In which BracketCat simulates first-round results for the “left side” of the 16-team playoff bracket for 2022.
What should be a super-challenging 1 vs. 16 matchup, a future Big 12 conference game, and a faceoff between one coach’s current and future schools highlight today’s action.
Scroll down to see who will move on to the second round!
Today’s Games
Game 1: No. 16 Tulane (11-2) @ No. 1 Georgia (13-0)
The highest-ranked Group of 5 team, having already claimed one Power 5 scalp, travels Between the Hedges to take on the SEC champion in a battle of conference winners.
No. 1 seed Georgia Bulldogs (13-0; AP/Coaches #1): SEC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. #15 Oregon, @ #19 South Carolina, #6 Tennessee, @ #22 Mississippi State, vs. #17 LSU
Losses: none
Head Coach: Kirby Smart (7th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Stetson Bennett
Running Backs: Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards
Wide Receivers: Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
Tight End: Darnell Washington
No. 16 seed Tulane Green Wave (11-2; AP #14; Coaches #17): AAC Champion (G5 auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @#9 Kansas State, @Houston (8-5), East Carolina (8-5), @Cincinnati (9-4)
Losses: Southern Miss, UCF
Head Coach: Willie Fritz (7th season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Michael Pratt
Running Backs: Tyjae Spears and Shaadie Clayton
Wide Receivers: Shae Wyatt and Duece Watts
Tight End: Tyrick James
Final Score: Georgia 43, Tulane 0
Sanford Stadium – Athens, Georgia
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 – 12 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 44
Wind: WSW 10 MPH
Player of the Game: Georgia QB Stetson Bennett
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Stetson Bennett passed for 343 yards and a touchdown, Jack Podlesny hit five field goals, and No. 1 Georgia flexed its postseason dominance with a 43-0 shutout of No. 14 Tulane in the opening round of the 2022 College Football Playoff on Saturday.
Playing in front of a raucous Sanford Stadium crowd, the defending national champions left no doubt, scoring on their first five possessions and holding Tulane to just 25 rushing yards on 28 attempts. Georgia (14-0) racked up 487 total yards while forcing a turnover and pitching its second shutout of the season.
The Bulldogs built a 29-0 lead by halftime behind Podlesny’s precision and Bennett’s efficiency. Bennett completed 25 of 37 passes without a turnover and found tight end Darnell Washington for a 1-yard touchdown late in the first quarter.
Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards each added short touchdown runs, with Edwards’ 45-yard burst in the third quarter breaking the game wide open.
Tulane (11-3), the Group of Five representative, struggled to sustain drives and failed to convert on four fourth-down attempts.
Quarterbacks Michael Pratt and Justin Ibieta combined for 243 passing yards, but were sacked four times as the Green Wave never reached the red zone.
Georgia’s defense swarmed all night, with Marvin Jones Jr. and Jamon Dumas-Johnson each recording two sacks. Cornerback Kelee Ringo added an interception.
Podlesny was perfect on the day, drilling kicks from 26, 37 (twice), 45, and 48 yards. His 15-point effort set the tone for a Bulldogs team that now has won 29 of its last 30 games.
Georgia advances to face the winner of the 8 vs. 9 matchup in the national quarterfinals.
Game 2: No. 13 Florida State (9-3) @ No. 4 Ohio State (11-1)
The ACC Atlantic Division and Big Ten East Division runners-up clash on a cold Ohio day. You may notice a familiar name at running back for the Seminoles. All of you nailed the outcome.
