But the overwhelming sentiment after the first round of the new-look College Football Playoff is that 12 teams is too many.  If anything, this past weekend's slate expanded the current gulf between the haves and the have-nots.

Here's how each team can win its quarterfinal game, plus key players, X factors and what we learned from the first round.

Note Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State, all kings of the sport, made mostly quick and easy work of their visitors on the College Football Playoff’s opening weekend.