In which BracketCat simulates first-round results for the “right side” of the 16-team playoff bracket for 2022.
Fun matchups today! We’ve got Pac-12 (soon Big Ten) at B1G, Pac-12 at Big 12, B1G at SEC, and Pac-12 (soon B1G) at ACC. Scroll down to see who will move on to the second round!
Today’s Games
Game 1: No. 15 Oregon (9-3) @ No. 2 Michigan (13-0)
A Pac-12 runner-up travels to take on the Big Ten champion in Ann Arbor. Everyone who voted correctly predicted this outcome, but it was kind of obvious given what Michigan did.
No. 2 seed Michigan Wolverines (13-0; AP/Coaches #2): Big Ten Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Maryland (8-5), @Iowa (8-5), #11 Penn State, Illinois (8-5), @ #4 Ohio State
Losses: none
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (8th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: J.J. McCarthy
Running Backs: Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards
Wide Receivers: Cornelius Johnson and Ronnie Bell
Tight End: Luke Schoonmaker
No. 15 seed Oregon Ducks (9-3; AP #15; Coaches #14): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): BYU (8-5), @Washington State (7-6), #18 UCLA, #8 Utah
Losses: @ #1 Georgia, #12 Washington, @ #14 Oregon State
Head Coach: Dan Lanning (1st season)
Offensive Style: Spread option
Quarterback: Bo Nix
Running Backs: Mar’Keise Irving and Noah Whittington
Wide Receivers: Troy Franklin and Chase Cota
Tight End: Terrance Ferguson
Final Score: Michigan 54, Oregon 30
Michigan Stadium – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 – 5 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 34
Wind: SSW 9 MPH
Player of the Game: Michigan RB Blake Corum
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Blake Corum rushed for 259 yards and four total touchdowns to lead No. 2 Michigan past No. 15 Oregon 54-30 in a high-powered College Football Playoff first-round game Friday night at Michigan Stadium.
Corum exploded early, breaking off touchdown runs of 64 and 42 yards within the game’s first two minutes to give the Wolverines (14-0) a 14-0 lead. He added a 32-yard score in the third quarter and caught a 67-yard touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy as part of a dominant all-around performance that earned him Player of the Game honors.
McCarthy was efficient through the air, completing 16 of 27 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns. He also connected with Cornelius Johnson and Ronnie Bell for scores in a second quarter in which Michigan pulled away by outscoring the Ducks 20-7.
Oregon (9-4) fought to stay in the game with an explosive ground attack of its own.
Mar’Keise Irving ran for 145 yards, while Noah Whittington added 141, including a first-quarter touchdown. However, the Ducks’ defense struggled to contain Michigan’s balance and big plays, and two lost fumbles proved costly.
Despite gaining 309 rushing yards and nearly matching Michigan’s 585 total yards, Oregon couldn’t keep pace on the scoreboard.
Quarterback Bo Nix threw for 217 yards and one touchdown, a short fourth-quarter strike to Troy Franklin, but was under pressure throughout and sacked once.
Jake Moody contributed four field goals for the Wolverines, including makes from 50 and 42 yards, helping to maintain Michigan’s comfortable lead. Michigan’s defense held Oregon to just one touchdown in the final 30 minutes, despite some late promising drives.
With the win, Michigan advances to the quarterfinals to face the winner of USC at Clemson.
Game 2: No. 14 Oregon State (9-3) @ No. 3 TCU (12-1)
A future quasi-independent team travels to take on the Big 12 regular-season champion in a fun matchup! Of those voting, 92% were correct about the home team’s chances in this one.
