We’ve reached a new age in the CFP. No SEC team will be in the National Championship Game for the first time since the inaugural year of the tournament. Before we get to the Natty, let’s take a look at how we got to this point.
Oregon Ducks: Just like in their previous meeting with the Huskies it’s just too bad one team had to lose. The Final PAC12 Championship Game lived up to the hype. Both of these high powered offenses went toe to toe for 60 straight minutes. Bo Nix and Michael Penix matched each other blow for blow. (Also add in Dillon Johnson rushing for 152 yards) This one came down to which team made the most mistakes. And that team was the Ducks. Not having a conventional running game and trying to make Nix go Superman was their undoing. Yes he played a solid game, but against Washington it required perfection. Which he wasn’t. As mentioned, like in their first meeting the Football Gods chose to troll Oregon at the 11th hour. It sucks but it’s a great season which was highlighted by them sending Coach Prime back to reality and beating the crap out of Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl. That’s always a bright spot.
Iowa State Cyclones: This was the one game that I thought would go down to the wire. However Texas had other plans. I thought Iowa State was going to make this a game but with how the Longhorns played in the 1st Half, we all knew it was going to be a long day for them. Quinn Ewers put up 450 yards passing, and Texas basically dropped a 50 burger. (49 points but still utter domination) 28 of those points came in the first 18 minutes. You could have chucked Brock Purdy and their 2020 team and they still probably would have gotten blown out. The Longhorns were the better team and they wanted to shut up their doubters who thought they were soft. I won’t go too hard on the Cyclones because they exceeded expectations, and if they get a solid recruiting class they should be back. Well at least the good news is that both Texas and Oklahoma are SEC bound next year. I wonder who will take control of the BIG12 in the future?
Tulane Green Wave: Eventually SMU was going to break the Curse of the Death Penalty in 87. It’s just too bad that you were the victims of it. Even without Preston Stone, the Mustangs made it clear early on. There was nothing that could hold them back this time. Yes I had to eat massive amounts of crow about their defense. Why? Because Tulane could do nothing. Even with a return trip to the Cotton Bowl berth at stake, the Green Wave did next to nothing on offense. Michael Pratt was the only one who showed up on offense. And that’s not gonna get her done. Especially when you only gain 31 yards rushing. (They led the conference in rush yards… ONLY TO DO THAT!) As a result SMU wins their biggest game in almost 40 years. That program now has legitimate hope again. As for Tulane, well the good times of the last two years are over. Well better luck next time.
Georgia Bulldogs: To the delight of the late Bud Wilkinson and Sooners fans there will be no 3 peat National Champion this year. The Bulldogs reign has come to end. And of course it comes against their boogeyman in Alabama. It doesn’t matter who goes up against him in SEC Championship Games, Nick Saban never ever gets beat with a CFP spot on the line. Georgia got behind early and they never really were able to climb back in it. Yes they made it close but Brock Bowers not being 100% and McConkey being contained all game was their undoing. Plus Carson Beck couldn’t do what Stetson Bennett did. Solve the rubik’s cube of Alabama’s defense. That fumble late in the game was the straw that broke their backs. It would have been really nice if the Dawgs were able to run the ball effectively. (This is when they finally miss Todd Monken) If only Alabama were able to beat Texas in Week 2. Well, at least you proved the entire nation correct about the CFP rankings by thrashing Florida State in the Orange Bowl. It’s not the NATTY but still winning a New Year’s 6 game is still a good season isn’t it.
Iowa Hawkeyes: It’s no surprise here, the Hawkeyes made it here because of an easy schedule featuring playing only 1 ranked team during the regular season. (A 31-0 loss to Penn State in a revenge match of 2021 on Whiteout Night) Marching into Indianapolis was their death sentence. It’s a carbon copy of 2 years ago. Iowa getting spanked by Michigan for 60 straight minutes. Yes Cade McNamara and Erick All were done by mid-season but even if they were healthy it wouldn’t have mattered. The Wolverines didn’t even play their A game and still shut out their adversary. To be fair you could have dragged Wisconsin, Purdue or Illinois out there and they also would have gotten shut out or close to it. Just like their color counterparts of the NFL, Iowa will continue its standard of having an elite defense with little offense. No matter what they do it’ll always end the same. URK!
