In which BracketCat simulates first-round results for the “right side” of the 16-team playoff bracket for 2023.
A rematch of an in-season conference game and a rematch of a classic BCS championship game highlight today’s action. Scroll down to see who will move on to the second round!
Today’s Games
Game 1: No. 15 Louisville (10-3) @ No. 2 Washington (13-0)
The ACC runner-up travels to take on the Pac-12 champion in Seattle. At the time I scheduled this post, no one had incorrectly predicted the ultimate outcome yet.
No. 2 seed Washington Huskies (13-0; AP/Coaches #2): Pac-12 Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Boise State (8-6), @ #14 Arizona, #8 Oregon, @USC (8-5), RV Utah (8-5), @ #19 Oregon State, vs. #8 Oregon
Losses: none
Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Michael Penix Jr.
Running Backs: Dillon Johnson and Will Nixon
Wide Receivers: Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk
Tight End: Jack Westover
No. 15 seed Louisville Cardinals (10-3; AP #16; Coaches #15): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. Georgia Tech (7-6), Boston College (7-6), @ #18 NC State, #16 Notre Dame, Duke (8-5), Virginia Tech (7-6), @Miami (7-6)
Losses: @Pittsburgh, RV Kentucky, vs. #5 Florida State
Head Coach: Jeff Brohm (1st season)
Offensive Style: Pro-style
Quarterback: Jack Plummer
Running Backs: Jawhar Jordan and Keyjuan Brown
Wide Receivers: Jamari Thrash and Chris Bell
Tight End: Nate Kurisky
Final Score: Washington 38, Louisville 14
Husky Stadium – Seattle, Washington
Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 – 6:30 PM PST / 9:30 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 47
Wind: S 1-2 MPH
Player of the Game: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
SEATTLE (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. delivered another aerial masterpiece, throwing for 498 yards and four touchdowns as No. 2 Washington cruised past No. 16 Louisville 38-14 in the College Football Playoff’s first round on Friday night.
The Huskies (14-0) were simply unstoppable through the air. Penix connected with star wideout Rome Odunze for eight catches, 188 yards and two touchdowns, including back-breaking scores of 32 and 35 yards that bookended the game.
Louisville (10-4) hung tough, answering Washington’s opening strike with a Jamari Thrash touchdown, but the Cards’ offense sputtered against Washington’s swarming defense.
Quarterback Jack Plummer threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns, but he was picked off twice and sacked five times, every one of them by Ashton Gillotte in a record-setting individual performance.
By halftime, Washington led 17-7 and never looked back. Ja’Lynn Polk and Jack Westover added touchdown receptions in the second and third quarters, and Will Nixon capped the night with a 7-yard rushing score to seal it in the fourth.
Washington outgained Louisville 587-404 and dominated time of possession by nearly nine minutes. The Huskies’ defense notched five sacks and three takeaways, while the offense converted 32 first downs, 25 of them through the air.
Penix was named Player of the Game for his nearly 500-yard performance, leading Washington to its first playoff win since the format expanded.
The Huskies now advance to face the winner of Ohio State vs. Penn State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Game 2: No. 14 Arizona (9-3) @ No. 3 Texas (12-1)
A future Big 12 team travels to take on the Big 12 champion in a game that could act as the passing of a torch. Pollsters were correct about the home team’s chances in this one.
No. 3 seed Texas Longhorns (12-1; AP #3; Coaches #4): Big 12 Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #4 Alabama, RV Kansas (9-4), #25 Kansas State, @Iowa State (7-6), Texas Tech (7-6), vs. #20 Oklahoma State
Loss: vs. #12 Oklahoma
Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian (3rd season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Quinn Ewers
Running Backs: Jonathon Brooks and CJ Baxter
Wide Receivers: Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell
Tight End: Ja’Tavion Sanders
No. 14 seed Arizona Wildcats (9-3; AP/Coaches #15): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Oregon State (8-5), UCLA (8-5), RV Utah (8-5)
Losses: @Mississippi State, #2 Washington, @USC
Head Coach: Jedd Fisch (3rd season)
Offensive Style: Pro-style
Quarterback: Noah Fifita
Running Backs: Jonah Coleman and Michael Wiley
Wide Receivers: Tetairoa McMillan and Jacob Cowing
Tight End: Tanner McLachlan
Final Score: Texas 45, Arizona 35
Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium – Austin, Texas
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 – 5 PM CST / 6 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 65
Wind: NNW 6 MPH
Player of the Game: Texas RB Jonathon Brooks
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Big plays and big names delivered in a high-scoring thriller at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium as the No. 3 Texas Longhorns held off a surging Arizona team 45-35 on Saturday to advance to the 2023 College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Running back Jonathon Brooks stole the show and earned Player of the Game honors, rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns, including long scoring runs of 37 and 61 yard, while also catching four passes for 83 more yards. His game-sealing dash late in the fourth quarter put the Longhorns in firm control after No. 15 Arizona had pulled to within seven.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was sharp, completing 24 of 38 passes for 439 yards and two touchdowns, spreading the ball around to seven receivers. Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy both found the end zone, helping the Longhorns to build a 24-14 halftime lead.
Arizona’s offense was equally explosive, especially through the air. Quarterback Noah Fifita passed for 393 yards and two scores before backup Jayden de Laura added a 61-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan in the final minutes.
McMillan and Montana Lemonious-Craig each topped 120 yards receiving, while Jonah Coleman added 92 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Despite trailing for most of the game, Arizona (9-4) kept the pressure on, converting 8 of 16 third downs and racking up 472 passing yards. But the Wildcats couldn’t contain Texas’ balanced attack, which gained nearly 600 total yards and never turned the ball over.