No. 3 seed TCU Horned Frogs (12-1; AP #3; Coaches #4): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Oklahoma State (7-6), #9 Kansas State, Texas Tech (8-5), @ #20 Texas
Loss: vs. #9 Kansas State
Head Coach: Sonny Dykes (1st season)
Offensive Style: Air raid
Quarterback: Max Duggan
Running Backs: Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado
Wide Receivers: Taye Barber and Quentin Johnston
Tight End: Jared Wiley
No. 14 seed Oregon State Beavers (9-3; AP #17; Coaches #16): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Boise State (10-4), @Fresno State (10-4), #15 Oregon
Losses: #10 USC, @ #8 Utah, @ #12 Washington
Head Coach: Jonathan Smith (5th season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Tristan Gebbia
Running Backs: Damien Martinez and Deshaun Fenwick
Wide Receivers: Tre’Shaun Harrison and Tyjon Lindsey
Tight End: Luke Musgrave
Final Score: TCU 37, Oregon State 30
Amon G. Carter Stadium – Fort Worth, Texas
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 – 6 PM CST / 7 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 46
Wind: N 6-12 MPH
Player of the Game: TCU QB Max Duggan
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Max Duggan threw for 429 yards and five touchdowns to lead No. 3 TCU past resilient No. 17 Oregon State 37-30 in a back-and-forth College Football Playoff first-round game Friday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Duggan’s career night propelled the Horned Frogs (13-1) into the semifinal round, overcoming a relentless Oregon State rushing attack that piled up 163 yards and controlled the clock for much of the game.
The teams traded scores in a high-energy first half that saw the Beavers (9-4) jump out to a 14-7 lead behind a 1-yard touchdown pass from Tristan Gebbia to Tre’Shaun Harrison and a 46-yard sprint by Damien Martinez. TCU quickly responded, with Duggan hitting Savion Williams for a 37-yard score, though a missed extra point left the Frogs trailing 14-13.
After an exchange of touchdowns in the second quarter, Duggan found Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis for explosive scoring strikes, sending TCU into halftime with a 27-21 edge.
The Frogs extended their lead to 34-21 in the third quarter with a 45-yard TD to Chase Curtis, but Oregon State stayed within reach thanks to a field goal by Atticus Sappington and a late fourth-quarter plunge by Deshaun Fenwick.
Sappington’s missed PAT kept the score at 34-30 and Duggan calmly led one final drive, capped by Griffin Kell’s 34-yard field goal with 12 seconds left.
Despite the loss, the Beavers dominated the ground game, with Martinez racking up 148 yards and a touchdown. Their defense also sacked Duggan six times, but couldn’t contain TCU’s explosive plays downfield.
With the win, TCU advances to face the winner of Penn State at Tennessee in the quarterfinals, fueled by Duggan’s poise and a big-play passing attack that proved too much for Oregon State’s defense to overcome.
Game 3: No. 11 Penn State (10-2) @ No. 6 Tennessee (10-2)
The perennial Big Ten bridesmaid (never a champion!) travels to take on an equally underachieving SEC “brand” in a made-for-TV matchup. This was voted a coin-flip game.
No. 6 seed Tennessee Volunteers (10-2; AP/Coaches #6): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @Pittsburgh (9-4), @ #17 LSU, #5 Alabama, Kentucky (7-6)
Losses: @ #1 Georgia, @ #19 South Carolina
Head Coach: Josh Heupel (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Spread/RPO
Quarterback: Hendon Hooker
Running Backs: Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small
Wide Receivers: Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman
Tight End: Princeton Fant
No. 11 seed Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2; AP #9; Coaches #7): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @Purdue (8-6), Minnesota (9-4), Maryland (8-5)
Losses: @ #2 Michigan, #4 Ohio State
Head Coach: James Franklin (9th season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Sean Clifford
Running Backs: Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen
Wide Receivers: Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley
Tight End: Brenton Strange
Final Score: Tennessee 39, Penn State 22
Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, Tennessee
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 – 7 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 39
Wind: WSW 8 MPH
Player of the Game: Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Hendon Hooker threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns, and Ramel Keyton hauled in a pair of scoring receptions as No. 6 Tennessee rolled to a 39-22 win over No. 9 Penn State in the opening round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.
Hooker completed 19 of 28 passes and directed a balanced Volunteers offense that outgained Penn State 534-363 and held the ball for more than 34 minutes.
Tennessee (11-2) used a flurry of field goals from Chase McGrath and several explosive plays to pull away after a competitive first half.
