Since I didn't have a pony in the brand-spankin' new college football playoffs I was hoping for good games, great games really.
The Rose Bowl semi-final game between the Oregon Ducks and Florida State Seminoles basically sucked.
For about a half Florida State played like they wanted to be in Pasadena with a shot at a national title repeat. Oregon led 18-13 at the half. Oregon led 25-20 about half way through the 3rd quarter. The final was 59-20. How does that happen? Sleepwalking through a big game is one way. Florida State put the ball on the ground seven times yesterday. They lost four of those. Jameis Winston tossed an interception to bring the turnover total to five. Oregon took advantage of every single gift. Pretty much the only miscue made by Oregon in the 2nd half was a missed extra point. Florida State had played with fire all season. They finally got burned.
It was a terrible game.
The nightcap game was much better. The games was still in doubt on the final play. Ohio State defeated Alabama 42-35.
Ohio State running back Ezekial Elliott provided the deciding score with an 85-yard scoring dash. That put the Buckeyes up by two touchdown. It was also pretty much the only offense that his team produced in the fourth quarter. It proved to be enough. Elliott had 230 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns.
Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones is a bull.
Braxton Miller was supposed to be the Buckeyes starting quarterback this season. He was lost for the season with a shoulder injury before the season even started. J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones were basically 2a and 2b. Barrett got the nod. He was terrific but broke his ankle in the season finale against Michigan. Enter Jones. He's 2-0 now. Both huge wins. He debuted with a bang against Wisconsin in the Big-10 title game.
It's remarkable that Ohio St. is playing for the national title with their third quarterback. All three have been great.
Alabama led 21-6. Then it was all Ohio State for a while. Then Alabama scratched their way through the second half to make it a one play game.
Alabama freshman punter J.K. Scott is ridiculous. If Alabama had been able pull out the game, Scott might have been the player of the game. He pinned the Buckeyes deep with booming kicks and placement kicks. Incredible punting. He's supposed to be a freshman but looks much younger than that.
Alabama receiver Amari Cooper scored two touchdowns. He had 9 catches but only 71 yards. He was certainly a factor in the game but the Buckeyes never let him make the splash plays that he's made all season. That was key in the game.
So, it's Oregon-Ohio State for the national title. Go Buckeyes!
I hope that the game is more Alabama-Ohio State than Florida State-Oregon.
TCU bitched a bunch about not being involved in the playoffs. They had a great season. 11-1. 12-1 after their 42-3 dismantling of Mississippi in the Peach Bowl. The first problem that TCU faced in making it into the playoffs was that only four teams can make it into the playoffs. The second problem, and biggest problem, that TCU faced was that they lost to Baylor. As a result they did not win their conference outright. If the Big-12 had a conference championship game they would not have even been in it. Baylor would have been in it. A conference title is a must for playoff inclusion. TCU really had no shot at the playoffs. After watching Florida State hack up their opportunity I really wish that TCU had made it. TCU-Oregon would have been a much better game. The selection committee set TCU up for bitching by including them in their top-4 right up until the top-4 that really mattered. That was a pretty stupid thing for the committee to do.
The best game of the day was the Cotton Bowl. Baylor and Michigan State put on a show. Baylor was up 41-21 entering the fourth quarter. Michigan State scored 21 in that quarter to win 42-41. Baylor had a shot to seal the game with a late field goal. Michigan State blocked the attempt to give their offense a shot to win it. They did. Both quarterbacks, Baylor's Bryce Petty and Michigan State's Connor Cook, had stretches of terrific football. Great game.
Then we were treated to that stinker in Pasadena.
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