WATCH: New England Patriots declare their pick for the 2024 National Championship and it’s not Steve Sarkisian’s Texas

The New England Patriots brought some fun to their practice facility at Gillette Stadium. They sparked a debate among fans while playfully choosing their favorites for the 2024 National Championship. The team engaged in an amusing activity where players tossed miniature footballs into sockets labeled with potential 2024 College Football Playoff national champions—Ohio State Buckeyes, Texas Longhorns, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Penn State Nittany Lions.

On Sunday, the Patriots' X account tweeted:

“Who’s bringing home some @CFBPlayoff hardware?”

What followed was a hilarious mix of predictions and mischief. Ohio State quickly took the lead, with players landing impressive eight balls in the Buckeyes’ box, seemingly taking their pick as the favorites.

However, in true football fashion, there was a twist. One player decided to spice things up, pulling a practical joke by dumping all the balls from Ohio State’s box into Texas Longhorns’.

The move turned the tables and gave Texas an unexpected, though unofficial, victory in the 2024 National Championship playful poll. While Ohio State emerged as the Patriots’ clear initial favorite, the final move in favor of Texas left some wondering if the Longhorns might be in for a win after two decades.

A look at the upcoming 2024 National Championship semifinals

The stage is set, and it’s about as dramatic as college football gets. Penn State, Notre Dame, Texas and Ohio State are all powerhouse programs with plenty of storylines ready to duke it out for a shot at the national title.

First, on Thursday, the 2024 National Championship semifinals will have a Penn State vs. Notre Dame matchup in the Capital One Orange Bowl. Penn State’s Drew Allar finally looked like the NFL-bound star everyone predicted, slinging deep passes and showing poise.

However, questions linger about whether he can keep it up against a Notre Dame defense that smothered Georgia in their last outing. Regarding Notre Dame, Riley Leonard might need another heroic performance, especially if Penn State shuts down the Irish run game.

Meanwhile, there is another question about Abdul Carter, Penn State’s defensive dynamo, and whether he would suit up after teasing a return on social media.

Then, on Friday, Texas will clash against Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Texas needed double OT to edge past Arizona State, and their offense has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is playing like he’s already in the NFL, torching defenses with good speed and agility.

The Buckeyes’ air attack is also lethal, but Texas’ defense, ranked No. 1 most of the season, isn’t exactly a pushover. The question is-can they pressure Will Howard and disrupt Ohio State’s flow?

The 2024 National Championship matchups will be as unpredictable as exciting, and the Patriots’ game proved that.