The second round of the first 12 College Football Playoff will be a combination of traditional bowl games around the clock and strange matchups in strange places. Hopefully the games will become more competitive after four home team wins in the first round for a total of 77 points.

Where: Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona)
When: December 31, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

History lesson

The Nittany Lions and Broncos have never played, but both have history in Arizona. You could say that each program’s biggest win came in the Fiesta Bowl.

For Boise State, it was on January 1, 2007, when Chris Petersen’s trickster Broncos pulled out all the stops to beat Adrian Peterson and Oklahoma 43-42 in overtime. A 2-point conversion by the Statue of Liberty ended the game and Boise State star Ian Johnson proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend on the field after the game in one of the most memorable bowl games of all time.

The Fiesta Bowl was played in Tempe, Arizona (instead of Glendale) when Penn State won its second and final national title on January 2, 1987. Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions intercepted Miami’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Vinny Testaverde five times, winning a No. 1-2 matchup back when both programs were independents. (That used to happen, folks.)

First look

At Boise State, it all starts with running back Ashton Jeanty. The Heisman runner-up and the nation’s leading rusher has 2,497 yards (131 shy of Barry Sanders’ official NCAA record) and 30 total touchdowns.

Penn State’s defense tormented SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings (three sacks, three interceptions) and dragged the Mustangs into a deep hole that forced them to abandon the run. But the best offenses Penn State has faced this season – USC, Ohio State, Oregon – all ran for at least 170 yards and 4.2 yards per carry against the Nittany Lions’ up front (led by edge rusher). Abdul Carter, who has 21.5 yards). tackles for loss), but don’t have the biggest bodies.

Of course, these offenses have a level of balance that isn’t always present at Boise State. Jeanty scored 192 and three touchdowns on 25 carries against Big Ten champion Oregon, a 3-point loss for the Broncos. He’ll need a similar performance for the Mountain West champions to have another memorable night in Glendale.

Line: Penn State -9.5.

Why we should be excited: It’s the next playoff game. Listen, I understand. The first round games of the 12-team playoffs were very similar to the semifinal games of the four-team playoffs. That means a lot of one-sided games. But don’t give up on the playoffs. Plus, going out on New Year’s Eve is overpriced and overrated.

Where: Peach peel (Atlanta)
When: January 1, 1 p.m. ET on ESPN

History lesson

Unknown enemies in a strange environment. The Longhorns and Sun Devils have only played once. Texas won the 2007 Holiday Bowl 52-34 in a Big 12 vs. Pac-12 matchup behind Jamaal Charles and Colt McCoy.

That win in Texas was the starting point for Mack Brown’s Longhorns to try to win a national title next season.

The Peach Bowl is new territory for both teams. Only Arizona State has ever played in the Atlanta-based bowl; That was in 1970, when Frank Kush’s Sun Devils of the WAC completed an undefeated 11-0 season with a 48-26 win over North Carolina at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.

As a new member of the SEC, Texas is getting to know Atlanta better and better. The Longhorns lost the conference title game to Georgia two weeks ago at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Oh, and they could score a hat trick if they reach the national championship, also on Jan. 20 at the Falcons’ home stadium.

First look

The Sun Devils reach the playoffs on a six-game winning streak and win the Big 12 title in their first season in the conference. You could argue that second-year coach Kenny Dillingham’s turnaround was as impressive as Curt Cignetti’s performance at Indiana. The Sun Devils aren’t doing anything great, but they’re pretty good everywhere. Cam Skattebo is the heart and soul, a bowling ball of a running back who is second only to Jeanty in yards from scrimmage (1,568).

Texas counters with the best defense in the country, led by Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron at cornerback. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik had a day against the Longhorns’ defense, but the Tigers were in chase mode most of the time. To repeat that, Arizona State needs a healthy Jordyn Tyson. The star receiver missed the Big 12 Championship Game with a shoulder injury.

What may be more relevant to the Peach Bowl is what Texas did to Clemson on the ground. The Longhorns ran for a season-high 292 yards behind an offensive line with a high ceiling when healthy. The Sun Devils better buckle up.

Line: Texas -13.5.

