In a Jan. 1 postgame press conference, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was asked about his “clutch” performance that led to the team’s 39-31 double-overtime win against Arizona State University. Ewers threw two touchdown passes in overtime that ended in two 25-plus-yard touchdowns, which sealed the quarterfinal win for Texas.

The Buckeyes’ defense will be tested by the high-flying Longhorns, who are 13-2 and rank 21st in scoring. Texas lost to Georgia twice this year but bounced back to beat Clemson in the first round and Arizona State in the Peach Bowl, approaching 40 points in both victories.

Notre Dame will be without a tight end as it sits two wins away from its first national championship in 36 years.

The Story: When the Irish lost 16-14 at home to Northern Illinois on Sept. 7, Notre Dame’s odds of winning the national title ballooned to 100-1. Twelve wins later, including two by double digits in the playoffs, and they are listed at 7-1.

The first round of the College Football Playoff was a disappointment, but no adjustments should have been made to the 12 teams selected. Here is why.

Conference champions did not have a memorable postseason as all 5 have already been eliminated from the College Football Playoff.

The Orange Bowl features college football two powerhouses. Both teams love to play power football and have two of the better defenses in the country. They also love to run the football, so this game will be decided in the trenches.

This week, they will need more of the same, as they travel down to Miami to take on the 13-2 Penn State Nittany Lions. Head coach James Franklin is riding high off of two double digit wins in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

With the quarterfinals now complete, our CBS Sports experts pick the rest of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff

Ohio State, Texas, Penn State and Notre Dame all rank in the top eight nationally in total defense, with All-American talent spread throughout their lineups.