In which BracketCat simulates the national championship game for the 16-team playoff bracket for 2024.
Well, that was fun! Different (sometimes more convoluted) process, same result. While this is not case-closing evidence that expansion from 12 to 16 teams was unnecessary, it does seem to support the argument. More years of data will be required to be certain, though.
In the meantime, we will rewind back to 2023 next week and answer the eternal question: Could Tate Rodemaker have led the Florida State Seminoles on a run if they had just been allowed in? With 16 spots to fill, no committee can ever deny an undefeated team again!
Today’s Game
2025 College Football Playoff National Championship:
No. 5 Notre Dame (14-1) vs. No. 6 Ohio State (13-2)
No. 5 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish (14-1; AP/Coaches #3): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #12 Arizona State, vs. #4 Penn State, vs. #8 Indiana
Loss: Northern Illinois
Head Coach: Marcus Freeman (3rd season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Riley Leonard
Running Backs: Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price
Wide Receivers: Beaux Collins and Jordan Faison
Tight End: Mitchell Evans
No. 6 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (13-2; AP #6; Coaches #7): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #4 Penn State, #8 Indiana, vs. #3 Texas, vs. #2 Georgia
Losses: @ #1 Oregon, RV Michigan
Head Coach: Ryan Day (6th season)
Offensive Style: Spread option
Quarterback: Will Howard
Running Backs: TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins
Wide Receivers: Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka
Tight End: Gee Scott Jr.
Final Score: Ohio State 47, Notre Dame 3
(True Result: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 – 7:45 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 72
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson
ATLANTA (AP) — The 2024 college football season ended with a scarlet exclamation point as No. 6 Ohio State delivered one of the more dominant championship performances in playoff history, steamrolling Notre Dame 47-3 to capture its first national title since 2014.
The Buckeyes (14-2) set the tone early and never looked back, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions, including a 63-yard sprint by TreVeyon Henderson, who finished with 153 rushing yards and two long touchdowns. His explosive performance earned him Player of the Game honors for the second straight playoff game.
Quarterback Will Howard silenced any lingering doubts with his best performance yet in scarlet and gray, throwing for 360 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24-of-41 passing, with zero turnovers. He connected with Emeka Egbuka for a pair of scores, including a 23-yard strike early in the fourth that punctuated the rout.
Ohio State’s offense piled up 598 total yards, while its suffocating defense held the No. 3 Irish (14-2) without a touchdown. Notre Dame converted just one of 13 third downs and mustered only 44 rushing yards on 33 attempts. Quarterback Riley Leonard was picked off twice — once by Jack Sawyer, who also tallied two sacks.
Kicker Jayden Fielding added four field goals to his postseason tally, helping to stretch the lead steadily in the second half. Meanwhile, freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith led all wide receivers with 107 yards on five catches.
The 47-3 final marked the second-largest margin of victory in a CFP title game. After heartbreak in the 2022 Peach Bowl semifinal and questions throughout this season, Ryan Day’s Buckeyes leave no doubt: the kings are back on the throne.
Final 2024 Playoff Bracket and Results
Tomorrow’s Post
I’ve decided to go ahead and compile a variety of stats on these playoff simulations, and I plan to share those with you on Saturdays from here on out.
Some of them will be fun and silly (coaches’ hypothetical playoff records, for instance), while others will be more fact-based and relevant (total number of playoff bids for each conference — both pre- and post-realignment). Stay tuned for more tomorrow!
BracketCat’s Protest Playoff Archives
2024: Kickoff | Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4
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