No. 4 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1; AP #4; Coaches #3): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #21 Notre Dame, Iowa (8-5), @ #11 Penn State, @Maryland (8-5)
Loss: #2 Michigan
Head Coach: Ryan Day (4th season)
Offensive Style: West Coast spread
Quarterback: C.J. Stroud
Running Backs: Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson
Wide Receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka
Tight End: Cade Stover
No. 13 seed Florida State Seminoles (9-3; AP/Coaches #13): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. #17 LSU, @Louisville (8-5), @Syracuse (7-6)
Losses: Wake Forest, @NC State, Clemson
Head Coach: Mike Norvell (3rd season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Jordan Travis
Running Backs: Trey Benson and Treshaun Ward
Wide Receivers: Ontaria Wilson and Mycah Pittman
Tight End: Camren McDonald
Final Score: Ohio State 31, Florida State 21
Ohio Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 – 2:30 PM CST / 3:30 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 33
Wind: SW 10 MPH
Player of the Game: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — C.J. Stroud threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns, and Marvin Harrison Jr. hauled in two scores, as No. 4 Ohio State held off a late Florida State rally for a 31-21 victory in the first round of the 2022 College Football Playoff on Saturday.
The Buckeyes (12-1) surged out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter behind a sharp passing attack and a smothering front seven. Stroud connected with Emeka Egbuka and Harrison for early touchdowns, and kicker Noah Ruggles added a 36-yard field goal to open the scoring. Harrison finished with 124 yards on six receptions, including a 30-yard touchdown late in the second quarter that gave Ohio State a 24-14 lead at halftime.
No. 13 Florida State (9-4) clawed back in the second quarter, leaning on a strong ground game and timely throws from quarterback Jordan Travis.
Trey Benson capped a 10-play drive with a 4-yard touchdown run and Travis hit Ontaria Wilson for a 35-yard strike just before halftime to stay within striking distance.
The Seminoles dominated possession and outgained Ohio State on the ground 232-37, but two costly interceptions by Travis and a failed fourth-down attempt kept them from completing the comeback. FSU pulled to within 24-21 early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by Treshaun Ward, but a late 19-yard touchdown by Dallan Hayden sealed the win for the Buckeyes with 1:39 remaining.
Ohio State overcame five sacks and a sputtering rushing attack thanks to Stroud’s accuracy and a deep receiving corps that accounted for seven plays of 20 yards or more.
Defensively, Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers each grabbed interceptions for the Buckeyes to keep Florida State at bay and earn Ohio State’s first-ever win against them.
Ohio State now advances to face the winner of Alabama vs. Washington in the Sugar Bowl.
Game 3: No. 12 Washington (10-2) @ No. 5 Alabama (10-2)
Kalen DeBoer’s old team advances to Tuscaloosa to play his new team. Fun symmetry! Three-quarters of you guessed this result correctly. You must have watched the actual Sugar Bowl.
No. 5 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2; AP/Coaches #5): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @#20 Texas, @Arkansas (7-6), #22 Mississippi State, @Ole Miss (8-5)
Losses: @#6 Tennessee, @#17 LSU
Head Coach: Nick Saban (16th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Bryce Young
Running Backs: Jahmyr Gibbs and Jase McClellan
Wide Receivers: Traeshon Holden and Kobe Prentice
Tight End: Cameron Latu
No. 12 seed Washington Huskies (10-2; AP/Coaches #12): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #14 Oregon State, @ #15 Oregon, @Washington State (7-6)
Losses: @#18 UCLA, @Arizona State
Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer (1st season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Michael Penix Jr.
Running Backs: Wayne Taulapapa and Cameron Davis
Wide Receivers: Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan
Tight End: Jack Westover
Final Score: Alabama 51, Washington 24
Bryant–Denny Stadium – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 – 2:30 PM CST / 3:30 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 49
Wind: W 16 MPH
Player of the Game: Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 132 yards and four touchdowns, powering No. 5 Alabama past No. 12 Washington 51-24 in a dominant second-half performance to advance in the 2022 College Football Playoff.
After a slow first quarter, both teams found their offensive rhythm in the second period.
Peyton Henry opened the scoring for the Huskies (10-3) with a 50-yard field goal, but Gibbs quickly answered with a 24-yard touchdown run. Michael Penix Jr. then hit Rome Odunze for a 76-yard strike to give the Huskies a brief 10-7 lead.
The Crimson Tide (11-2) responded with a pair of scoring drives, capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young to Traeshon Holden and a Will Reichard field goal, to take a 17-10 halftime lead.
