On Sunday, Dec. 5, the College Football Playoff selection committee announced the four teams that will be competing in this year’s Playoffs. 

No. 1 ranked Alabama will play No. 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas. While No. 2 Michigan will play No. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla. Both games will take place on Jan. 1, 2022. While the championship game will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana on Jan. 10.

These matchups were widely expected after the conference championship games took place on Friday and Saturday. The Alabama Crimson Tide solidified the No. 1 overall spot after defeating Georgia in the SEC championship 41-24. Georgia was previously ranked No. 1, but after the loss to Alabama, they dropped down to No. 3 overall. Michigan locked themselves into a playoff spot after defeating Iowa by a score of 42-3 in the Big Ten championship game. It has been quite the year for the University of Michigan; they were handed an early-season loss to Michigan State which then sparked a five-game winning streak for the Wolverines. 

During this streak, they defeated their arch-rival Ohio State with a score of 42-27, giving the Wolverines their first victory against Ohio State since 2011. Many thought that the Wolverines could jump into the No. 1 spot after their blowout victory against Iowa. However, they stayed put at No. 2. The Cincinnati Bearcats claimed their spot in the playoffs after defeating Houston in the AAC championship game 35-20. The Bearcats made history and became the first group of five team to make the playoffs. 

All four teams are very excited to be in the playoffs and are ready for their challenge ahead. 

“There are a lot of teams that have a very small percent chance of getting into the four-team playoff and we are happy to be one of them,” said Cincinnati’s head coach Luke Fickell via si.com. “Nonetheless, it is us. And we are not carrying the flag for anybody but the UC Bearcats, our community, our campus, our university.”

The College Football Playoffs are set to take place on Jan. 1, 2022, while the National Championship will take place on Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis, Indiana.