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College Football: Which New Year’s six bowls are playoff games in 17-18?

By Anthony Messenger

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: The final score is seen on the videoboard after the Clemson Tigers defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: The final score is seen on the videoboard after the Clemson Tigers defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Leading up to the start of the 2017 regular season, Rubbing The Rock takes a look at the which New Year’s Six Bowls will serve as College Football Playoff sites this year.

The playoff consists of four teams (seeded 1-4), two semifinal games and the National Championship. The two semifinal games rotate each year between the Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Peach Bowl.

Coming into it’s fourth year of existence, the College Football Playoff has now been held in each of the New Year’s Six Bowl sites. The Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl are set to hold the playoff games in 17-18. The season will culminate with the National Championship, being played in Atlanta, Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

History

The first College Football Playoff games were played in the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl back in 2014. Facing off in the Rose Bowl was No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Florida State; and playing in the Sugar Bowl was No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Ohio State.

Oregon and Ohio State, winning their respective semifinal games, met up in the National Championship in Arlington, Texas. The Buckeyes upended the Ducks, 42-20 to be crowed the 2014 National Champions.

The following programs, are ranked by their number of appearances in the College Football Playoff: Alabama (3), Clemson (2), Ohio State (2), Florida State (1), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Michigan State (1) and Washington (1).

Significance in 2017

Coming into the season, USC and Alabama are favorites to make it to the College Football Playoff. These two teams are particularly important, because of their proximity to the semifinal sites.

The Sugar Bowl is held in Louisiana, which is roughly four hours from Tuscaloosa. While four hours isn’t a short trip by any means, it is still within driving distance. This could give Alabama an advantage as it would essentially become a home game for them.

The distance between USC’s campus and the Rose Bowl cannot even be described as a trip. Trojan fans would have to sit through a painstaking 25-minute drive to make it to Pasadena. USC faithful would surely flock to the Rose Bowl by the thousands.

Next: Who will be Clemson's MVP in 2017?

The 2017 regular season hasn’t even gotten underway. As such, there is no telling what the playoff picture will look like down the road. All we can do is hold on tight and enjoy another eventful season of College Football.

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