Penn State (10-3) struck first with a Sean Clifford touchdown pass to Jaden Dottin, but Tennessee responded with 20 unanswered points behind a Jabari Small rushing score and two McGrath field goals.
The Nittany Lions stayed within reach when Nicholas Singleton scored from 12 yards out to tie it at 14, but Tennessee entered halftime up 20-14 after a late field goal.
The Vols broke the game open in the third quarter, as Hooker found Keyton for a 49-yard touchdown and McGrath added two more field goals to push the lead to 33-14.
Keyton, who finished with 82 yards on just three catches, also scored on a 30-yard strike in the first quarter.
Clifford and backup Drew Allar combined for 304 passing yards but were intercepted twice.
A 46-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Kaytron Allen cut the deficit to 36-22 late in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. Hooker’s steady command and a deep receiving corps ultimately proved too much for Penn State’s defense to contain.
With the win, Tennessee advances to the quarterfinals and will face TCU in the Cotton Bowl.
Game 4: No. 10 USC (11-2) @ No. 7 Clemson (11-2)
The Pac-12 runner-up travels to the Deep South to take on the ACC champion. Thankfully for the Trojans, they didn’t have to play Utah a third time. None of you picked this one correctly.
No. 7 seed Clemson Tigers (11-2; AP #10; Coaches #11): ACC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @Wake Forest (8-5), NC State (8-5), @ #13 Florida State, Louisville (8-5), vs. North Carolina (9-5)
Losses: @ #21 Notre Dame, #19 South Carolina
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (14th full, 15th overall season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: DJ Uiagalelei
Running Backs: Will Shipley and Phil Mafah
Wide Receivers: Beaux Collins and Joseph Ngata
Tight End: Davis Allen
No. 10 seed USC Trojans (11-2; AP/Coaches #8): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Fresno State (10-4), @ #14 Oregon State, @ #18 UCLA, #21 Notre Dame
Losses: @ #8 Utah, vs. #8 Utah
Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (1st season)
Offensive Style: Air raid
Quarterback: Caleb Williams
Running Backs: Travis Dye and Austin Jones
Wide Receivers: Jordan Addison and Brenden Rice
Tight End: Lake McRee
Final Score: USC 39, Clemson 34
Memorial Stadium – Clemson, South Carolina
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 – 6 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 46
Wind: SW 9 MPH
Player of the Game: USC QB Caleb Williams
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — In a back-and-forth slugfest between offensive juggernauts, Caleb Williams led a clutch, game-winning drive capped by an Austin Jones touchdown with just 19 seconds left to give No. 8 USC a 39-34 upset victory at No. 10 Clemson in a dramatic first-round College Football Playoff matchup Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, threw for 389 yards and two touchdowns while avoiding turnovers in a performance that showcased his poise and command under pressure. The Trojans (12-2) overcame a late deficit with a balanced attack and key defensive stops, setting up a classic Rose Bowl with No. 2 Michigan in the quarterfinals.
USC jumped ahead early with a 10-3 lead after a Denis Lynch field goal and an Austin Jones 5-yard touchdown run. The second quarter saw fireworks from both teams, as Williams connected with Jordan Addison and Mario Williams for touchdowns, while Clemson’s Will Shipley exploded for two scores of his own, one rushing and one receiving.
Trailing 27-20 at halftime, Clemson (11-3) tied the game with Shipley’s third touchdown midway through the third quarter. But the Tigers never led as USC answered each score with points of their own, including four field goals from Lynch.
Shipley finished with 109 rushing yards and accounted for all four Clemson touchdowns.
DJ Uiagalelei threw for 275 yards and a score, but was intercepted once and struggled under pressure, taking four sacks from an aggressive USC front led by Tuli Tuipulotu.
After Shipley’s 9-yard touchdown put Clemson up 34-33 with 7:41 left, Williams calmly engineered a 75-yard drive capped by Jones’ second touchdown of the day.
A failed two-point conversion kept the margin at five, but USC’s defense held strong in the final seconds to preserve the win.
The Trojans now advance to the quarterfinals to face the Wolverines in a de facto home game, powered by their dynamic quarterback and versatile passing attack.
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)
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