It's been an extremely valuable asset to some of the top college football teams, and the latest to benefit is the SMU Mustangs, who were eliminated in the first round of the College Football Playoff by Penn State.

Now that the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff is down to four teams remaining — the size of the field the previous 10 seasons — things really don't look that much different. The final quartet includes two teams from the Big Ten,

SMU found themselves on the playoff bubble. In the end, they secured their spot as the last team to qualify and faced Penn State in an away game. The game was a disaster for the Mustangs, who fell behind by as much as 35 points and ultimately lost 38-10.

If Ohio State beats Texas in the Playoff semifinals, the sport will be assured of having consecutive national champions from outside the Sun Belt region for the first time in three decades. The possibility means the playoff's expansion from four to 12 teams accomplished one of its major goals,

The four head coaches remaining in this year’s College Football Playoff have a lot to gain by winning it all. Not just a national championship, and not just the bonus that comes with it. The other prize coming the winning head coach’s way is power and prestige at a time of upheaval in the sport and evolution within his profession.

Ohio State and Texas have drawn each other as semifinal opponents in the College Football Playoff. This is the fourth matchup between the blue bloods.

Here is what you need to know about the remaining College Football Playoff games. College Football Playoff teams. This college football season was the first with the expanded 12-t