2024-2025 Tournament Kicks-Off! First Round Winners #9 Arizona State, #10 Clemson Advance

 

# 7 Tennessee 17 vs. #10 Clemson 20 - College Football Tournament First Round, Charlotte

Charlotte, NC — In the heart of Charlotte, the #7 Tennessee Volunteers faced off against the #10 Clemson Tigers in a highly anticipated College Football Tournament first-round matchup. The stage was set at Bank of America Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, which both teams had become familiar with earlier in the season.  With temperatures dipping to 48°F, the game was played under a dry but crisp sky, two degrees colder than the first-round game in Salt Lake City. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as the SEC’s at-large team, Tennessee, battled against the ACC champion Tigers. The regional advantage lay with Clemson, but both teams had experienced the setting of the stadium previously.

Clemson wasted no time asserting its dominance early in the game. On their opening drive, the Tigers worked the ball methodically down the field, relying on the poised and efficient Cade Klubnik. He displayed his experience from two years ago when he led Clemson to a first-round victory over Kansas State. After a series of short passes, Klubnik found Antonio Williams streaking across the middle of the field for a 22-yard touchdown strike at 8:14 in the first quarter. The PAT by Nolan Hauser was good, giving Clemson a 7-0 lead.

Tennessee struggled to match the tempo early, but their defense kept them in the game, forcing a quick Clemson punt on the ensuing drive. The Volunteers managed to chip away at Clemson’s lead, but they were unable to capitalize on their initial opportunities. Still, with time winding down in the second quarter, Tennessee’s special teams came through. Max Gilbert, the reliable kicker, converted a 36-yard field goal with 6:39 left, narrowing the Tigers' lead to 7-3.

As halftime loomed, the Volunteers found their rhythm, making key adjustments on offense. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who had been effective in the Ohio State win, found his footing in this game as well. With just 20 seconds remaining in the half, Iamaleava showed his poise by keeping the ball himself and punching it in for a 2-yard touchdown run, giving Tennessee their first lead of the game, 10-7. The Volunteers went into the break on a high note, feeling confident with the lead despite Clemson’s strong start.

Clemson wasn’t fazed by the halftime deficit.  In a quiet third quarter, the only scoring came from two clutch field goals by Clemson’s Nolan Hauser. The first, a 32-yard attempt, tied the game at 10-10 with 3:29 left in the quarter. Later, Hauser added another, a 33-yard field goal, extending the Tigers' lead to 13-10 with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter. These field goals were the only points in what became a tense, defensive battle as both teams fought for control.

In the fourth quarter, Clemson mounted a balanced drive, and Klubnik connected with his receiver, T.J. Moore, for a touchdown pass. Moore’s 7-yard catch-and-run made it 20-10 with 11:43 to go in game, after a 3-yard run by the Tigers. Hauser’s extra point gave Clemson a commanding 10-point advantage.

The Volunteers, led by Iamaleava, continued to fight hard. With their season on the line, they began putting together another solid drive. But Clemson’s defense remained tough, stymieing Tennessee’s momentum with multiple key stops and forcing a few unfortunate incompletions. Still, Tennessee wasn’t about to let go of the game that easily.

With the clock winding down and just under 2 minutes to play, Tennessee’s offense once again found success in the red zone. Iamaleava, scrambled for a 2-yard touchdown run to bring the Volunteers within a field goal at 20-17. The Tennessee faithful held their breath.

But the relentless Clemson defense stepped up when it mattered most. They halted Tennessee's final drive as time ran out, sealing a hard-fought 20-17 victory. The Tigers, led by Klubnik’s steady play and Hauser’s clutch kicking, secured their spot in the Rose Bowl, where they would face undefeated Oregon, the top seed.

Postgame:

Clemson’s head coach, Dabo Swinney, praised his team’s ability to weather adversity. "This game had its ups and downs, but we came together when it counted. Cade Klubnik showed a lot of maturity today, and our defense stepped up in the final minutes. We're going to enjoy this one, but we know what comes next."