With the win, Texas moves on to face the winner of Georgia vs. Ole Miss in the quarterfinals.
Game 3: No. 11 Ole Miss (10-2) @ No. 6 Georgia (12-1)
Part 1 of this same statement: A rematch of a SEC regular-season game does not end particularly differently than its first iteration. Poll voters seemed to understand this.
No. 6 seed Georgia Bulldogs (12-1; AP/Coaches #6): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): RV Kentucky (7-6), #9 Missouri, #11 Ole Miss, @ #21 Tennessee, @Georgia Tech (7-6)
Loss: vs. #4 Alabama
Head Coach: Kirby Smart (8th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Carson Beck
Running Backs: Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton
Wide Receivers: Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Rara Thomas
Tight End: Brock Bowers
No. 11 seed Ole Miss Rebels (10-2; AP/Coaches #11): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): FCS #17 Mercer, @Tulane (11-3), Georgia Tech (7-6), #13 LSU, Texas A&M (7-6)
Losses: @ #4 Alabama, @ #6 Georgia
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin (4th season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Jaxson Dart
Running Backs: Quinshon Judkins and Ulysses Bentley IV
Wide Receivers: Tre Harris and Dayton Wade
Tight End: Caden Prieskorn
Final Score: Georgia 24, Ole Miss 7
Sanford Stadium – Athens, Georgia
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 – 7 PM EST
Precipitation: 0.01 in
Temperature: 49
Wind: N 3 MPH
Player of the Game: Georgia QB Carson Beck
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Behind a smothering defense and a poised performance Saturday from quarterback Carson Beck, No. 6 Georgia defeated No. 11 Ole Miss 24-7 in front of a home crowd at Sanford Stadium, earning a spot in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Beck led the way offensively for the Bulldogs (13-1) and was named Player of the Game after throwing for 276 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-34 passing. Both scoring strikes went to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, who finished with 77 receiving yards.
Georgia controlled the game from the start, taking a 14-0 lead late in the second quarter before Ole Miss (10-3) responded with a short touchdown run from Quinshon Judkins.
However, that proved to be the Rebels’ only score. Georgia’s defense stifled Ole Miss on third down (2 of 16) and held the Rebels to just 67 rushing yards on 33 attempts, echoing Ole Miss’ previous 52-17 loss here back on November 11.
Georgia extended its lead in the fourth quarter with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Rosemy-Jacksaint and a 38-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring to put the game out of reach. Tight end Brock Bowers contributed 78 yards receiving, including a key 44-yard catch that set up a scoring drive.
Despite a solid showing from Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart (23 of 40 for 268 yards), the Rebels failed to finish drives and couldn’t overcome Georgia’s defensive pressure, led by Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker, who each recorded a sack. With the win, Georgia moves on to face future SEC opponent No. 3 Texas in a marquee CFP quarterfinal showdown.
Game 4: No. 10 Penn State (10-2) @ No. 7 Ohio State (11-1)
Part 2 of this same statement: A rematch of a Big Ten regular-season game does not end particularly differently than its first iteration. Poll voters did not seem to understand this. (Also, astute K-State fans will notice a familiar name in the game recap below…)
No. 7 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1; AP/Coaches #7): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): FCS #21 Youngstown State, @ #16 Notre Dame, Maryland (8-5), #10 Penn State, @Wisconsin (7-6), @Rutgers (7-6)
Loss: @ #1 Michigan
Head Coach: Ryan Day (5th season)
Offensive Style: Spread option
Quarterback: Kyle McCord
Running Backs: TreVeyon Henderson and Dallan Hayden
Wide Receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka
Tight End: Cade Stover
No. 10 seed Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2; AP/Coaches #10): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): West Virginia (9-4), FCS #10 Delaware, #17 Iowa, @Northwestern (8-5), @Maryland (8-5), Rutgers (7-6)
Losses: @ #7 Ohio State, #1 Michigan
Head Coach: James Franklin (10th season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Drew Allar
Running Backs: Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton
Wide Receivers: KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Harrison Wallace III
Tight End: Theo Johnson
Final Score: Ohio State 34, Penn State 13
Ohio Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 – 4 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 55
Wind: SE 8 MPH
Player of the Game: Ohio State RB Dallan Hayden
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — In a dominant home performance, No. 7 Ohio State overwhelmed No. 10 Penn State 34-13 for the second time this season to advance to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Saturday.
Behind a balanced offensive attack and a suffocating defensive effort, the Buckeyes (12-1) controlled the tempo from start to finish at Ohio Stadium, mirroring their earlier 20-12 home win over Penn State (10-3) back on October 21.
Running back Dallan Hayden earned Player of the Game honors with 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 32-yard backbreaker late in the fourth quarter.
Hayden and TreVeyon Henderson (86 yards, 1 TD) combined for more than 190 yards on the ground as Ohio State outgained the Nittany Lions 215-59 in rushing.
Quarterback Kyle McCord was efficient through the air, completing 23 of 35 passes for 299 yards and a touchdown to Emeka Egbuka.
Marvin Harrison Jr. once again proved to be a game-changer, hauling in six passes for 113 yards, including a 52-yard strike that helped to set up a score.
Penn State briefly threatened in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 10-7 on a touchdown pass from Drew Allar to Dante Cephas. But Ohio State responded with two quick scoring drives, including a 36-yard burst by Henderson, to take a 24-7 halftime lead.
Despite managing a pair of field goals in the third quarter, Penn State struggled to sustain drives. The Nittany Lions went just 6 of 18 on third downs and Allar was sacked three times by the Buckeye front, led by JT Tuimoloau (two sacks) and Tommy Eichenberg.
With the win, Ohio State advances to face No. 2 Washington, a future conference opponent.
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)
2008: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data
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