And now, 20 Remaining Ideas from Championship Weekend, a celebration of kickers and backup quarterbacks.
1. A university soccer choice day not like any earlier than is upon us. There will likely be griping. There will likely be grief. There will likely be questionable seedings and logical inconsistencies from the committee. However first, take a minute and soak this factor in.
Two weekends from now, we’re going to watch December school soccer in South Bend and State School. There will likely be a month of win-or-go-home drama involving not simply Georgia and Ohio State but additionally Boise State and Arizona State.
Sure, of us. It’s on.
2. Final yr on this similar column, I defined in painstaking element why I believed the committee wouldn’t cross on 13-0 Florida State. Not making that mistake once more. No definitive predictions right here.
No. 17 Clemson’s (10-3) dramatic 34-31 ACC Championship Recreation victory over No. 8 SMU (11-2) means the ultimate at-large spot will possible come right down to the Mustangs and present No. 11 staff Alabama (9-3). The ramifications of that call could possibly be large. If the committee drops SMU 4 spots and out of the sphere for shedding on a walk-off 56-yard discipline aim by Clemson’s Nolan Hauser, the conferences may as effectively abolish their championship video games. However the identical precise rationale chairman Warde Manuel cited Tuesday for elevating 9-3 Alabama over one other ACC staff, 10-2 Miami, applies to Bama and SMU. The Tide have three Prime 25 wins. The Mustangs have zero.
It could be a horrible message to ship that taking part in and shedding a thirteenth sport is extra damaging than shedding 24-3 at Oklahoma. And completely no person can be stunned by it.
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3. The stakes are much less drastic for the SEC (Texas) and Massive Ten (Penn State) runners-up, however seeding issues in a match. Is the committee going to maneuver No. 4 Notre Dame (11-1), coming off its annual convention championship bye week, above the second-ranked Longhorns and third-ranked Nittany Lions? In the event that they do, it may imply the Irish open in opposition to a three-loss opponent (Clemson or Alabama), with an opportunity to advance and play the fourth-highest ranked convention champ, both Boise State (12-1) or Arizona State (11-2). That’s a heck of a draw.
In the meantime, Penn State (11-2) may fall as little as the No. 8 seed, largely as a result of each the Nittany Lions and Ohio State (10-2) each now have two losses, and Penn State misplaced to the Buckeyes at house. Through which case it could host a toss-up 8-9 sport, possible in opposition to Tennessee (10-2). That will be a steep worth to pay for shedding by a landing on a impartial discipline to the No. 1 staff within the nation.
4. In a season outlined by parity throughout the game, the Oregon Geese (13-0) refused to be upset by anybody. They earned a No. 1 seed and a visit to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl quarterfinal with their breakneck 45-37 win over No. 3 Penn State (11-2) within the Massive Ten Championship Recreation. In opposition to Ohio State in Week 7 and once more Saturday in Indianapolis, quarterback Dillon Gabriel (22 of 32 for 283 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions) seemingly made each large throw, a lot of them to his go-to man, Tez Johnson. The star receiver, who missed a lot of November, caught 11 balls on 12 targets for 181 yards and a TD.
Oregon’s offense appeared as scary because it has all season — and that’s saying one thing. And now the Geese have till Jan. 1 for everybody to get wholesome.
5. It was not, nevertheless, the best efficiency for Oregon’s protection, which allowed the Nittany Lions to rack up 292 yards on the bottom. Penn State practically got here again from an early 28-10 deficit, however Drew Allar’s second interception of the evening, into the fingers of Nikko Reed, wrapped up Dan Lanning’s first convention title. We’ve turn out to be accustomed to seeing Oregon’s defensive linemen stay in opponents’ backfields, however they couldn’t fairly get there quick sufficient at instances. Whoever attracts Oregon first within the Playoff will research that tape carefully.
Nonetheless, that looks like nitpicking. The Geese will enter the postseason with fewer questions than anybody else within the discipline. They earned the appropriate to be thought-about the favorites.
6. Penn State’s James Franklin fell to 1-14 in opposition to top-five opponents — yikes — however not less than this time his offense confirmed off some long-missing explosiveness. The Nittany Lions averaged extra yards per play (7.0) than Oregon (6.2) and had eight performs of 20-plus yards. Operating backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen appeared as quick as they ever have of their three seasons in Pleased Valley. And naturally, do-everything tight finish Tyler Warren (seven catches, 84 yards) did his half as effectively. Presumably Penn State will likely be no decrease than the No. 8 seed and thus host a first-round sport. Maybe even an evening sport?
7. No. 5 Georgia’s (11-2) journey to its third SEC championship below Kirby Sensible was an journey of the very best magnitude. There was the 28-point comeback at Alabama this season, solely to surrender a protracted Ryan Williams landing, and a 28-10 butt-kicking at Ole Miss. There was the 13-12 escape at Kentucky and eight overtimes in opposition to Georgia Tech. At one level, the Bulldogs have been lacking 4 injured working backs. So in fact, they must play the second half and time beyond regulation of the SEC championship with a backup quarterback, Gunner Stockton, after Carson Beck suffered an “higher extremity” damage on a sack. Stockton even threw an unforced interception with 2:30 left in regulation simply to make issues extra fascinating.
