Brrr! Iowa and Iowa State could get home College Football Playoff games at 7 p.m.

The average low temperature in Iowa City on Dec. 21 is 18 degrees. That’s Fahrenheit, not Celsius.

In Ames, it’s 17 degrees.

Average lows means that half the time, it’s colder than that. The low in Cedar Rapids on Dec. 21, 2022, was minus-1. That was the temperature, not the wind chill. Which was far colder.

A rather hideous cold front with blizzard conditions plagued the Midwest and Eastern U.S. from Dec. 21-26 that year.

Here is the National Weather Service’s winter storm overview for Dec. 22-23, 2022:

A strong winter storm brought widespread snow to the region Thursday, with amounts generally between 1-4 inches. Some higher totals near 6 inches were reported in eastern Linn and Cedar counties. Strong winds also accompanied the snow which caused significant blowing and drifting, especially in rural areas. Many accidents were reported on Interstate 80, causing frequent backups. Even stronger winds were observed on Friday across the area. Wind gusts between 40-50 mph were common, creating ground blizzard conditions primarily along and north of Interstate 80 in Iowa.

In addition, temperatures dropped sharply behind the arctic cold front on Thursday and continued to fall throughout the day. Single digit temperatures with wind chills between -20 and -40 degrees were common.

This is told to you to get you prepared for what might be should the Hawkeyes or Cyclones have a triumphant football season and advance to the College Football Playoff.

It’s a 12-team extravaganza from this day forward, at least until it’s expanded to 16, 20, 24, and finally (?), 32.

The top four teams will get byes to the quarterfinals. Teams 5 through 12 will play in first-round games on campus sites. The higher seeds get home games.

The first-round schedule, using Central time:

Dec. 20 — 7 p.m.

Dec. 21 — 11 a.m.

Dec. 21 — 3 p.m.

Dec. 21 — 7 p.m.

Should Iowa or Iowa State or both be fifth through eighth in the final CFP rankings, one would hope they get an afternoon game during the onset of Iowa winter. That assumption would be incorrect. This is television-driven, after all. The games likely to get the best ratings are the ones that will be put in prime-time.

An Alabama game at Iowa or Iowa State won’t be at 11 a.m. If Utah or Ole Miss is the visitor? Then the winter tailgating is more likely to start at daybreak.

The championship game won’t be until next Jan. 20, in Atlanta. Indoors, thankfully.

That’s the same day as the presidential inauguration. That’s assuming there is one.

So ends this look at the 2024 College Football Playoff, which starts in six months and 15 days. Enjoy your summer and fall.

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com