The recent twelve-team bracket format in NCAA college football has created more exciting games and matchups that would not have been possible with the previous four-team bracket.

A great example is this year’s national championship game. The number ten-ranked team, the University of Miami, went up against the number one team, the University of Indiana. 

Additionally, there have been some other notable upsets due to the bracket. Miami beat number two Ohio State, and number six Ole Miss beat number three Georgia, both in the quarter finals. Miami had a chance at making history by pulling off four upsets with a win against number one Indiana on Monday, January 19th. 

Indiana made history by winning their first national championship and completing a perfect 16-0 season. Indiana is led by Heisman trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who made some crucial plays. The most exciting play was Mendoza’s dive into the endzone, sacrificing his body to get the Hoosiers ahead. Mendoza was interviewed by the press after the game and said, “I would die on the field for my team.” 

The University of Washington usually makes the college football playoffs, but they have struggled this year, which kept them out of the playoffs. With them being out, many Washingtonians wondered who to root for. 

Olympia High School junior Isaiah Charqueno said, “I am rooting for whoever Oregon is playing against. I’m a big Huskies fan, so it wouldn’t feel good seeing them win the whole thing.” Charqueno didn’t have a set team as long as he didn’t see Oregon winning. 

Oregon fan Caleb Wilson said, “I obviously want the Ducks to win, but it makes sense why most of the Northwest doesn’t want us to win, because we have dominated them this year.”  Wilson expressed the Ducks’ power against Northwest teams and that opposing fans stayed salty about it.  

The college football playoffs were eventful and exciting to watch, mainly due to the expansion of the bracket. Fans are excited to see what surprises next year’s bracket will bring.