Why we should be excited: Dillingham’s team is currently a whirlwind of enthusiasm and positive energy. That might be enough against a talented Texas team. But if you like storylines, how about the current Big 12 champion trying multiple times to defeat the team that almost single-handedly swept the league?

Where: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
When: January 1, 5 p.m. ET on ESPN

History lesson

Oregon hasn’t been in the Big Ten long enough for that not to feel like a classic Pac 12 vs. Big Ten Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes and Ducks met twice in Pasadena under these circumstances.

Most recently, Terrelle Pryor led Ohio State to a 26-17 win over Oregon in the 2010 Rose Bowl game. Before that, you have to go back to the 1958 Rose Bowl. The Big Ten champion and No. 2 Buckeyes defeated the Pacific Coast Conference co-champion Ducks 10-7.

Ohio State leads the series 9-2, although the Ducks have won the last two. The Buckeyes are 9-7 in 16 Rose Bowl appearances. The Ducks are 4-4.

First look

Technically we already had this on October 12th in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won a back-and-forth thriller, 32-31.

The game had a little bit of everything, including a little trickery at the end when the Ducks left an extra man on the field on defense to take valuable time off the clock while Ohio State tried to pull out a last-minute win.

Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel (341 yards, two TDs, 27 yards rush TD) and Ohio State’s Will Howard (326 yards, two TDs, rush TD) were both brilliant.

The Ducks are the only team to score more than 17 points against the Buckeyes this season. Both defenses need to find some answers, but the really interesting chess game is between Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein.

The Ducks were extremely aggressive, rushing shots down the field against the Ohio State secondary and were the only team to average 5.0 yards per carry against the Buckeyes. What’s the counter for Knowles, who didn’t put much pressure on Gabriel early in the game?

Ohio State’s offensive line, plagued by injuries to its two best players during the regular season, was great against a good Tennessee defense. Whether that can prevail against American Derrick Harmon and the Ducks’ talented line will be one of the keys to the game.

Line: Ohio State -1.5

Why we should be excited: This could be the national championship game in the quarterfinals.

Where: Sugar bowl (New Orleans)
When: January 1, 8:45 p.m. ET on ESPN

History lesson

The last time the Fighting Irish and Bulldogs played in the Sugar Bowl, a freshman running back named Herschel Walker led Georgia to its first national title. Kudos to Buck Belue, the Bulldogs’ first championship quarterback.

The long-standing programs didn’t return to air until 2017, when Georgia and its fans invaded South Bend and won a 1-point victory in September. For then-second-year coach Kirby Smart, it was a sign of things to come. Georgia would win the SEC and lose a College Football Playoff championship game in overtime to Alabama.

Two years later, Notre Dame traveled to Athens and lost 23-17.

Coming up short against the very best teams in the country was one of the defining characteristics of Kelly’s 11 seasons with the Irish. The postseason losses were particularly one-sided.

Now Notre Dame is Marcus Freeman’s program. It’s not just about chasing a national championship, it’s also about changing your standing in the sport. The last time the Irish won a game like this, a major New Year’s Day-type bowl game and against a quality opponent, was the 1993 Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M.

First look

Georgia may have the most talented roster in the country, but this was a team that rarely demonstrated its dominance — and now it will likely be playing with its No. 2 quarterback. Gunner Stockton was good enough to relieve injured Carson Beck to help Georgia beat Texas in overtime in the SEC Championship Game.

Now he faces another talented defender, but he has time to prepare. Conversely, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden also has time to prepare for Stockton, who is far more dangerous with his legs than Beck.

Will Georgia try to turn into Notre Dame? The Irish are limited in the downfield passing game with Riley Leonard, but he is a dangerous and sturdy runner who is a nice complement to the explosive Jeremiyah Love.

This looks like a defensive fight, but not so fast. This wasn’t classic Georgia D. The Bulldogs rank 31st nationally in rush defense at 3.69 yards per carry and had all sorts of trouble stopping the quarterback run game against Georgia Tech.

Line: Georgia -1.5.

Why we should be excited: It is the most balanced major postseason game Notre Dame has played since the mid-1990s.

(Photo from the Oregon-Ohio State game on October 12 in Eugene, Oregon: Ali Gradischer / Getty Images)