However man, that protection. The Dawgs’ 22-19 time beyond regulation win over No. 2 Texas (11-2) featured six sacks, three compelled turnovers and a staggering 15 tackles for loss. Georgia allowed simply three mixed touchdowns between this sport and its 30-15 win in Austin on Oct. 19, whereas notching 13 sacks and permitting simply 60 mixed dashing yards. Operating again Trevor Etienne (16 carries, 94 yards, two touchdowns) ate up tacklers in his return after lacking three weeks.
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8. As underwhelming as Georgia was for a lot of the season, I nonetheless wouldn’t wish to play the Dawgs on this match. Particularly now that Beck and his teammates can have 25 days to heal earlier than the Sugar Bowl. Sensible is 53-4 over the previous 4 seasons, with two nationwide titles. His staff will likely be ready.
Additionally: Georgia’s season was a curler coaster largely as a result of it performed a murderous schedule, that includes six video games in opposition to opponents that may end within the committee’s high 15 (Clemson, Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas twice). Solely a kind of, Tennessee, was at house. There will likely be a number of groups within the 12-team discipline that performed two or fewer top-15 opponents.
And one in every of them is Texas.
9. Steve Sarkisian’s staff has spent your complete season ranked within the high 5 of the polls/committee rankings. And it very practically gained the SEC in its first season within the league. However the Longhorns completed the season having gained no video games in opposition to groups within the committee’s most up-to-date Prime 25. (Texas A&M was No. 20 however dropped out after Texas beat the Aggies.) Texas’ protection is likely one of the finest within the nation, however its offense scored 20, 17 and 19 factors in three of its previous 4 video games. Quinn Ewers had three of his 4 lowest passer scores of the season in these video games.
And but, Texas will possible be both the No. 5 or No. 6 seed, getting a house sport and a good draw. Which will say extra concerning the discipline than the Horns.
10. It could actually be one thing if it seems Dabo Swinney did in Alabama once more. In a light shock, No. 17 Clemson (10-3) gained its eighth ACC championship within the final 10 seasons with a heart-stopping 34-31 win over SMU. Clemson dominated the primary three quarters, constructing a 31-14 lead, solely to look at Mustangs star Kevin Jennings lead a 79-yard landing drive to tie the rating with 16 seconds remaining. Extra time, proper?
Incorrect. After Adam Randall’s 41-yard kickoff return and a 17-yard Cade Klubnik completion, Swinney despatched out kicker Hauser to attempt a 56-yard discipline aim. Which he drilled, sending Clemson again to the CFP for the primary time since 2020. It’s assuredly some vindication for Swinney, who is aware of precisely what the critics say about him and his defiance of switch portal tendencies. However this is identical staff that misplaced to 9-3 rival South Carolina at house per week in the past. Good. Bettering. However hardly 2015-20-level Clemson.
11. If the committee actually started every week with “a clean sheet of paper,” newly topped Massive 12 champ Arizona State (11-2) can be the no-brainer No. 3 seed. As it’s, the Solar Devils appear unlikely to overhaul No. 10 Boise State (12-1) regardless of walloping No. 16 Iowa State (10-3) 45-19 at Jerry World.
Kenny Dillingham’s staff gained six straight video games after an Oct. 19 loss at Cincinnati (5-7) when it was lacking quarterback Sam Leavitt, and it saved probably the most spectacular efficiency but for its largest sport up to now. Operating again Cam Skattebo (16 carries for 170 yards, two catches for 38 yards, three touchdowns) has been the guts and soul of the Solar Devils’ first outright convention championship staff since 1996.
12. On the time the sport ended, it appeared like Arizona State may not get a first-round bye in any respect. It wanted Clemson to beat SMU. However even now, the distinction between being the No. 3 or 4 seed could possibly be notably important for the Solar Devils. That’s as a result of the committee will assign these seeds to quarterfinal websites primarily based on geography, so whoever is greater between Arizona State and Boise will possible get positioned within the Fiesta Bowl. That will be a de facto house sport for the Solar Devils.
If the Broncos go there as an alternative, ASU will go be a “host” in Atlanta. Whereas Georgia performs in New Orleans. This factor goes to take some getting used to.
13. I’ve lengthy wished the Heisman of us would enable extra time earlier than the ballots are due on Monday afternoon, however you might give me six weeks and I’d nonetheless battle to resolve between Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. Each have been unimaginable, however just one performed over the weekend. And all Jeanty did was break a 75-yard landing run and publish his sixth 200-yard sport of the season within the Broncos’ 21-7 win over UNLV in Friday’s Mountain West Championship Recreation.