Tennessee’s head coach, Josh Heupel, remained upbeat despite the loss. "We fought until the very end, and I’m proud of the way Nico led our offense today. Our defense kept us in the game, but we just couldn’t quite finish it. We’ll be back next year, and we’ll be stronger for this experience."

With their win, Clemson moves on to face Oregon in the Rose Bowl, continuing their quest for another national title. Meanwhile, Tennessee's season ends, but with much promise for the future.

 

#8 Boise State 14 vs. #9 Arizona State 25 - College Football Tournament First Round, Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, UT — On a chilly December afternoon in Salt Lake City, the second First Round game of the 2024-2025 College Football Tournament saw the #8 seed Boise State Broncos face the #9 seed Arizona State Sun Devils. The weather was favorable for December: 50 degrees and dry, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest in front of an energized crowd.

Arizona State, fresh off their Big XII championship, entered the game eager to prove they belonged in the national spotlight. Meanwhile, Boise State, the Mountain West champions, were looking to continue their strong season and advance to the next round. The winner would move on to the Sugar Bowl, with a chance to face the #2 seed Georgia.

Arizona State struck first, taking an early 3-0 lead with a 39-yard field goal from Carston Kieffer at 8:59 in the first quarter. Kieffer, though inexperienced, had been thrust into the starting role after a season of inconsistent kicking. Despite his youth and the Sun Devils’ struggles in the kicking game, Kieffer remained steady under pressure.

Boise State’s defense played tough early, keeping the Sun Devils from reaching the end zone. Arizona State’s offense was moving, but Boise’s defense bent but didn’t break. Kieffer’s second field goal, this time from 36 yards, came in the second quarter, extending the Sun Devils’ lead to 6-0.

Boise State finally responded midway through the second quarter. The Broncos had been struggling to establish a rhythm but found a spark with a 12-play drive led by quarterback Maddux Madsen. Madsen orchestrated the drive with precision, setting up Tyler Crowe for an 8-yard touchdown run to put Boise State ahead 7-6 with 8:41 left in the half. Jonah Dalmas’ extra point gave the Broncos their first lead of the game.

Arizona State answered quickly, though, with another field goal from Kieffer, who connected from 39 yards out to put ASU back on top 9-7 with 3:17 remaining before halftime. The Sun Devils had a chance to extend their lead further, but the Boise defense tightened up, keeping it a one-possession game going into halftime.

The second half started with a big play for Boise State. Madsen launched a beautiful 53-yard touchdown pass to Matt Lauter, who outran the Arizona State secondary for the score. Lauter’s reception capped off an explosive drive, and with Dalmas’ extra point, the Broncos regained the lead, 14-9, with 11:38 left in the third quarter. It was a momentum-shifting moment for Boise State, and the crowd was buzzing with excitement.

But Arizona State wasn’t done yet. With just under a minute to go in the third quarter, the Sun Devils delivered a game-changing response. In a surprising twist, running back Cam Skattebo threw a perfectly timed 42-yard touchdown pass to Malik McClain. Skattebo, known for his power running, displayed impressive versatility by executing the trick play with precision. McClain caught the ball between two defenders, fighting off the coverage as he sprinted into the end zone for the touchdown.

The Sun Devils weren’t done there. In a critical moment, Arizona State executed a gutsy two-point conversion, with Leavitt connecting with Xavier Guillory to extend the lead to 17-14.

Boise State’s offense, now trailing by 3, struggled to regain the momentum they had earlier in the game. The Broncos tried to push forward but were unable to capitalize on their opportunities, as Arizona State’s defense tightened up when it mattered most. With just 5 minutes left, the Sun Devils sealed the win with a decisive touchdown.

Cam Skattebo, Arizona State’s star running back, broke free for a huge play down the sideline. He caught a 62-yard pass from Leavitt, before being tackled. Skattebo’s helmet was ripped off in the process, adding a penalty on Boise State to the completion. The play set up a 2-yard touchdown run for Skattebo, and after adding a successful two-point conversion run, Arizona State extended their lead to 25-14.