Penix threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter to Giles Jackson and Ja’Lynn Polk, giving Washington a 24-17 edge. But from there, the Tide took over.
Gibbs scored on runs of 1 and 38 yards, and Reichard added his second of three field goals, to put Alabama up 34-24 heading into the fourth.
Gibbs found the end zone once more early in the final frame, this time from 2 yards out, and Roydell Williams broke free for a 51-yard touchdown to cap the onslaught.
Reichard added a 46-yard field goal in the final minute.
Alabama dominated on the ground, outgaining Washington 305-110 in rushing yards and converting 13 of 20 third downs.
Young threw for 273 yards with no turnovers, while the Crimson Tide defense intercepted Penix twice and held Washington scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Gibbs, the game’s standout performer, totaled four touchdowns on the ground and added 23 receiving yards. Alabama advances to face Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal.
Game 4: No. 9 Kansas State (10-3) @ No. 8 Utah (10-3)
The upset winners of the Big 12 travel to take on future conference opponent, and Pac-12 champion, Utah in a game we will see for real in November. All you homers pegged this one!
No. 8 seed Utah Utes (10-3; AP #7; Coaches #10): Pac-12 Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #14 Oregon State, #10 USC, @Washington State (7-6), vs. #10 USC
Losses: @Florida, @ #18 UCLA, @ #15 Oregon
Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (18th season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Cameron Rising
Running Backs: Tavion Thomas and Micah Bernard
Wide Receivers: Devaughn Vele and Money Parks
Tight End: Dalton Kincaid
No. 9 seed Kansas State Wildcats (10-3; AP #11; Coaches #9): Big 12 Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Texas Tech (8-5), Oklahoma State (7-6), vs. #3 TCU
Losses: #16 Tulane, @ #3 TCU, #20 Texas
Head Coach: Chris Klieman (4th season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Will Howard
Running Backs: Deuce Vaughn and DJ Giddens
Wide Receivers: Malik Knowles and Phillip Brooks
Tight End: Ben Sinnott
Final Score: Kansas State 26, Utah 19
Rice-Eccles Stadium – Salt Lake City, Utah
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 – 8:30 PM MST / 10:30 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 20
Wind: ESE 7 MPH
Player of the Game: Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Deuce Vaughn totaled 190 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining as No. 11 Kansas State edged No. 7 Utah 26-19 in a gritty opening-round College Football Playoff showdown Friday night.
Vaughn, who finished with 152 rushing yards on 25 carries and added 38 more through the air, broke a 19-19 tie with 58 seconds to play on a 10-yard touchdown reception from junior quarterback Will Howard. The score capped a 13-point fourth-quarter rally for the Wildcats (11-3), who trailed entering the final period.
Kansas State opened the game with a 27-yard touchdown burst from Vaughn, but saw Utah respond with a string of field goals from Jordan Noyes and a short touchdown run by Tavion Thomas to build a 13-10 lead at halftime. The Utes (10-4) extended their edge with two more Noyes field goals in the third quarter, but K-State’s 3-3-5 defense tightened from there.
Ty Zentner nailed field goals of 20 and 37 yards in the final period to tie the game, setting up the decisive drive. Howard, who finished 18 of 33 for 175 yards and one touchdown, led a composed march downfield in the closing minutes. Just like in their Big 12 Championship upset of TCU, it was the trio of Howard, Vaughn and Zentner making clutch plays at the end.
Utah’s Cameron Rising threw for 272 yards, but was picked off once by KSU defensive back Cincere Mason and failed to find the end zone. Devaughn Vele was his leading receiver with 104 yards on four catches, including a 52-yard grab. Micah Bernard added 111 total yards.
Kansas State held a slight edge in time of possession and totaled 333 yards to Utah’s 418.
Despite being outgained and outdone in passing yards, the Wildcats executed when it mattered most, punching their ticket to an Orange Bowl quarterfinal date with No. 1 Georgia behind a Player of the Game performance from their dynamic junior running back.
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
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