How many teams are left in the College Football Playoff? Exploring remaining teams still running for a natty. 

After the quarterfinals of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, it's time to take stock. In previous seasons, four teams made up the entire CFP field. Now, with eight teams eliminated, it's all down to a final four teams yet again.

Here's a thumbnail sketch of each of the four contenders and a quick look and their respective ups and downs.

Remaining teams in College Football Playoff

Penn State and James Franklin are the underdogs of the remaining playoff teams. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

#1. Penn State Nittany Lions

The Nittany Lions won the No. 6 seed in the CFP after losing the Big Ten championship to No. 1 overall Oregon. That's one of only two losses on the season for PSU, with the other coming to fellow semifinalist Ohio State back on Nov. 2. Penn State rolled past No. 11 seed SMU 38-10 and then took down No. 3 seed Boise State 31-14.

PSU's upside is a season of tough competition that has forged a solid offense and a powerful defense. The Nittany Lions averaged 33.7 points per game and allowed just 15.8. Veteran QB Drew Allar makes few mistakes, while PSU has a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and tight end Tyler Warren is perhaps the nation's best at his position.

The bad news is a lack of marquee wins outside of the CFP games. Penn State also now faces a competent Notre Dame squad and is the early underdog to win the title at +500 odds.

#2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Fighting Irish have chugged through the playoff and arrived in the semifinals with a 13-1 record. They have no conference, so did avoid having to play a conference title game. Notre Dame's only loss was a Week 2 upset to MAC foe Northern Illinois. Without a conference, the Irish played a weak schedule, with their best pre-CFP win coming over Army. ND bested Indiana and Georgia to reach the semis.

Notre Dame is another ground-and-pound type of team, capable of passing, but solid running the ball and defending. The Irish average 37.7 points per game and give up 13.6. Jeremiyah Love is an excellent running back and QB Riley Leonard is a legitimate dual-threat guy.

Again, a lack of big-time competition here is the story. Notre Dame has ground out 27-17 and 23-10 wins in the playoff. They do draw Penn State first, which makes the Irish a distant second in the odds game, coming it at +380 to win the national title.

#3. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State won the first four-team playoff and there'd be some undeniable synchronicity in OSU winning the first 12-team battle. The 12-2 Buckeyes garnered the No. 8 seed and blasted No. 9 Tennessee 42-17 and No. 1 seed Oregon 41-21 to reach the semifinal. Ohio State's losses were a one-point road loss at Oregon on Oct. 12 and a 13-10 slugfest loss to Michigan to end the regular season.

OSU has an offense that tends toward explosive and has played an impressive slate of competition. The Buckeyes can claim wins over fellow semifinals Penn State and defeated playoff squad Indiana. The Buckeyes are a wide favorite to win the CFP title, with +100 betting odds at the moment.

OSU had an ugly stretch at mid-season where their offense went MIA. They won games 21-17 and 20-13, but that might not be sustainable, as the Michigan loss proved. There's also a mental element for the Buckeyes, who are eternally promising but have crashed in prior seasons. That said, it shapes up well for a title.

#4. Texas Longhorns

The 13-2 Texas Longhorns reached the semifinals by taking down No. 12 seed Clemson 38-24 and then surviving No. 4 seed Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime. The Longhorns fit much the same format as the other teams, although QB Quinn Ewers has more of an explosive play arsenal than most. They allowed 14.5 points per game and scored 34.3 ppg.

Texas has six receivers with 33 or more catches on the season. Their only losses came to Georgia in the regular season and the SEC title game. The Arizona State game provided a valuable "make a play or go home" moment for the Longhorns that the other playoff teams have missed.

That said, Texas has a tough path in facing Ohio State. Despite playing in the SEC, the Longhorns lack a stable of convincing wins to draw on, with their most impressive pre-CFP win possibly being Michigan in Week 2. Texas is a +400 longshot at the crown, but is still up and kicking.

Which team do you like for the playoff title? Share your picks in the comments section below.