University Park, Pennsylvania CNN —The first round of the College Football Playoff is in the books after the expanded playoff brought games to campuses for the first time, an incredible display of the best parts of college football – even if the games weren’t particularly close.
Here are six takeaways from the opening round of the College Football Playoff.
Brashard Smith of the Southern Methodist Mustangs runs the ball during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions.
In the very next game, Penn State trounced SMU, 38-10.
The first round proved that at the highest level of college football, the game is still won in the trenches.
Persons:
Notre Dame, Penn, Ole, Brashard Smith, Scott Taetsch, Kevin Jennings, Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin, “, ” Kiffin, –, Jesus, Michael Reaves, Rhett Lashlee, CNN’s Andy Scholes, Curt Cignetti, Penn State's Dominic DeLuca, Mitchell Leff, Dabo Swinney’s, Nico Iamaleava, Wade Woodaz, Eric Gay, TreVeyon Henderson, Judkins, didn’t, Will Howard, Chip Kelly, Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Jason Mowry, Treveyon Henderson, Smith, James Franklin, Ryan Day, Franklin, Drew Allar, ”, Franklin –
Organizations:
Pennsylvania CNN, College Football, –, Notre, Southern Methodist University . Texas, Clemson, thumped, Irish, New, Penn State, Boise State, Arizona State, Ohio State, Rose, Indiana, SMU, ACC, Hoosiers, Notre Dame, Southern Methodist Mustangs, Penn State Nittany Lions, Getty Images Indiana, Alabama, Indiana Hoosiers, Notre Dame Fighting, Penn, Beaver, Southern Methodist University, Longhorn, Tennessee, Ohio, Volunteers, Buckeyes, Michigan, Buckeye, Nittany Lions, PSU, Southern Methodist, Tigers, SMU . Texas, Ohio State Buckeyes, Tennessee Volunteers, Getty, Wolverines, ” Penn State
Locations:
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Oregon, Alabama, South Carolina, – Indiana, South Bend , Indiana, Valley, Austin, Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan, Happy, Penn