Either Marcus Freeman or James Franklin will become the first Black head coach to make an FBS national championship game, and other story lines to watch.

Some of it may be overboard, dancing on the grave of a not-dead patient by SEC haters who finally see their chance. Some of it is a chance to vent back at the loud pro-SEC voices, at ESPN and elsewhere. And a lot of this may be premature. New arrival Texas could still bring the SEC its sixth national title in eight years.

The most wonderful time of the year for college football fans -- bowl season -- is upon us. And this year, there's more to get excited about than ever with the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. In addition to the CFP, there will be 36 bowl games in all.

Most expected two blowouts in the quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff. The routs, however, were anticipated in the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl. Instead, the Rose Bowl between (8) Ohio State and (1) Oregon turned into one of the biggest mismatches of the entire CFP.

Ohio State's journey through the College Football Playoff has been exciting. It has also taught us lessons about the new postseason format.

College Football Playoff picks, predictions, win probabilities for Ohio State vs Texas in Cotton Bowl, Notre Dame vs Penn State in Orange Bowl.