CLEMSON, S.C. — The expanded College Football Playoff brings something new for coaches who are used to planning for one game, maybe two in the postseason: the possibility of rust versus rest.
The 12-team bracket released Sunday has first-round byes for the top four seeds as No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 Arizona State wait to play bowl game quarterfinals on either Dec. 31 or Jan. 1.
The first-round games — No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, and No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State — all take place on Dec. 20-21.
The CFP selection committee, intentionally or otherwise, gave first-round opponents an equal amount of rest. Clemson, Texas, SMU and Penn State all played in conference championship games last Saturday. Indiana, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee all last played on Nov. 30.
It’s in the quarterfinals when the Football Bowl Subdivision might find out if plenty of rest leads to some rust. The four top seeds get a long, welcome break from a grueling season.