Louisville Cardinals: Thank god I didn’t spend any time watching this game. Both in terms of the weather as well as the quality of play. Unlike the PAC12 Title Game, this was a game where one team had to win. When both teams are playing backup QBs, there’s a good chance you get a dud like this game. When both teams combine for less than 200 yards passing then we have to realize just how bad of a game this truly is. Well both teams were playing backups all night, and even if the Seminoles were basically seasick they did just enough to win. The fact that Louisville made it here just shows you how weak the ACC is. No wonder why Clemson wants to move to the SEC in a few years.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Nick Saban fulfilled his promise of getting back to the CFP. However the Football Gods had other plans for Alabama. Even though they had control for much of the game, the Tide couldn’t put away Michigan when they had to. You can cry wolf about the sign stealing rumors but here’s what undid them. Jalen Milroe being limited in the passing game, the Offensive Line getting manhandled at the worst times, not being able to take advantage of prime scoring chances, and the defense letting JJ McCarthy off the hook in the final moments of regulation. Not to mention there were several bad snaps including one in overtime that ended the game. Considering where Alabama was after Week 2 and the questions surrounding Saban’s long term status, they had a damn good run for what it was worth. The rest of the SEC won’t want to hear this, but they’ll be back here again. If Milroe develops his arm, and they give him some more weapons, they might have another title run in their hands.
Texas Longhorns: This game literally symbolizes Texas Football over the last decade. Come in guns-a-blazing, make an early statement, hype up the fans and media, only to crumble when everything is falling perfectly for them. Going up against Washington was going to be a tall order. Although I’ll give them credit for overcoming the fraud narrative. The issue here was that their suspect defense which it has been all season was no match for the Huskies high flying offense. Quinn Ewers and company did everything they could to keep up but like most teams during Bowl Season they forgot the importance of having a running game. Against a fast paced team like Washington, that’s not gonna end well. But even then they still had a shot to win. REFBALL gave them one more shot at the end of the game due to Dillon Johnson getting injured. The Longhorns marched deep into enemy territory with a chance at a miracle win. But then Steve Sarkisian went back to his days as Offensive Coordinator with the Falcons. He got too cute with those 5 WR sets, and it bit him in the ass. Again, and again, AND AGAIN! Texas must cry foul in the end. I will say, you did make me eat massive amounts of crow all season long since I didn’t have you doing anything, but hey at least you got to the doorstep of the title game I guess. PAUSE.
The final edition of the 4 team playoff has come and gone. To no one’s surprise this has so far lived up to the hype of the media which leads us to our final showdown!
BOOM! Michigan vs Washington. A glimpse into the future of BIG10 Football. This was probably the best matchup that we could have had in the National Championship Game. These two teams have been in my opinion the two best teams in the country throughout the entire season. And both have very different stories. Washington was expected to lie down and die to the media darling of USC back in August. Yes they’ve always had a high flying offense with Michael Penix at the helm, but their defense was always the question. Their D hasn’t been elite, but it certainly has been good enough to get them this far. Michigan has been labeled as the villain all season long. From the sign stealing scandals, to the recruiting violation rumors, to adopting the motto of Michigan vs Everyone. Just like the Patriots during both SpyGate and DeflateGate, the Wolverines’ response to America was to drive every single team they faced into the ground. A team with an old school mentality that would make Jack Harbaugh and Bo Schembechler proud. Not to mention Michael Penix does have experience in the BIG10. He began his career at Indiana, dealt with years upon years of terrible injuries, transferred to Washington, and has become the savior that their football program hasn’t had since Steve Emtman in 1991. (As long as he doesn’t become what Emtman was in the NFL, he’ll have a great career) A High Speed Modern Day Locomotive against a Massive Iron Wall. GET READY FOR A DANDY OF A GAME!
Bragging Rights Sports 