The College Football Playoffs are here.
Twelve teams from across college football begin the march to the national championship beginning Friday night and Saturday on four campus sites across the nation.
With the pairings set for the opening round and the four top seeds locked into a bye before the quarterfinals, here’s the Journal Star Sports reporters’ predictions for the 12-team playoff:
College Football Playoff predictions: Journal Star picks CFP national champ
Each reporter picked every winner in the bracket and eventual national championship matchup, plus why each thinks the winning program will hoist the trophy on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Adam Duvall: Alabama over Ohio State
Dave Eminian: Ohio State over Indiana
Wes Huett: Ohio State over Alabama
CFP bracket: First-round schedule
The first round of the College Football Playoff will begin with one game on Friday, Dec. 19 and conclude with three games scheduled for Dec. 20.
All times Central
FRIDAY, DEC. 19
SATURDAY, DEC. 20
CFP quarterfinals schedule
The four quarterfinal games will be played on New Year’s weekend, with one game on Dec. 31 and three on Jan. 1. All games will be televised by ESPN.
All times Central
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31
THURSDAY, JAN. 1
CFP semifinals schedule
The semifinal games will be played on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9. Both games will be televised by ESPN.
All times Central
THURSDAY, JAN. 8
FRIDAY, JAN. 9
CFP national championship game schedule
MONDAY, JAN. 19
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Our CFP bracket predictions. Who takes home the national championship?
Reporting by Wes Huett, Dave Eminian and Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
