Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530530
2 8 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M ////////// P L A Y O F F P R E V I E W //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// COACH Ryan Day (66-10 in six full seasons and one partial season; overall collegiate record: same) 2024 RECORD 10-2, 7-2 Big Ten PLAYOFF RECORD 3-4 in five previous appear- ances with one national championship OFFENSE Ohio State ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring at 35.5 points per game. Will Howard is sixth in passing yards per game (238.3), and he's tied for second with 27 touchdown passes. Receiver Jeremiah Smith ranks fourth in the conference with 934 receiv- ing yards, while running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson have combined for 1,556 rushing yards. DEFENSE The Buckeyes have been rock-solid in Jim Knowles' three seasons as defensive coordinator. This year has been no exception, with Ohio State allowing a Big Ten-low 241.1 yards per game. Veteran defensive end JT Tuimoloau leads the way with 11.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. SPECIAL TEAMS Jayden Fielding has hit 9 of 12 field goal attempts but had two critical misses versus Michigan from inside 40 yards. PLAYOFF OUTLOOK Maybe now that the Michigan game and all the attendant melodrama have passed, Ohio State can refocus and fulfill its seemingly vast potential. The Buckeyes may have ended the regular- season with a pratfall against their archrival, but they dominated fellow playoff qualifier Indiana and nearly beat top-seeded Oregon in Eugene, so it would be pre- mature to count them out. NO. 8 SEED OHIO STATE BUCKEYES JEREMIAH SMITH Has 934 receiv- ing yards in his debut season. COACH Marcus Freeman (30-9 in three full seasons and one partial season; overall collegiate record: same) 2024 RECORD 11-1 PLAYOFF RECORD 0-2 in two previous appear- ances OFFENSE Duke transfer Riley Leonard has com- pleted 66.2 percent of his attempts for 2,092 yards, with 16 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He's also the team's second-leading rusher with 721 yards and 14 TDs on the ground. Running back Jeremiyah Love has rushed for 949 yards and 15 TDs, anchoring a ground game that averages 224.8 yards to rank 10th in the FBS. DEFENSE The most impressive aspect of Notre Dame's defense has been its opportunism. The Irish have intercepted 17 passes and returned 5 for touch- downs. Xavier Watts leads the way with 5 interceptions, while fellow safety Adon Shuler has 3. Defensive tackle Rylie Mills is the playmaker up front with 6.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. SPECIAL TEAMS The kicking game is one of Notre Dame's bigger concerns. Mitch Jeter, Zac Yoakam and Marcello Diomede have combined to hit just 8 of 18 field goal attempts. PLAYOFF OUTLOOK Notre Dame's playoff pros- pects looked bleak in September when it was upset by Northern Illinois, 16-14, in South Bend. But the Irish bounced back. In their 10 remaining games, all victo- ries, they averaged 44.1 points. With Leonard and Love leading a potent offense, they figure to be a tough out in the CFP. NO. 7 SEED NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH XAVIER WATTS Tied for third nationally with 5 interceptions. COACH Steve Sarkisian (36-16 in four seasons; overall collegiate record: 82-51) 2024 RECORD 11-2, 7-1 SEC PLAYOFF RECORD 0-1 in one previous appearance OFFENSE In Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, Texas almost certainly has the nation's best two-deep at quarterback. The two have combined to throw for 3,604 yards, with 34 touchdowns and 11 intercep- tions. Tight end Gunnar Helm has been their top target, totaling 49 catches for 611 yards. Quintrevion Wisner has rushed for 863 yards to lead the ground attack. DEFENSE The Longhorns lead the SEC in total de- fense (249.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (12.5 points per game). Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has been a huge part of that effort, pacing the team in total tack- les (90) and tackles for loss (16), and ranking second in sacks (7.5). In the secondary, cornerback Jahdae Barron has 5 interceptions, while safety Andrew Mukuba has 4 picks. SPECIAL TEAMS Bert Auburn has hit 14 of 21 field goal tries, with a long kick of 49 yards. PLAYOFF OUTLOOK Unlike some CFP qualifiers, the Longhorns have taken care of business, beating all the teams they were supposed to beat. Their two losses are both to Georgia. If it can avoid the Bulldogs — and maybe even if it can't avoid them — Texas has a real shot to win it all. NO. 5 SEED TEXAS LONGHORNS QUINN EWERS Has thrown for 2,665 yards and 25 touchdowns.