrell
No. 11 seed LSU Tigers (9-3; AP/Coaches #11; BCS #10): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. Miami (7-6), @Auburn (8-5), Louisiana Tech (8-5), #5 Georgia, #18 Mississippi State
Losses: @ #10 Florida, #1 Alabama, @ #19 Texas A&M
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Joe Burrow
Running Backs: Tory Carter and Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Wide Receivers: Justin Jefferson and Stephen Sullivan
Tight End: Foster Moreau
Final Score: Ohio State 44, LSU 28
Ohio Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 – 6 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 50
Wind: ENE 18 MPH, gusting to 26 MPH
Player of the Game: Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Joe Burrow and No. 11 LSU rallied late in the first half, but Dwayne Haskins and the No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes pulled away after halftime for a 44-28 win in a College Football Playoff first-round showdown on a breezy Saturday night at Ohio Stadium.
Trailing 21-3 with just over five minutes left in the first half, LSU ripped off 17 straight points in a span of 1:42 to cut the deficit to just 21-20 heading into the break. Nick Brossette’s 11-yard touchdown run and Burrow’s 6-yard strike to Justin Jefferson brought the Tigers (9-4) closer, and Cole Tracy drilled a 46-yard field goal at the buzzer to complete the blitzkrieg.
But Ohio State (13-1) regrouped in the second half behind its star quarterback, with Haskins finishing 29 of 37 for 420 yards and three touchdowns.
His second scoring toss to Parris Campbell gave the Buckeyes the lead for good late in the third quarter, after a brief LSU advantage fueled by a safety and another Tracy field goal.
Blake Haubeil added three second-half field goals for the Buckeyes and J.K. Dobbins’ 3-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left sealed it.
Ohio State piled up 32 first downs and 577 total yards, holding the ball for more than 35 minutes. Campbell led a balanced receiving corps with seven catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while Binjimen Victor added three catches for 82 yards and a score.
Mike Weber powered the Buckeyes’ run game with 107 yards on 21 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
LSU struggled to protect Burrow, who was sacked five times and finished 13 of 34 for 191 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
Brossette led the Tigers with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Ohio State advances to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, where it will face No. 16 Kentucky, a surprise upset winner over No. 3 Notre Dame on Friday night in South Bend.
Game 3: No. 10 Florida (9-3) @ No. 7 Michigan (10-2)
Semi-frequent Citrus Bowl opponents meet in the Big House instead, in what you would think would be an advantage for the Wolverines. Well, you would be wrong.
No. 7 seed Michigan Wolverines (10-2; AP/BCS/Coaches #8): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Western Michigan (7-6), @ #22 Northwestern, Wisconsin (8-5), @Michigan State (7-6), #12 Penn State
Losses: @ #3 Notre Dame, @ #6 Ohio State
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (4th season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Shea Patterson
Running Backs: Karan Higdon and Chris Evans
Wide Receivers: Grant Perry and Donovan Peoples-Jones
Tight End: Zach Gentry
No. 10 seed Florida Gators (9-3; AP/Coaches #10; BCS #11): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #18 Mississippi State, #11 LSU, South Carolina (7-6)
Losses: #14 Kentucky, vs. #5 Georgia, #23 Missouri
Head Coach: Dan Mullen (1st season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Kadarius Toney
Running Backs: Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett
Wide Receivers: Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes
Tight End: Kyle Pitts
Final Score: Florida 33, Michigan 27
Michigan Stadium – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 – 5 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 46
Wind: W 3 MPH
Player of the Game: Michigan QB Shea Patterson
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — No. 10 Florida made the most of its road trip north and used a steady mix of big plays and timely stops to knock off No. 8 Michigan 33-27 on a chilly Friday evening in the first round of the 2018 College Football Playoff at Michigan Stadium.
The Gators (10-3) leaned on a surprisingly potent aerial attack, throwing for 356 yards as Feleipe Franks and Kadarius Toney combined to complete 17 of 27 passes.
Tight end Kyle Pitts led all receivers with 113 yards on just three catches and Josh Hammond added a 39-yard touchdown grab early in the third quarter to stretch Florida’s lead to 30-17.
Michigan (10-3) outgained Florida 509-457 and held a commanding edge in time of possession, but the Wolverines settled for field goals on two fourth-quarter drives and couldn’t complete the comeback.
