The Arizona State football team punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff with a 45-19 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game.
But who will the Sun Devils play in the College Football Playoff?
We’ll find out for sure when the College Football Playoff bracket is announced during the College Football Playoff selection show on Sunday, but we can get an idea for ASU football’s next opponent going through some College Football Playoff scenarios.
We don’t know how the College Football Playoff committee will seed teams after Saturday’s conference title games, but here’s some insight as to who Kenny Dillingham’s team could be playing next.
More:Why Arizona State should get College Football Playoff bye: Writers make Sun Devils’ case
This scenario is unlikely, but possible. What if the committee puts ASU ahead of Boise State and keeps the Sun Devils ahead of Clemson, the ACC champ who upset SMU Saturday night?
Again, highly unlikely, but neither impossible. We just don’t know what the committee would do. If the Sun Devils were to land the No. 3 seed, they would face the winner of the No. 6 vs No. 11 matchup in the quarterfinals.
Notre Dame and Texas are now commonly predicted No. 6 seeds, with Ohio State a possibility.
Clemson, SMU and Alabama have been predicted as possible No. 11 seeds.
When is CFP selection show?How to watch bracket reveal, announcement
The Sun Devils could potentially land a bye into the quarterfinals of the playoff after Clemson beat SMU in the ACC championship game.
If they land the No. 4 seed, they could play the winner of the first-round game between the No. 12 seed and the No. 5 seed.
Who could that be? Many projections now think the No. 5 seed could be Notre Dame, which is 11-1 on the season as an independent, or Texas.
Clemson could end up being the No. 12 seed in this scenario, but we also saw Alabama projected as the No. 12 seed, depending on if the Crimson Tide were picked over SMU after the Mustangs’ loss in the ACC title game.
More:Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham’s vision becomes reality in second season
What if the Sun Devils miss out on a bye with Boise State and Clemson getting the final two automatic berths into the quarterfinals? In this scenario, ASU could earn the No. 11 seed in the playoff, instead of the No. 12.
Notre Dame, Texas and Ohio State could be the No. 6 seed in this scenario.
More:Arizona State routs Iowa State in Big 12 title game, makes College Football Playoff case
The No. 12 seed could still be a possibility for Arizona State in the playoff (we just don’t know what the committee will do), which would pit them against the No. 5 seed in the first round.
Notre Dame and Texas appear top be the most common projected opponents for ASU in this spot.
More:Cam Skattebo Big 12 football award snub has Arizona State fans fuming
It’s anyone’s guess based on the final seeding from the College Football Playoff committee on Sunday after Saturday’s championship games, but Notre Dame and Texas appear to be the most likely opponents, based on the above scenarios, either in the first round or the quarterfinals.
Our prediction? ASU lands the No. 4 seed in the playoff and earns the bye into the quarterfinals, where the Sun Devils will face the winner of No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 12 Clemson.
Luckily, we don’t have to wait too long to find out for sure.
More:ASU football wins Big 12 championship: Celebrate with a poster from The Republic
More:Forks Up! Arizona State captures Big 12 title; celebrate with our new book!
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

source

Post Views: 9