For weeks, we’ve been dissecting, diagramming, and divining what the Faculty Soccer Playoff may or ought to appear like on the finish of this zany season, after which Saturday’s convention championships got here alongside and made every part fairly darn clear.
We don’t know what the seedings shall be, however we do know that the committee received’t put shock SEC champ Alabama (there’s 4 phrases which are bizarre to place collectively) and Georgia in the identical semifinal. We additionally know that Cincinnati did every part it was requested to do, completed undefeated, and pulled away from Houston within the second half to emerge as a convincing Convention USA champion, and presumably the primary group from outdoors the Energy 5 to make the four-team CFP.
Likewise, Michigan, sitting at No. 2, earned its manner into the title image by beating Iowa for the Huge Ten title — no letdown there after final week’s momentous win over Ohio State. Notre Dame can also be on the market with one loss (so is Louisiana! And so is UTSA! Meep meep!), nevertheless it positive does appear unlikely that the committee will deviate from a group that was No. 1 all 12 months, plus the 2-4 that every one received on Saturday. So, what do now we have to look ahead to as the ultimate 4 are unveiled on Sunday?
Jesse Spector: I believe Michigan stays at 2, and congratulations, Wolverines, which means you get to face essentially the most dominant group within the nation all 12 months, Georgia. It’s obtained to be Alabama at 1, with that win over the Bulldogs giving them a good declare to the highest spot, and dealing with Cincinnati. I believe which means Alabama-Cincinnati within the Cotton Bowl and Michigan-Georgia within the Orange Bowl. It doesn’t actually matter, it’s not just like the Peach Bowl is there for Alabama to assert a bonus in the event that they’re No. 1, nor for Michigan to keep away from taking part in Georgia in Atlanta.
Grace McDermott: I’m so pleased for Cincinnati, and I believe that they deserve the three spot over Georgia after that disastrous efficiency in opposition to Alabama this afternoon — however nobody desires to look at a rematch of that. I suppose Kirby Sensible remains to be ready for his day to return. So I hate to be this particular person, but when Cincinnati is undefeated and we don’t need to see a rematch…properly, I’ll simply say the Irish are fired up and are a one-loss group that’s been on their manner up all November. I imply, Georgia utterly fell aside at the moment. I don’t learn about that 3 seed for them.
Jesse: I’m under no circumstances against Cincinnati being No. 3, I simply don’t assume it’ll occur. If it does, then it’s in all probability Alabama at 2 and Michigan at 1, and never a lot distinction other than who will get to select a uniform coloration for the ultimate. I do have to query, although, whether or not you hate to be this particular person. However, I’ll chew. I can’t come out and say that Georgia isn’t one of many 4 finest groups within the nation. May Notre Dame beat them? Certain. They’re a superb group and it’s potential. Are they higher? Ehhhhh, we spent all fall watching Georgia simply dismantle groups, which the Irish did via November. Georgia’s loss is to the No. 1 group. Notre Dame’s is to the No. 3 or 4 group. Was there one thing about at the moment, when Notre Dame didn’t play, to say that Georgia is worse?
Grace: That’s a good query — ND each suffers and advantages from the shortage of the thirteenth knowledge level, and to be truthful, they did get let into the playoff final 12 months after a loss harking back to Georgia’s at the moment. So it’s a toss up for the 4 spot, however after the Dawgs’ dominant-till-now season, I realistically assume they’ll get in. I’d simply like to see the Irish in with their new coach. Apart from that debate, I’ve to say how happy I’m to see some new faces within the working this 12 months. It ought to make for an thrilling and unpredictable New Yr’s Eve.
Jesse: It’ll by no means cease being humorous to me that solely two conferences from the Energy 5 shall be represented within the four-team playoff. Even when Notre Dame did pip Georgia for 4, they’re an impartial. Increasing the playoff has lots of pitfalls hooked up to it, nevertheless it’s at all times been wild that a minimum of one convention can be out of the sport of musical chairs, and now three of them shall be. However they’ll all be repped within the FORTY-TWO bowl video games over the subsequent month, so we’ll get to have some enjoyable with that!
Thanks for the rat poison!
Onerous to say which was extra stunning, Alabama beating Georgia so soundly, or Nick Saban being as near giddy as you’ll see Nick Saban (the first coach to register eight wins over No. 1 groups), as a result of for as soon as he was ready to enter a recreation with slights that have been extra than simply perceived. Additionally, a time period to exchange “bulletin board materials” on this period the place no person really makes use of bulletin boards for such issues.
Talking of rat poison, it in all probability winds up not mattering due to the chance of the committee merely reshuffling final week’s prime 4 to type the playoff subject, however No. 5 Oklahoma State had so very many bites on the cheese on the finish of the Huge 12 title recreation, solely to fall quick in opposition to Baylor.
After attending to the Bears’ 10-yard line with 1:37 left, the Cowboys had a four-yard run, drew a defensive cross interference penalty to get first-and-goal on the 2, then ran 4 performs that gained a complete of 1 yard. That’s six snaps from 10 yards or much less, needing a landing to take the lead, and no selection for OANN aficionado Mike Gundy however to just accept the outcomes.
Oh, and the Michigan play.
A flea flicker final week and now this? The Wolverines are going into the playoff feeling frisky.
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