After 13 weeks of action, we have finally arrived at the College Football Playoffs. The Committee decided that the Michigan Wolverines, Washington Huskies, Texas Longhorns, and, most controversially, the Alabama Crimson Tide should play in the playoff.
So, how did these games go? And who will play in the National Championship game next week?
The Rose Bowl: #1 Michigan Wolverines vs #4 Alabama Crimson Tide
The first of the College Football Playoff semi-finals featured the number one ranked Michigan Wolverines and the number 4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at the historic Rose Bowl. Michigan came into this game as the Big Ten champions with an undefeated season, that was plagued by scandals. Some would say that it was scandalous to let one-loss SEC champion Alabama into this game instead of the undefeated Florida State, but that is how the committee decided. So, would it be third time lucky for the Wolverines to make the National Championship, or would Nick Saban work his magic again and give Alabama another championship game?
The Wolverines had the opening possession of the game, but they would be lucky to keep the ball after the first play. Wolverines quarterback J.J McCarthy’s pass appeared to be intercepted by the Alabama defense, but upon further inspection, the play was ruled an incomplete pass. From this, the Wolverines would be unable to do anything else with the ball and would punt to the Crimson Tide. In reply to this, Alabama had a poor opening drive which led quickly to a punt.
However, on this punt, the returner for the Wolverines fumbled the ball, which would be scooped up by the Crimson Tide. This kept them in possession and would lead to the game’s opening score. From the Wolverines’ 34-yard line, Jase McClellan would find the endzone for a 34-yard rushing touchdown to open the scoring, giving Alabama the lead.
But, this lead did not last long. In reply to the Crimson Tides’ touchdown, the Wolverines would be able to score one as well. Starting from their 25-yard line, the Wolverines offense would be able to advance down the field quickly, first to the Crimson Tides’ red zone, and then to their 8-yard line. From here, Blake Corum would find the endzone for an 8-yard rushing touchdown to level the scores.
Embed from Getty ImagesWe would then have a period in the game where neither offense could be able to get any string of plays together. This was to be expected in this game between two strong defenses. In fact, at this point of the game, Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe had been sacked 4 times already. However, the Wolverines would be able to break this streak of defensive drives near the end of the first half.
On a drive that started on their 17-yard line, McCarthy and company would be able to drive the ball down to the Crimson Tide 38-yard line. From here, McCarthy would find Tyler Morris for a 38-yard touchdown pass to hand the lead to the Wolverines. However, the PAT Kick attempt would be unsuccessful for Michigan, giving them 6 points instead of the standard 7 points for a touchdown.
The Crimson Tide would respond to this score. Starting from their 16-yard line, Milroe and company would be able to get something together on offense finally. The Crimson Tide offense would be able to advance down to the Wolverines’ 25-yard line, before another Milroe sack, his 5th of the half, forced them back to the 32-yard line. This is where their drive would stall, setting up a 50-yard field goal attempt for Alabama kicker Will Reichard. Reichard would be able to be successful with this kick, meaning that after a highly defensive first half at the Rose Bowl, the Wolverines would have a 13-10 lead over the Crimson Tide.
The Crimson Tide would have the opening possession of the second half, and this drive would be interesting. All throughout the first half, the Alabama offense struggled to advance past the Wolverines defense. This would happen again on this drive, but something else would also happen. On two consecutive drives, the Crimson Tide would struggle with snapping the ball to the quarterback, meaning that Milroe could not be quickly given the ball. These difficulties resulted in two fumbles for Alabama, forcing them from the Wolverines’ 47-yard line to their 34-yard line. This drive would unsurprisingly end in a punt. But so would all of the drives in the third quarter.
We would not see any action in the red zone until the start of the 4th quarter. The Crimson Tide would have the ball, on a drive that had started on their 45-yard line. The Milroe-led offense would put their prior mistakes behind them and would be able to pass through the Wolverines’ defense and make their way down to the Wolverines’ 3-yard line. From here, Jase McClellan would find the endzone for a 3-yard rushing touchdown to give the Crimson Tide a 4-point lead.
However, this good set of plays from Alabama would be temporary. Their defense would force a punt from the Wolverines on their next drive. But, Alabama would be lucky to have the ball for a drive, as Antonio Kite, the punt returner for the Crimson Tide, would fumble the punt. Luckily, the ball would be dived on by another defenseman for Alabama, giving them possession for a drive.
But this drive did not last long. The Crimson Tide offense would be able to make it to their 46-yard line. Here, a potentially game-changing mistake would occur. Milroe would run for 5 yards on the play but would fumble the ball. The ball would then be scooped up by the Wolverines’ defense. Would they be able to take the lead?
