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The final College Football Playoff rankings were released on Sunday which means that the College Football Playoff is set.
No. 1 Clemson (13-0) will take on No. 4 Oklahoma (11-1) in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 31. No. 2 Alabama (12-1) will face No. 3 Michigan State (12-1) in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 31. The winners of both games will advance to play in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 11.
All four teams are conference champions with Clemson being the sole undefeated team in the playoff.
The @CapitalOne #OrangeBowl pic.twitter.com/ZMub6cNhbO
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) December 6, 2015
The Clemson Tigers won the ACC Championship Saturday night after defeating North Carolina 45-37. The Tigers exceeded expectations this year with victories over then No. 6 Notre Dame and the defending ACC Champions, the Florida State Seminoles. Clemson fielded a high-powered offense this season which currently ranks at No. 8 in the NCAA in total offense, averaging 38.5 points a game and 511 yards per game.
Clemson’s opponent, the Oklahoma Sooners, also fields a strong offense. The Sooners’ offense ranks No. 10 in the NCAA in total offense, averaging 45.8 points a game and 543 yards a game. Oklahoma defeated five top 25 teams this season, including a 58-23 blowout win over then No. 11 Oklahoma State. The Sooners are the Big 12 conference champions with a 8-1 record in conference play.
The other college football playoff game will feature the SEC conference champions versus the Big Ten conference champions.
The @GoodyearBlimp #CottonBowl pic.twitter.com/Wg8diFY9E2
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) December 6, 2015
The Alabama Crimson Tide won their second consecutive SEC title on Saturday with a dominating victory over the then No. 18 Florida Gators. Of the four college football playoff teams, Alabama is the only team that played in last year’s playoff. The Crimson Tide were knocked out of last year’s playoff with a 42-35 loss to Ohio State.
Michigan State won the Big Ten on Saturday with a 16-13 victory over then No. 4 Iowa. The Spartans defeated three top 25 teams in the regular season, including Michigan and Ohio State. Michigan State’s victory over Ohio State effectively ended the defending national champions’ chances of returning to the playoff.
The College Football Playoff Semifinal featuring Clemson and Oklahoma will kick off at 4 p.m. from Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Dec. 31. The College Football Playoff Semifinal featuring Michigan State and Alabama will kick off at 8 p.m. from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 31.
