College Football Playoff breakdown: Biggest weaknesses of Penn State, all 12 teams

The 12-team College Football Playoff is finally here, and Penn State made the field. But so did 11 other teams, all hoping to make a run for this year’s national championship.

Now that the bracket is set, let’s take a look at all 12 teams in the CFP — including Penn State — and what their weaknesses are that might hold them back from winning the national title.

OREGON (13-0)

Seed: No. 1; Committee ranking: 1

First game: Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, vs. winner of Ohio State-Tennessee

Biggest weakness: There’s a reason why Oregon is the last undefeated team in the country. The Ducks don’t have any glaring weaknesses. But it’s worth noting what happened when Oregon went up against the most dynamic running backs on its schedule. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns in September while Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for 229 rushing yards in Indianapolis.

GEORGIA (11-2)

Seed: No. 2; Committee ranking: No. 2

First game: Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1, vs. winner of Notre Dame-Indiana

Biggest weakness: The quarterback position. Carson Beck threw 12 INTs this season and looked lost at times against Georgia’s biggest competition. He picked up an injury in the SEC championship, and his CFP status is up in the air. If backup Gunner Stockton has to play, his only meaningful game experience came in the second half of the SEC title game.

BOISE STATE (12-1)

Seed: No. 3; Committee ranking: No. 9

First game: Fiesta Bowl, Dec. 31, vs. winner of Penn State-SMU

Biggest weakness: The top-to-bottom talent outside of Jeanty, the Heisman hopeful RB. This isn’t meant to dismiss the rest of Boise State’s team because the Broncos have other pieces. But it’s also a Group of Five roster. Can they compete with the best of the power conferences?

ARIZONA STATE (11-2)

Seed: No. 4; Committee ranking: No. 12

First game: Peach Bowl, Jan. 1, vs. winner of Texas-Clemson

Biggest weakness: Like Boise State, Arizona State’s top-to-bottom talent is a concern. This was a 3-9 team last year, after all. But more specifically the defense is worrisome. Nationally, the Sun Devils rank 87th in sacks (21) and 103rd in tackles for loss (57).

TEXAS (11-2)

Seed: No. 5; Committee ranking: No. 3

First game: Dec. 21 vs. No. 12 Clemson

Biggest weakness: There’s been a dip in Quinn Ewers’ play since his midseason oblique injury. The QB was a catalyst for Texas’ run to the four-team CFP last year. But in his last four games, Ewers has completed 61.3% of his passes and averaged just 6.9 yards per attempt. I’ll be curious to see how much backup QB Arch Manning and his legs are utilized.

PENN STATE (11-2)

Seed: No. 6; Committee ranking: No. 4

First game: Dec. 21 vs. No. 11 SMU

Biggest weakness: Slow starts have been a theme. The Nittany Lions have been tied or losing at halftime in six of 13 games this season. You can’t afford to put yourself in a hole against top teams and expect to win. The lack of top-tier talent at the wide receiver position sticks out. And if we’re talking about a run to the national championship, James Franklin’s 1-14 record at Penn State against top-five teams can’t be ignored.

NOTRE DAME (11-1)

Seed: No. 7; Committee ranking: No. 5

First game: Dec. 20 vs. No. 10 Indiana

Biggest weakness: Can QB Riley Leonard win a big game with his arm? The Irish have been trailing at halftime only once this year, and it was the Northern Illinois loss. If Notre Dame can’t dictate play with its ground game and gets in an early hole, can a run-first Leonard, who ranks 95th nationally in passing yards per game, do enough through the air to climb out of it?

OHIO STATE (10-2)

Seed: No. 8; Committee ranking: No. 6

First game: Dec. 21 vs. No. 9 Tennessee

Biggest weakness: Ohio State suffered season-ending injuries to left tackle Josh Simmons and center Seth McLaughlin. Can the Buckeyes, who failed to stock their roster with depth on the offensive line, hold up against a nasty Tennessee front? And if pressured, will QB Will Howard avoid making a catastrophic mistake?

TENNESSEE (10-2)

Seed: No. 9; Committee ranking: No. 7

First game: Dec. 21 at No. 8 Ohio State

Biggest weakness: Josh Heupel has a reputation for being an offensive wizard. But the Vols aren’t as explosive as you’d think. The Vols’ 56 plays of 20-plus yards for the season ranks 10th among the 12 teams in the field, ahead of only Ohio State and Notre Dame.

INDIANA (11-1)

Seed: No. 10; Committee ranking: No. 8

First game: Dec. 20 at No. 7 Notre Dame

Biggest weakness: Indiana’s 11 wins were impressive. But we saw what happened the one time the Hoosiers weren’t favorites. Ohio State had more talent across the board, and it showed as the Buckeyes rolled to a 23-point win. Can Indiana cope against this level of competition?

SMU (11-2)

Seed: No. 11; Committee ranking: No. 10

First game: Dec. 21 at No. 6 Penn State

Biggest weakness: SMU has beaten only one team currently ranked in the committee’s top 25. It was an overtime win over Duke in which the Mustangs turned the ball over six times. SMU’s 21 turnovers are the second-most of any team in the field (Texas, 22). After a relatively easy path to the CFP, can SMU avoid fatal mistakes against a defense like Penn State’s?

CLEMSON (10-3)

Seed: No. 12; Committee ranking: 16

First game: No. 21 at No. 5 Texas

Biggest weakness: When RB Phil Mafah is rolling, the Tigers look different. But the veteran has totaled only 125 rushing yards in Clemson’s last four games. Dabo Swinney revealed before the ACC title game that Mafah is dealing with a nagging injury. Clemson can’t be one-dimensional against Texas’ secondary, arguably the best in the country.

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