With Round 1 of the College Football Playoff just 1 day away, Jason Fitz of Yahoo and Fox Sports joined Thursday’s GoJo and Golic to dive into the key matchups and what’s at stake.
Fitz shared his excitement for the start of the CFP, saying it has been years in the making, and now it’s finally here. He mentioned that he wishes the first-round format of home playoff games was used throughout the playoff, lobbying to eliminate neutral site games. He highlighted the significance of having playoff games at iconic venues like Notre Dame and Penn State. While some have mentioned ticket availability, he dismissed those concerns, focusing instead on the thrill of a potential playoff game in the snow at Notre Dame. Playoff football under Touchdown Jesus in a winter wonderland? INJECT THAT IN HIS VEINS! Fitz contends that wd could be in for one of the most magical weekends in college football history.
.@jasonfitz is FIRED UP for Round 1 of the CFP!
“I wish that we were getting what we're getting in the first round all throughout. Eliminate neutral site games, give me home playoff games…Just the fact that we're going to see a playoff game at Notre Dame and a playoff game at… pic.twitter.com/agz1iPKBBH
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) December 19, 2024
Digging into the matchups, Mike Golic Sr. asked Fitz which of the first-round games he is looking forward to the most. Fitz thinks that Tennessee–Ohio State is the standout matchup for the first weekend, describing it as the best chance for a competitive game amid what he expects to be a series of first-round blowouts. He acknowledged that the cold weather could play a significant role, explaining how it affects players differently depending on their region. Having spent over 20 years in Nashville and now in Connecticut, Fitz noted how the cold can feel drastically different. With the game set for a cold night, Fitz expressed concerns about Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s inexperience in a playoff environment. Ultimately, he sees the outcome hinging on which team’s running backs can dominate, making this matchup the most promising of the weekend.
Which College Football Playoff game is @jasonfitz looking forward to the most?
"Tennessee, Ohio State is the best. If we're being honest, I think we've got a bunch of blowouts coming the first weekend of the Playoffs … Notre Dame will win by 17. Clemson's going to lose by 20.… pic.twitter.com/aF6RXlyXRy
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) December 19, 2024
On the other side for Ohio State, Mike Golic Jr. questioned the trust level in Will Howard as Ohio State’s quarterback. He reflected on the aftermath of Michigan’s upset, noting Ohio State had to reshuffle its offensive line due to injuries, including losing Seth McLaughlin that week and moving Donovan Jackson to left tackle. After rewatching the game, GoJo concluded that Ohio State didn’t lose because they were overpowered in the trenches but because Howard’s performance mirrored Kyle McCord’s struggles from the previous year. So, does Ohio State have a clear advantage at quarterback in this matchup? Fitz expressed serious doubts about Howard, placing him among the quarterbacks he trusts the least on teams with legitimate national championship aspirations. Using an “Olympics-style” approach, he evaluated Howard’s performance by discarding Ohio State’s best and worst games to focus on meaningful matchups. He noted baffling decisions, including interceptions that weren’t strategic risks like 50-50 balls but instead poor reads. Fitz also criticized Ohio State’s offense, questioning where is the “oh my God creativity” in Chip Kelly’s play-calling. He emphasized that the Buckeyes haven’t shown any signs of having innovative or unexpected strategies that could catch opponents off guard in the College Football Playoff.
Shifting gears to the other three games on the slate, Senior asked Fitz out of Clemson, SMU, and Indiana which underdog has the best chance to pull off an upset. He bluntly predicted that Notre Dame would win by 17, dismissing it as a matchup that won’t be that competitive. With Clemson Fitz says the Tigers were fortunate to make the playoffs and expects them to lose by around 20. That leaves SMU against Penn State as the only potential upset, but he doesn’t feel confident. Given the lopsided matchups, he anticipates three blowouts this weekend and believes the conversation by Monday will shift to questioning the value of College Football Playoff expansion. He also acknowledged that while the Group of 5 teams, like Boise State, have had a strong season, they could face a similar fate with a blowout playoff loss. Despite all this, he insisted he will enjoy this playoff football, even if it ended up being a series of one-sided games, which he fully expected.
When it comes to Texas, GoJo shared that Texas is one of the more intriguing teams in the playoff conversation, with their season being one that has been hard to pin down. He pointed out that their schedule, compared to other SEC teams, wasn’t as grueling, and when they faced the top-tier team on their slate like Georgia, they lost both matchups, though in very different ways. The second game was closer, but he acknowledged that Carson Beck’s injury may have played a role. Despite that, GoJo sees national championship-level talent across Texas’ roster despite inconsistencies, like moments when they get outmatched physically or when protection breaks down, leading to questionable decisions by Quinn Ewers.
So how does Fitz evaluate Texas and their chances, as the coveted 5-seed, to make a legitimate run at the championship trophy? Fitz highlighted that many teams, such as Penn State, Texas, Georgia, Oregon and Tennessee, have shown flashes of national championship-level play this year in college football. However, the issue has been inconsistency, with teams failing to deliver their best performances consistently. He highlighted Texas’ defensive strength, describing it as their hallmark and noting how well the defense performed even in the loss to Georgia. However, he expressed concerns about Ewers, pointing out that he hasn’t been the same since his injury and speculating that Ewers might need a procedure after the season. Fitz noted that Ewers has struggled with accuracy on open deep throws, which adds to the inconsistency.
Additionally, Fitz criticized Texas’ inability to run the ball effectively against Georgia, referencing their low rushing average of 2.4 yards per carry. He sees that as a troubling sign for their overall performance. All in all, Fitz views Texas’ matchup against Clemson as favorable. He argued that Clemson’s offense will struggle to generate points against Texas’ defense, making it a tough challenge. Fitz suggested that other teams like SMU or Indiana might have posed a greater threat to Texas in the first round, but against Clemson, the Longhorns should have the upper hand.
For Penn State and SMU, most of the attention has been on their backup quarterbacks hitting the transfer portal versus their matchup. Senior asked Fitz if there was a solution to the transfer portal madness. Fitz suggested that pushing the transfer portal window past the playoffs, as previously discussed, highlights the challenges playoff teams face in these scenarios. He admitted there’s no perfect solution but suggested one possibility of allowing players to announce their transfer plans while still playing through the postseason. However, he emphasized that players must prioritize their futures, just as coaches have long done by leaving teams before bowl games or playoffs for better opportunities.
Fitz noted James Franklin’s comments about supporting what’s best for players, even if it means leaving now, but recognized the broader impact on college football. He questioned whether the situation is truly catastrophic or just feels that way because of the high-profile examples. He also pointed out that the transfer portal has fundamentally changed the game, making it almost necessary for teams to secure transfer quarterbacks to compete immediately, as slow development isn’t as viable anymore. Ultimately, Fitz believes the issue will only worsen for quarterbacks, and while it’s frustrating, he doesn’t think there are enough cases to justify overhauling the entire system to prevent a handful of situations like this each year.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: Braden Fiske, Rams DT, on Competing w/ Jared Verse, their Jets Matchup & Rookie Walls + Will Cousins or Rodgers be Starters Next Season?
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information
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