The outcome of the initial four matches in the 12-team College Football Playoff remains uncertain. The first round includes a matchup between No. 10 Indiana and No. 7 Notre Dame on Friday, followed by three games on Saturday: No. 11 SMU against No. 6 Penn State, No. 12 Clemson facing No. 5 Texas, and No. 9 Tennessee competing with No. 8 Ohio State. Below is my forecast for the results of this segment of the college football postseason tournament.

Both Notre Dame and Indiana have endured the challenges of the season to arrive at this juncture, set to compete in a first-round College Football Playoff matchup on Friday at Notre Dame Stadium (8 p.m., ESPN/ABC). The Fighting Irish (11-1) rebounded from an early setback against Northern Illinois, winning their last ten games to secure a place among the 12 teams in the CFP. Indiana also enjoyed a successful season, achieving a ten-game winning streak before suffering a loss on the road to then-No. 2 Ohio State, the only ranked opponent they encountered. While Indiana’s journey is commendable, Notre Dame’s momentum suggests they will prevail at home.

Prediction: Notre Dame 31, Indiana 20

Two conference runners-up are set to compete as SMU takes on Penn State in the opening round of the College Football Playoffs. SMU boasts an 11-2 record for the season, having suffered a narrow defeat to BYU, 18-15, in their third game. In the ACC championship, they faced Clemson, trailing 31-14 before managing a comeback in the fourth quarter, only to lose on a last-second field goal. Conversely, Penn State also holds an 11-2 record, beginning their season with six consecutive wins before experiencing a seven-point loss to Ohio State. After concluding the regular season at 11-1, they advanced to the Big Ten championship, where they were defeated by Oregon, 45-37. SMU is expected to keep the game competitive and could become the second team to defeat the Nittany Lions at home this season, following Ohio State.

Prediction: SMU 27, Penn State 24

Clemson is set to make its eighth playoff appearance after securing a dramatic walk-off field goal in the ACC championship game. While the season has not been flawless for Clemson, the program has a history of excelling in the postseason. Texas performed well throughout the season but suffered defeats in both encounters against Georgia, a team that required eight overtimes to overcome the fifth-ranked ACC team. Concerns linger regarding Quinn Ewers and the Texas offense, although their defense is formidable and likely to propel them into a compelling first-round CFP matchup that could see overtime. The Tigers are disciplined, avoiding excessive penalties and turnovers, and they excel at capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes, boasting 25 takeaways this season, with 12 occurring in the last five games. I anticipate the ACC team will achieve the victory.

Prediction: Clemson 24, Texas 21

No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) and No. 8 Ohio State (10-2) are set to face off on Saturday night at 8 PM Eastern Time, broadcasted on ABC and ESPN from Ohio Stadium in Columbus. This matchup marks the first time the Vols will compete at Ohio State and in Ohio overall, with their only previous encounter occurring in the Citrus Bowl following the 1995 season. Both teams enter the game with aspirations of leveraging their strong defenses to advance to the national championship. However, one team will see its season conclude this weekend. For Ohio State, establishing early momentum is crucial to build player confidence and energize the home crowd, especially following the recent upset loss to Michigan three weeks ago.

Prediction: Ohio State 28, Tennessee 21