Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State will participate in the first playoff in major college football history. The College Football Playoff selection committee announced its final decision

The College Football Playoff selection committee has made its final decision: Ohio State is in. TCU is out.

Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State will participate in the first playoff in major college football history. Alabama and Oregon were shoo-ins following lopsided wins in their respective conference title games, but the last two spots were up for grabs until late Saturday night. The Buckeyes grabbed the final CFP semifinal berth following Saturday's 59-0 dismantling of Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. The Seminoles secured a berth with a tight 37-35 triumph over Georgia Tech that capped Florida State's second consecutive undefeated regular season.

The committee didn't think much of TCU's season-ending 55-3 pounding of Iowa State. The Horned Frogs dropped from third to sixth in the final CFP ranking, passed by the Buckeyes, Seminoles and Big 12 rival Baylor.

Committee chairman Jeff Long said the top three were clear and the final spot came down to a debate between the Buckeyes and Big 12 co-champs Baylor and TCU. Among those three, Long said: "It was decisive for Ohio State."

Ohio State will take on Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's night, right after Oregon plays Florida State at the Rose Bowl. The national championship game is slated for Jan. 12 in Arlington, Texas.In other major bowl game matchups, TCU will play Mississippi in the Peach Bowl, Mississippi State will tangle with Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, the Cotton Bowl will have Baylor against Michigan State, and Arizona will face facing Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Art Briles, Baylor Football Coach:

"That's the tough thing with this, with the College Football Playoffs. I mean, it changes the way you approach the game. I'm sitting there with a minute forty. You know, we're on their 38-yard line. We got 11-point lead at home. We can take a knee, or we can try to score again. I'm looking over there and I'm seeing Coach Snyder on the other side who I have a tremendous amount of respect for, and his football team. And I'm thinking, do I take a knee or do I try to score style points to give ourselves maybe a more convincing victory."

Urban Meyer, Ohio State Football Coach:

"To me, it's typical Alabama defense. The different area is offense. Looks like their spreading out, throwing a lot more."

Nick Saban, Alabama Football Coach:

"I know what kind of coach Urban Meyer is, what kind of program he has, and the great tradition they have at Ohio State. And, they've got a great team, and it's a great opportunity for our team to play a Big 10 team, so we're looking forward to it."

Jimbo Fisher, Florida State Football Coach:

"And that's going to be a very tough opponent. They're a great program. They're used to winning. They're expected to win, but we do too, so that's what makes it very interesting. But this time of year, when you are in the playoff, everybody's going to be good."

 

 

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