For years, Big Ten teams have clamored for the rest of the country to come up to the Midwest and play them in the elements. Even when southern teams play non-conference games, they're usually in September, before the cold really sets in. Thanks to the expanded College Football Playoff this year, it's finally happening.
Three of the four first-round games will take place at cold weather locations, with two of them happening at freezing Big Ten stadiums. Those three games could all face temperatures below freezing, which would be a massive swing compared to warm weather or indoor sites. Hilariously, the one southern game in Texas will provide a perfect contrast.
With that in mind, we collected early data from Weather.com to give us an early look at the potential elements impacting the first round games. We also assigned a "weather shock rating" to road teams to gauge whether the weather could impact the results of the games.
(10) Indiana at (7) Notre Dame
When: 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 20
Where: Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana
Forecast: Cloudy, High 30 | Low 23
The first home site game in College Football Playoff history should bring plenty of cold, but two teams ready for the moment. Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke comes from Canada, and should be unaffected. Notre Dame has a handful of southerners on the roster, but will at least have the advantage of training in the cold before the game. There's also a 20% chance of precipitation, so don't be surprised if that changes before game time.
Weather shock rating: 2/5
(11) SMU at (6) Penn State
When: 12 p.m. ET on Dec. 21
Where: Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania
Forecast: Cloudy, High 32 | Low 24
The high in Dallas on Dec. 21 is 58 degrees. The Mustangs will be playing in the 20s when they travel to face off against Penn State on the road. Nearly the entire SMU roster is from Texas, with a select few following Rhett Lashlee from Miami. Needless to say, this will be the coldest environment any of them have ever played in. Considering how shifty SMU's skill corps is, the weather effect could be massive.
Weather shock rating: 4/5
(12) Clemson at (5) Texas
When: 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 21
Where: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas
Forecast: Rainy, High 63 | Low 45
The only southern first-round CFP game takes place in Austin and the weather should be temperate. Considering the mid-afternoon start, expect this game to stay firmly in the 50s. It should be a perfect setting for both teams with limited complications
Weather shock rating: 1/5
(9) Tennessee at (8) Ohio State
When: 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 21
Where: Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio
Forecast: Cloudy, High 38 | Low 26
Like Penn State above, Ohio State should provide plenty of cold for a team traveling from the southern United States. Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava hails from Southern California and hasn't played in a colder environment than Nashville in November. Especially if Ohio State can get some hits on him early, the weather could present a serious factor. On the other side, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is a Midwesterner and the group played a handful of cold morning games.
