John Thompson led Georgetown to the championship in 1984, the first of four Black coaches to win it all. Carolyn Peck and her Purdue women did it in 1999 and Dawn Staley of South Carolina joined her in 2017 with the first of her three titles.

Ohio State ’s Ryan Day, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, Notre Dame ’s Marcus Freeman and Penn State ’s James Franklin are the final four. None has won a national championship as a head coach, making this season the third out of the last four in which the title will go to a head coach who has never won one.

The CFP committee isn't reseeding the four teams still playing for a national title, so Before The Snap is ahead of the semifinal games.

College football will have consecutive national champions from outside the Sun Belt region for the first time in three decades if Ohio State beats Texas in a playoff semifinal this week.

Local reporters take their picks on who will advance to the CFP championship game. Chandler Hoefle. Steve Sarkisian praises Texas after CFP win vs. ASU at Peach Bowl

Penn State will face Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, while Ohio State will face Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Winners will meet for the CFP championship.