With little time remaining, Boise State could not mount a comeback, and Arizona State’s defense held firm. The Sun Devils sealed the victory, advancing to the Sugar Bowl to face #2 seed Georgia in what promises to be another tough test.

Postgame:

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham praised his team's resilience, especially in the second half. "We showed a lot of heart today. Sam [Leavitt] did a great job leading us, and Cam [Skattebo] made some huge plays when we needed them. I’m proud of the way we finished this one out."

Boise State head coach Andy Avalos was somber but respectful in his postgame remarks. "We had our chances, but we didn’t capitalize on them. Arizona State made the plays when it mattered most."

Arizona State advances to the Sugar Bowl to face #2 seed Georgia, while Boise State’s season ends in a hard-fought defeat. The Sun Devils will now shift their focus to the next challenge, one step closer to a potential national title.

Hey Mabel, turn on the 2024-2025 College Tournament Selection Show!

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2024-2025 College Football Selection Show Transcript
Hosted by Rece Davis, Lou Holtz, and Mark May
Sponsored by Yak and Yeti Himalayan Restaurant

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Rece Davis: Welcome, everyone, to the 2024-2025 College Football Selection Show! We’ve got a lot to unpack tonight, as the nation’s best teams battle for those coveted spots in the 10-team tournament. As always, we’re thrilled to have Lou Holtz and Mark May back with us. Gentlemen, what are the big questions we need to answer tonight?

Mark May: Well, Rece, the biggest question is who will take the final at-large spot? We’ve got a tight race between Tennessee, Indiana, and SMU. All three teams are on the bubble, and this decision is going to be a tough one for the committee.

Lou Holtz: I’ll tell you, Rece, it’s gotta be Indiana. Just one loss, and it’s from not only a big four conference, but from the big two conferences, Big Ten and SEC. How can you leave out a team that only has that one blemish on its record? It would be a travesty!

Mark May: Lou, I respect that, but let me tell you why I think it will be Tennessee. Indiana played a very weak schedule, and their loss to Ohio State wasn’t close. Tennessee, on the other hand, brings more balance to the tournament. This allows us to have nice symmetry: three teams from the SEC, three from the Big Ten, an independent, and a team from each of the other best conferences. It just fits better.

Lou Holtz: But Mark, Indiana beat Michigan pretty easily this season. And then Michigan went on to handle Ohio State. That’s a pretty strong resume in my book.

Rece Davis: I see both sides of this, but we’ll get a resolution soon enough. We also need to figure out who will grab the top two seeds. Lou, I’m going to start with you — who do you think will earn those top spots?

Lou Holtz: Rece, it has to be undefeated Oregon at No. 1. They’ve been dominant all year long. At No. 2, I’ve got to go with Notre Dame. I know the voters may lean toward Georgia, but the computers will put Notre Dame in that second slot. They’ve been steady all season.

Mark May: I’m going to disagree, Lou. It’s going to be Georgia as the No. 2 seed. Following Oregon, Georgia has been the most consistent and dominant team in the country. After Oregon and Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, Ohio State, and Penn State will be in the mix for the next four spots. That’s a lot of parity in those rankings, and any of them could end up in any order, from three to six.

Rece Davis: Now, when we look at the automatic qualifiers, we’ve got Arizona State, Clemson, and Boise State likely locked in. These teams will be the 7th to 10th seeds, playing in the First Round. There’s also the impact of the Pac-12, where Oregon and Arizona State each took their new conferences by storm this season. Lou, any thoughts on that?