Shea Patterson was sharp for most of the day, throwing for 279 yards and a touchdown and rushing for another score. He found Nico Collins for an 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter, ran in from 7 yards out in the first and was named Player of the Game for his efforts.
Florida’s ground game wasn’t explosive, but it was efficient when needed. Lamical Perine broke loose for a 47-yard score late in the first quarter, and Jordan Scarlett punched in a 3-yard touchdown to give the Gators a 20-17 lead before halftime.
Jorge Powell added four field goals, including a clutch 29-yarder early in the fourth quarter that gave Florida just enough cushion.
Michigan’s Chris Evans paced the ground game with 72 yards and a touchdown, and the Wolverines converted 9 of 16 third downs. But Florida’s defense stiffened in the red zone late and an interception by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson ended one key Michigan drive.
Florida now advances to face the Clemson-Texas winner in the CFP quarterfinals.
Game 4: No. 15 Texas (9-4) @ No. 2 Clemson (13-0)
Hey look, it’s a “pre”-match of last season’s first-round matchup. Only Clemson is the home team coming off a pair of national title game appearances and Texas doesn’t have Sark yet.
No. 2 seed Clemson Tigers (13-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #2): ACC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Win (CFP Rankings): @ #19 Texas A&M, Georgia Southern (10-3), @Georgia Tech (7-6), #20 Syracuse, NC State (9-4), @Boston College (7-5), Duke (8-5), South Carolina (7-6), vs. Pittsburgh (7-7)
Losses: none
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (10th full, 11th overall season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence
Running Backs: Travis Etienne and Lyn-J Dixon
Wide Receivers: Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross
Tight End: Braden Galloway
No. 15 seed Texas Longhorns (9-4; AP/Coaches #14; BCS #16): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): TCU (7-6), vs. #4 Oklahoma, Baylor (7-6), #24 Iowa State
Losses: vs. Maryland, @Oklahoma State, #16 West Virginia, vs. #4 Oklahoma
Head Coach: Tom Herman (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Sam Ehlinger
Running Backs: Keaontay Ingram and Tre Watson
Wide Receivers: Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson
Tight End: Andrew Beck
Final Score: Clemson 50, Texas 3
Memorial Stadium – Clemson, South Carolina
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 – 8 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 47
Wind: SW 10 MPH
Player of the Game: Clemson RB Travis Etienne
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns, and Travis Etienne rushed for 144 yards and two scores, to lead No. 2 Clemson to a dominant 50-3 win Saturday night over No. 14 Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers (14-0) set the tone early and never looked back, scoring on their first three possessions and building a 27-3 halftime lead behind Lawrence’s efficient passing and Etienne’s explosive runs.
Lyn-J Dixon added a 17-yard touchdown run and kicker B.T. Potter chipped in with five field goals, including two in the third quarter that pushed the game further out of reach.
Clemson’s defense held Texas (9-5) without a touchdown, limiting quarterback Sam Ehlinger to 250 passing yards on 24 of 39 attempts while sacking him three times and forcing one interception. Texas managed just 73 yards on the ground despite 40 rushing attempts, averaging less than 2 yards per carry.
Etienne was a constant threat in the second half, capping the scoring with back-to-back touchdown runs of 12 and 40 yards in the fourth quarter. The junior’s performance, which included two runs of 20-plus yards, earned him Player of the Game honors.
Clemson finished with 514 total yards and 30 first downs, compared to Texas’ 323 and 18.
The Tigers controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, outgaining the Longhorns 195 to 73 on the ground and holding a slight edge in time of possession.
Texas’ only points came on a 31-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker midway through the second quarter. Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson combined for 141 receiving yards, but the Longhorns never seriously threatened the Tigers after falling behind by two scores.
With the win, Clemson advances to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, where it will take on upset winner No. 10 Florida in the Peach Bowl.
Tomorrow’s Games
To make these posts more fun and interactive, please vote for who you think would win each matchup! I can’t promise to take the votes into account because of the simulation process I use, but it will be interesting to see and discuss the results, plus they may serve as a sort of a tiebreaker if I end up needing one.
BracketCat’s Protest Playoff Archives
2024: Kickoff | Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2023: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2022: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2021: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2020: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2019: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2018: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1)
2008: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange
2007: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data
2006: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data
2005: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Rose | Data
2004: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data
2003: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data
2002: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data
2001: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Rose | Data
2000: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data | Encore
1999: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data | Encore
1998: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data | Encore