The subsequent Wolverines’ drive would start on their 49-yard line. The McCarthy-led offense would be able to move the ball down to the Crimson Tide’s 31-yard line before the drive stalled. This set up Wolverines kicker James Turner with a 49-yard field goal attempt. Turner’s attempt would miss.
In reply to the missed field goal, Alabama would be forced to have an attempt of their own on their next drive. This drive stalled at the Wolverines’ 34-yard line, setting up Reichard with a 52-yard field goal attempt. Unlike Turner, Reichard would be successful with this kick, giving Alabama a 7-point lead with 4 minutes to go.
The Wolverines had the next possession, and they knew what they had to do to stay in the game. They had to score a touchdown. On their next drive, the Wolverines made it down into the Crimson Tide red zone and then made it to the 4-yard line. From here, Roman Wilson would find the endzone for a 4-yard touchdown pass. Then, unlike their previous touchdown score, the PAT would be successful. This gave us a tied game with 90 seconds left. All Alabama had to do was score a field goal to win the game. Could they do this?
Embed from Getty ImagesThe drive would be unsuccessful. However, the punt would give the Crimson Tide some hope, as Michigan punt returner Jake Thaw would fumble the return on the one-yard line. This is where the Wolverines would start this drive. Alabama had gone from needing to score a field goal to win the game, to needing a force a safety to win the game. This didn’t happen either, meaning that as the regulation time ran out, the scores would be tied at 20-20. This meant that we would be going to overtime at the Rose Bowl, with a spot in the national championship on the line.
The Wolverines would have the opening possession of overtime, needing to score. This is something that they would quickly do, as Blake Corum would find the endzone for a 17-yard rushing touchdown to put Michigan one foot into the national championship game. Now, all they had to do was stop Alabama from scoring.
The Crimson Tide drive was longer than what the Wolverines needed. Milroe would be able to get to the 3-yard line, before attempting what could be the game’s final play. Either Alabama finds the endzone on this play or Michigan wins. Milroe needed to find 3 yards. He would be stopped by the Michigan defense after getting only one yard.
This meant that the number one ranked Michigan Wolverines defeated the number 4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 27-20, to win the Rose Bowl and to book their spot in the national championship game.
This game was a highly defensive affair, which was to be expected between these two teams. Alabama struggled in this game and paid for it in the end. The question on my lips is would the Florida State Seminoles, who were snubbed for Alabama, done any better? I don’t think so. The victory puts Michigan into their first national championship game since the 1997 season. But, who would they face in Houston?
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Sugar Bowl: #3 Texas Longhorns vs #2 Washington Huskies
Our second College Football Playoff semi-final was between the number 3 ranked Texas Longhorns and the number 2 ranked Washington Huskies. Both these teams won their conference titles in the final year these programs will be involved with them. The Longhorns are moving to the SEC next year, while the Huskies are leaving the dying PAC-12 to join the Big Ten. Coming into this game, the Huskies were unbeaten, while the Longhorns lost one game in overtime. This would be an entertaining game. So, who would win this game and face the Michigan Wolverines in the National Championship game?
The Longhorns had the opening possession of the game, but would be unable to do anything with the ball, and would quickly have to punt to the Huskies.
In reply to this, the Huskies offense, led by quarterback Michael Penix Jr, would waste no time in asserting their offensive power. The Huskies would be able to quickly advance down to the Longhorns’ 2-yard line. This was mostly aided by a 77-yard pass from Penix to Ja’Lynn Polk. Then, from the 2-yard line, Dillion Johnson would find the endzone for a 2-yard rushing touchdown to give Washington the early lead in the game.
However, the lead would not last for long. On the next drive of the game, the Longhorns would find the endzone themselves. The Texas offense, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers would be able to move down from their 25-yard line to the Huskies’ 5-yard line. From here, Jaydon Blue would find the endzone for a 5-yard rushing touchdown to level the scores again.
After two drives that did not go anywhere for either team, the Huskies would return to their strong offense. Starting from their 20-yard line, Penix and company would be able to drive the ball down the field and reach not only the Longhorns’ red zone but their one-yard line. From here, Johnson would find the endzone for a one-yard rushing touchdown to return the lead to the Huskies.