Lou Holtz: Well, Rece, you’re right. Arizona State, in particular, has done an outstanding job in their first season in the new conference. And don’t forget, Texas and SMU also came close to winning their new conferences. But when you look at the conferences, there’s one thing that stands out — scheduling. These new conferences have to learn how to structure their schedules better. Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, and Oregon were the top four teams in their conference this season, but Ohio State played all three of them, winning two out of three. The other three only played Ohio State, and that’s simply not fair. We need divisions, like the Big Ten should have with 18 teams. They need to have two divisions and play all the other teams in their division. This way, everyone gets a fair shot.

Mark May: Lou’s got a point there. The schedules in college football are more unbalanced than in any other major sport. Even if conferences try to balance things out, they’ll never have the same kind of home-and-home scheduling you see in college basketball or the NFL. The lack of divisions makes it hard to see who really is the best team sometimes, and these new conference expansions make the scheduling chaos even worse. That is why you see teams getting into these bizarre tie-breaker scenarios. And let’s not forget, the extra conference championship game can sometimes hurt a team, if they take a loss that bounces them out of the tournament.

Lou Holtz: That’s exactly right, Mark. This year, Oregon would have likely gone undefeated in the Big Ten West. They beat Illinois, who was the second-best team in the West. Then they would have played the East champ Ohio State, a one-loss team who had only been beaten by Michigan. Ohio State would’ve beaten Penn State and Indiana, and PSU and IU would have had to settle it head-to-head for that second spot.

Rece Davis: It’s definitely a lot to think about, gentlemen. We’re in a world of change in college football, and how these conferences and teams structure their schedules will have a lasting impact. But all of that is for another day. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the field of 10 and make those final decisions. You’re watching the 2024-2025 College Football Selection Show, brought to you by Yak and Yeti Himalayan Restaurant — where every meal is a mountain of flavor!

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Rece Davis: We are back, and guys, the waiting is over. It is time to go to Brent Musburger on the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where this year's championship game will be played. Brent?

Brent Musburger: You are looking...LIVE at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, the site of this season's college football championship game. Hi there, everybody! Ten teams will play to win here but only one will take home the BCS championship trophy. And now, it is time for the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches bracket presentation.

Let's go to tournament Commissioner Nelson, who will reveal this year's tournament.

Commissioner: Thank you, Brent. It is my yearly pleasure to announce the teams that will be playing in the 2024-2025 BCS College Football Tournament.

In the First Round, in Charlotte, the seventh seed, the Volunteers of the University of Tennessee, at-large team from the Southeastern Conference, will play the tenth seed, and champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Clemson University Tigers.

The other First Round game will be played in Salt Lake City, where the eighth seed and champion of the Mountain West Conference, the Broncos of Boise State University, will take on the ninth-seeded Arizona State University, champion of the Big XII Conference.

So, let's move onto the BCS Bowl quarterfinals. Either Tennessee or Clemson will move on to the Rose Bowl, to play the top seed, the Ducks of the University of Oregon, champions of the Big Ten Conference. The winner of the Rose Bowl will take on the winner of the Fiesta Bowl, which will feature the fourth seed, at-large from the SEC Conference, the Longhorns of the University of Texas, and fifth-seeded at-large from the Big Ten Conference, the Buckeyes of the Ohio State University.

Either Boise State or Arizona State will move on to the Sugar Bowl, to play the number two seed, and champion of the Southeastern Conference, the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia. The Sugar Bowl winner will take on the winner of the remaining quarterfinal game, the Orange Bowl, which will feature the third seed, automatic qualifying independent, the Notre Dame University Fighting Irish, who will play the sixth seed, at-large from the Big Ten Conference, the Nittany Lions of Penn State University.

The winners of the BCS quarterfinals will meet in Indianapolis for Football's Final Four, and the winner of the semifinals will play for the BCS championship, right here, in Atlanta.

Brent Musburger: Thank you, Commissioner, it shapes up to be a very competitive tournament. So, the seventh and tenth seeds won’t play Georgia, as both teams already faced Georgia during the regular season, correct?

Commissioner: Exactly. Our guidance is to avoid regular-season rematches in First Round and Bowl game quarterfinals. So the Tennessee/Clemson winner will play Oregon rather than play Georgia again.

