By Ty Scheiner
With the first-ever twelve-team College Football Playoff kicking Friday, I take a look at some of the most important players in this new playoff format. We’ll get to see which players are going to stand out and solidify themselves in CFP lore with the goal to lead their team to the title. All eyes will be on this tournament and some players may have a chance to stand out even more than they were able to with more eyes on these games. Here are my most important players to keep an eye on. These players just aren’t on this list for their talent, but also for their importance to their teams.
Abdul Carter, DE – Penn State
One of the more disruptive defensive players in the game, Abdul Carter will need to continue to show up for the Nittany Lions during the CFP. His knack for making plays behind the line of scrimmage has been a major reason why Penn State is one of the best defensive units in the Big Ten, allowing only 282 yards per game and 16.4 ppg this season. Carter is a nightmare for opposing offenses and if the Nittany Lions are going to want to make a deep run, Carter will need to continue to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Carter finished tied for second in the conference with 10 sacks this season and will likely cause problems this weekend for SMU.
Ashton Jeanty, RB – Boise State
No surprise that the Heisman Runner-Up would be on this list (and if I had a vote, he would have been my Heisman choice). Ashton Jeanty will likely be playing with a chip on his shoulder during the CFP. One of, if not the most, dominant offensive players this season, Jeanty put up ridiculous numbers, helping the Broncos secure a first-round bye. He led the nation with 2,497 rushing yards, averaging 7.3 yards per carry, and scored 29 touchdowns. His stats are even more impressive considering he effectively sat out the equivalent of two games this season, as the Broncos were in control most of the time.
It can also be argued that if the Broncos had given Jeanty the ball a few more times in Autzen, they might have come away with a win against No. 1-ranked Oregon earlier this season. The Broncos have proven they are more than just Jeanty when teams focus solely on stopping him, but for Boise State to make a deep run, Jeanty will need to continue playing at a Heisman level.
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Tez Johnson, WR – Oregon
One of the most explosive players in the game, Tez Johnson, will be key to the Ducks’ offense and getting to the CFP championship game. He finished with 866 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns and averaged more than a first down every time he caught a pass (11.1 yards per reception). He also became the first wide receiver ever to be named MVP of the Big Ten Championship game, finishing with 11 receptions, 181 yards, and a touchdown against Penn State.
Dillon Gabriel’s success will be finding and utilizing his offensive weapons, and Johnson is at the top of the list of players Dan Lanning and the Ducks will want to get the ball to.
Jeremiyah Love, RB – Notre Dame
If it wasn’t for Jeanty’s historic season, Jeremiyah Love would probably have been talked about more as the best running back in the country. He’ll certainly be at the top of lists entering the 2025 season. Love finished with 949 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards on the ground in addition to being a solid back out of the backfield with 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns receiving.
The Irish thrive when the ball is in Love’s hands, as he helps take pressure off Riley Leonard and gives Notre Dame one of the best ground games in the country. For Notre Dame to make a deep playoff run, starting Friday against Indiana, Love will need to be a focal point of the offense.
Tyler Warren, TE – Penn State
I started with a Nittany Lion, so I’ll finish with another one. “Do-it-all” player and Mackey Award winner Tyler Warren is essential to Penn State’s playoff success. He’s another player I’d argue was the “Most Valuable” to his team this season, as the Nittany Lions might not be in this position without him. Warren racked up 1,062 receiving yards, six touchdowns, and averaged 12.1 yards per catch. Additionally, he contributed 191 yards and four touchdowns on the ground and even threw for one passing touchdown.
If Penn State is going to advance, Warren is going to need to be a major weapon for Drew Allar and the Nittany Lion offense, in any facet; receiving, rushing and maybe even passing.
