Unraveling the Mystery of SMU's Playoff Berth

Oregon's Dominance

Oregon, the Big Ten champion with a perfect 13-0 record, has earned the top spot in the bracket. Their victory over Penn State in the Big Ten title game solidified their position. The Ducks are set to play at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, where they will look to continue their winning streak.

Georgia, the SEC champion with an 11-2 record, also secured a spot in the playoff. Their second victory over Texas in the SEC title game showcased their strength. The Bulldogs will take on their opponents in the Sugar Bowl.

Boise State's Resilience

Boise State, the Mountain West champion with a 12-1 record, has shown remarkable resilience. They defeated UNLV in the Mountain West title game on Friday night and will play in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. The Broncos are a force to be reckoned with.

Arizona State, the Big 12 champion with an 11-2 record, also earned a bye. Their blowout win over Iowa State in the Big 12 championship gave them a well-deserved spot. The Sun Devils will play in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.

First-Round Matchups

No. 12 Clemson (10-3, ACC champion) will face off against No. 5 Texas (11-2, at-large) on Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. ET on TNT. This matchup is sure to be a thrilling battle between two talented teams.

No. 11 SMU (11-2, at-large) will take on No. 6 Penn State (11-2, at-large) on Dec. 21 at noon ET on TNT. SMU's journey to the playoff has been a remarkable one, and they will now face a tough test against Penn State.

No. 10 Indiana (11-1, at-large) will go up against No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1, at-large) on Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. These two teams have had impressive seasons and will battle it out in the first round.

No. 9 Tennessee (10-2, at-large) will face No. 8 Ohio State (10-2, at-large) on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. The SEC rivalry between these two teams will add an extra layer of excitement to the first round.

SMU vs. Alabama

The decision to keep SMU in the playoff field over Alabama came down to the importance of conference title games. SMU lost to a top-20 team but won the regular-season title in their conference. Alabama, on the other hand, missed out on the SEC title due to a loss to a 6-6 Oklahoma team.

Alabama has better wins than SMU, with victories over Georgia and South Carolina. However, SMU's only regular-season loss came to BYU and they went undefeated in their first year in the ACC. This two-loss cushion proved to be a deciding factor.

The key takeaway from this first season with a 12-team playoff is the significance of avoiding bad losses to mediocre teams. It can have a significant impact on your playoff chances.

The final rankings are as follows: 1. Oregon (13-0), 2. Georgia (11-2), 3. Texas (11-2), 4. Penn State (11-2), 5. Notre Dame (11-1), 6. Ohio State (10-2), 7. Tennessee (10-2), 8. Indiana (10-2), 9. Boise State (12-1), 10. SMU (11-2), 11. Alabama (9-3), 12. Arizona State (11-2), 13. Miami (10-2), 14. Ole Miss (9-3), 15. South Carolina (9-3), 16. Clemson (10-3), 17. BYU (10-2), 18. Iowa State (10-3), 19. Missouri (9-3), 20. Illinois (9-3), 21. Syracuse (9-3), 22. Army (11-1), 23. Colorado (9-3), 24. UNLV (10-3), 25. Memphis (10-2).