The next drive for the Longhorns would result in a punt. But, on the punt, Huskies returner Germie Bernard would fumble the ball on the Huskies 22-yard line. The ball would then be scooped up by the Longhorns, who retained possession. This fumble would prove costly for the Huskies. Ewers would be able to move his offense down to the one-yard line. From here, Byron Murphy II would find the endzone for a one-yard rushing touchdown to level the scores again.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut a few drives later, the lead would soon change hands. Penix and company would be able to move the ball down to the Longhorns’ 29-yard line. From here, Penix would find Polk for a 29-yard touchdown pass to give the Huskies the lead for the third time in this game.
This did not last long. On the last drive of the half, Ewers and company would be able to get the ball down into the Huskies’ red zone and then down to the 3-yard line. From here, CJ Baxter would find the endzone for a 3-yard rushing touchdown to tie the scores again.
This meant that at halftime in the Sugar Bowl, the Longhorns and Huskies would be tied 21-21. Everything is still to play for, who will have the better second half to book their place in the National Championship against the Wolverines?
The Huskies would have the first possession of the second half and would be able to keep up their pace from the first half. Starting from their 30-yard line, the Penix-led offense was able to advance past the Longhorns’ defenses to reach the Texas 19-yard line. From here, Penix would fine Jalen McMillan for a 19-yard touchdown pass to give the lead back to the Huskies for the fourth time in the game.
Texas had to start the half strong to stay in the game. However, on their next drive, everything that they did not want to happen happened. On the opening play of their drive, Baxter would move the ball 8-yard to their 33-yard line. However, Baxter would then fumble the ball, which would then be scooped up by the Huskies. This mistake would be costly. The Huskies offense would be able to move the ball down to the Longhorns’ 9-yard line, where this drive would stall. This would set up Huskies kicker Grady Gross with a 26-yard field goal attempt. This would be successful, and the Huskies would have a 10-point lead, their largest of the game.
This lead would be extended on the Huskies’ next drive. Peniz and company would be able to move the Huskies offense down to the edge of the Longhorns red zone, but the drive would stall at the 23-yard line. This set up a 40-yard field goal attempt for Goss, which he would make. The Huskies would now have a 13-point lead over the Longhorns as we entered the final quarter. Could we see a comeback from Texas?
The Texas comeback attempt seemed to start well. The offense would be able to make their way into the Huskies’ territory, but at the 43-yard line, another mistake would happen. Ewers would find Blue for a 19-yard pass. However, Blue would fumble the ball, which would then be recovered by the Huskies defense. Luckily for the Longhorns, Washington would be unable to do anything with the possession, and the ball would soon return to the Longhorns’ hands.
This drive would be more successful for the Longhorns. Starting from their 28-yard line, Ewers and company would slowly move the ball down to the Huskies’ one-yard line. From here, Ewers would find Adonai Mitchell for a one-yard touchdown pass. This made it a 6-point lead for the Huskies.
This 6-point lead would soon widen. On the Huskies’ next drive, they would be able to reach the Longhorns 10-yard line, but not an inch further. This set up Gross with a 27-yard field goal attempt, which he would make. The lead was now 9 points, with under 3 minutes left.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut, this 9-point lead did not stop the Longhorns. On their next drive, they would quickly advance down to the Huskies’ 7-yard line. However, they would be unable to go any further. This set up a 25-yard field goal attempt from Longhorns kicker Bert Auburn. Auburn would be successful with this kick, making the Huskies lead by 6 points. Washington would quickly punt on their final drive, meaning that the Longhorns had the opportunity to win the game with 40 seconds left on the clock. Could they do it?
The drive would start on the Longhorns 31-yard line. Quinn Ewers led his offense down to the Huskies’ 13-yard line with a few seconds left. This set up 3 quick chances for the Longhorns to win the game. The first two attempts were unsuccessful, setting up one final attempt to win the game, Ewers needed a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Longhorns into the National Championship for the first time since 2009.
Ewers’ pass would be incomplete.
The number 2 ranked Washington Huskies had defeated the number 3 ranked Texas Longhorns 37-31 to win the Sugar Bowl and book their spot in the National Championship game against the Michigan Wolverines.
This game was the complete opposite of the Rose Bowl. While that game was heavy on defense, his game was the offensive shootout that people thought it would be. The Huskies won this game, putting them into their first chance to win a championship since 1991.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut, putting on my Longhorns hat for a second, this was a brutal way to lose a game. Also, earlier in the game, many referee decisions went against Texas, leading many on social media to say that the refs were playing favorites and that the NCAA did not want the Longhorns in the National Championship game. They will not be in it this year, but Texas will be back here soon.
So, it will be a battle of the undefeated teams next week in Houston as the number one-ranked Michigan Wolverines face the number two-ranked Washington Huskies for the National Championship.
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