Jeanty ran for extra yards earlier than a bowl sport — 2,497 — than any FBS working again however Barry Sanders (2,628), whose 1988 season is taken into account untouchable. Sure, Jeanty performed in two extra video games than Sanders, however he has had the very same variety of carries (344) as Sanders did in ’88.
Hunter will possible win, however I hope voters not less than waited till after the weekend to forged their ballots and gave all of the contenders — together with Skattebo — a good shot.
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14. No. 25 Military (11-1) successful the AAC championship in its first yr within the convention is a very exceptional feat given each the power of that league and simply how a lot so many elements of the game have stacked up in opposition to the service academies lately. No NIL, no portal, no downside for Jeff Monken, whose Black Knights rolled previous Tulane (9-4) 35-14 on Friday.
Monken, who’s 70-55 in 11 seasons at West Level, was already Military’s winningest coach because the nice Crimson Blaik (121-33) from 1941 to ’58, however quarterback Bryson Every day (1,480 dashing yards, 877 passing) has led the Black Knights to their finest season because the 2018 staff that went 11-2 and took Kyler Murray-led Oklahoma to time beyond regulation. However in fact, Military’s largest sport of the season isn’t till subsequent week in opposition to Navy (8-3).
15. A beforehand uneventful teaching carousel took fairly the flip Saturday when UCF determined to show again the clock to 2017 and welcomed again outdated good friend Scott Frost. The Knights’ former “nationwide championship” coach has barely been heard from within the two years since his 16-31 tenure at Nebraska mercifully got here to an finish, however in April he advised CBS Sports activities he was “dying to get again in” to teaching. In September he quietly joined Sean McVay’s Rams employees as a senior analyst. UCF, which reportedly talked with USC’s Lincoln Riley as effectively, was clearly seeking to make a splash. A lot has modified since Frost’s undefeated 2017 season at UCF, together with the varsity becoming a member of the Massive 12. We’ll see if he can recreate a few of that McKenzie Milton/Shaquem Griffin magic.
16. If not for a disastrous three-year detour at Michigan, Wealthy Rodriguez would possible be considered as the most effective coaches within the sport. The spread-option pioneer led West Virginia to 3 straight top-10 seasons, took Arizona to a Pac-12 Championship Recreation and now has led Jacksonville State (9-4) to a Convention USA title in simply this system’s second season within the FBS. The Gamecocks’ 52-12 rout of Western Kentucky (9-4) was a classic RichRod manufacturing, with Jax State dashing for 386 yards whereas passing for 176.
Maybe the 61-year-old will get another chunk on the Energy 4 apple. Maybe there’ll quickly be an excellent wilder school-coach reunion within the Massive 12.
17. In the end, Ohio (10-3) is a MAC champion once more. The Bobcats channeled 56 years and 5 convention championship sport losses’ price of frustration to hammer rival Miami of Ohio 38-3. Ohio has been one of many nation’s steadiest G5 applications over the previous twenty years, however Tim Albin, who succeeded Frank Solich in 2021, took this system to a different stage. The Bobcats have posted double-digit wins in three straight seasons, even after all-conference quarterback Kurtis Rourke transferred to Indiana (the place he has excelled).
Albin, a former Solich assistant relationship to Nebraska, spent 20 seasons in Athens, however Charlotte employed him away inside hours of the sport ending. Such is life within the MAC.
18. Marshall (10-3) may additionally lose its championship-winning coach, however below a lot totally different circumstances. Fourth-year coach Charles Huff has lengthy been locked in a standoff together with his administration, which has not but supplied him a contract past this season. Within the meantime, he went forward and led the Thundering Herd to the Solar Belt championship, successful 31-3 at Louisiana (10-3) for his or her seventh straight win. It’s this system’s first convention title since successful Convention USA in 2014. Huff has been linked with the open job at fellow Solar Belt college Southern Miss, which completed 1-11 this season. Weird throughout.
19. Whereas our focus Sunday will likely be totally on the Playoff, I’m curious to see how followers of the opposite 70 bowl-eligible groups react to the bulletins of the opposite bowl matchups. The principle motive it took 80 years or so for the game’s leaders to lastly stage a full-fledged match was out of deference to bowl video games, which, for all their quirks, have supplied no scarcity of memorable experiences for numerous coaches, gamers and followers. They’re nonetheless right here, clearly, nevertheless it’s going to be fascinating to see how they’re considered on this new panorama.
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20. ESPN’s Joe Tessitore made a wonderful level throughout his name of the Massive 12 title sport. Had been this a yr in the past, a star like Arizona State’s Skattebo would undoubtedly choose out of whichever New Yr’s Six bowl the Solar Devils performed in. As a substitute, we’re going to see extra of him. And Jeanty. And all these Ohio State guys. It makes you notice how anticlimactic the postseason had turn out to be outdoors of the 2 semifinal bowls and the nationwide championship.
Not anymore.
(Picture: Grant Halverson / Getty Photographs)