Brent Musburger: And I am sure Coach Holtz is dying to know how close Indiana was to making the tournament.

Commissioner: Well, Brent, it wasn’t close at all. The committee had clear distinctions between the seeds this year, and Indiana just didn’t make the cut.

Brent Musburger: Thank you, Commissioner, it shapes up to be an extremely balanced tournament. And now back to Rece at the studio.

(microphones pick up unsuspecting continuing conversation)

Brent Musburger: Good job, Commissioner. You did great.

Commissioner: Thanks, I hope I didn’t say anything too out of line. Last season I called it the ‘Conference USA conference’—still cringe and lose sleep over that.

Brent Musburger: Don’t worry, you were fine. But, you do look a bit tired...please be ready for all of the big games.

(back to the studio)

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Rece Davis: Great, thank you Brent.  Okay, so we have five teams who made the tournament last year. Of those five, Ohio State has 12 straight years in the tournament, quite an accomplishment. Then Tennessee and Clemson, who were in the tournament 2 years ago, Notre Dame in the brackets three seasons ago, Boise State after 10 years back in the tournament, and almost three decades have passed since Arizona State had a place in the brackets.

Lou, what surprised you.

Lou Holtz: I’m upset that one-loss Indiana was excluded. It would have been great if Indiana and Notre Dame had a chance to play in Football’s Final Four in their home state of Indiana. But at third seed, Notre Dame might take advantage of a game in Indianapolis.

Mark May: Oregon gets a bit of a harder path because they get Tennessee or Clemson, but maybe it is sound that Georgia’s tough schedule gave them a bit easier path with the Boise State/Arizona winner. Penn State also gets a good path through the tournament, and they could be a factor.

Rece Davis: Okay, guys, who else do you see as potential upstarts in this tournament?

Mark May: Arizona State has been playing very well down the stretch. I do not think anyone wants to play them. But we may be looking past the real Cinderella. We are not paying as much attention to Boise State. We know they are solid and proven, but no one is talking about the Broncos as a tournament threat. Boise has been to three Football Final Fours and a championship game. Over the years, they’ve always played well against the established teams, so watch out for them.

Lou Holtz: I agree, watch out for Arizona State. At the beginning of the season, we kept hearing about Utah and Arizona, then Colorado as coming from the Pac-12 and winning the Big XII. Then Arizona State comes out of nowhere to win and make the tournament. And boy, I tell you what, the Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo, he has had what I declare the best runs of the decade, and we are only halfway through. He is amazing. But I’d also say, watch out for Clemson. They not only have an experienced tournament coach in Dabo Swinney, who is a tournament champion coach, but he is doing it the right way. He has a two-way level of respect between program and players. Not running around trying to spend money on other teams' players, but running a program that develops players. Right now, Clemson fans may be frustrated for now, but when things settle down, players may realize eventually it’s best to be in a program like Clemson that wants you to develop.

Rece Davis: Okay, guys, who do you like to win it all?

Lou Holtz: I tell ya, it’s going to be Notre Dame versus Ohio State in the championship game. Ohio State, boy, they have talent, but frankly, sometimes their players seem more interested in cashing their NIL checks than watching films and preparing. But I think they’ll rally around their coach Ryan Day. But it’s going to be Notre Dame to win it all. I really like Notre Dame. Semi-finals in Indianapolis, it’s their year.

Mark May: Coach, this is truly a year of parity, and I frankly can see the top six teams all having a good chance. Truthfully, I would add Tennessee to those six, but I think winning four games adds a level of difficulty. Normally, I would go with the SEC champion, Georgia, and remember, the championship game is in Atlanta, but with the Bulldogs’ quarterback questions, even though it’s tough to stay undefeated, I’ll pick Oregon to win the title over Penn State.

Rece Davis:  Well guys, we are ready for some games, it should be something special.  One last look at the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches bracket :