Week 14 Summary
Week 14 Summary
12/8/15
Joe Broback
CFP PLAYOFF
When the announcement of the playoff teams came out, it was almost boring. The only real talk was one team jumped another within the top four. Other than that, the teams announced were expected and there was no real controversy. Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State, and Oklahoma all made the playoff and the games appeared like this:
#1 Clemson vs. #4 Oklahoma Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami)
#2 Alabama vs. #3 Michigan State Goodyear Cotton Bowl (Arlington)
The winners will play in the championship at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. These matchups will be analyzed later, but some quick notes for each game. Both games include teams that have similar styles to each other. Michigan State and Alabama have stellar defenses and look to the ground game first. Clemson and Oklahoma’s defenses are both also solid, but offensively are able to air it out in addition to running the ball. The first playoff provided excitement and entertainment at a high level. You can expect more of the same this year.
For one last time, I want to address an eight team playoff. Look at the rankings of who would be in this year. You will quickly realize that the games would be just as entertaining. Just because a team is ranked fifth or lower, doesn’t mean they can’t compete with anyone. College football has been full of surprises this year (and last year’s playoff too) so the playoff shouldn’t be limited to four because a team “may not” be able to compete.
#1 Clemson vs. #8 Notre Dame
You’re telling me you wouldn’t want to watch this? A rematch of a game played earlier in the year when it was wet and playing conditions were terrible. That game was great, but could you imagine the game played in good conditions? Clemson is undefeated and Notre Dame has two losses (to the Tigers and Stanford) by a combined four points. While they aren’t considered a top four team, they have shown they can compete with anyone.
#2 Alabama vs. #7 Ohio State
Again, people would love to watch a rematch. Ohio State ended the Tide’s title hopes last year in the first playoff in thrilling fashion. Plus you’re putting two of the best backs in the country against each other. Ezekiel Elliot and Derrick Henry have been major contributors to their teams’ success. Both defenses are stout and a rematch of Urban Meyer and Nick Saban is always great entertainment. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes were left out this year, and I feel sorry for Notre Dame (who plays them in the Fiesta Bowl).
#3 Michigan State vs. #6 Stanford
The Spartans matchup with the Tide would essentially be the same as this matchup. Similar offenses and defenses that smother opponents. If you watched the Big Ten championship game, you received a preview of how this game would be played. Considering how exciting MSU-Iowa was, I think the excitement would be just as high for this one. If you want, you can play it in the Rose Bowl since this is a Big Ten-Pac 12 matchup, but you can’t say that either team would win handily over the other.
#4 Oklahoma vs. #5 Iowa
Given the way the Hawkeyes played in their championship game, Iowa can play with anyone. Oklahoma is different than any team that Iowa has faced, but the Sooners also haven’t played a defense like the Hawkeyes. I think the Sooners would win this game easily, but then again I thought Alabama would beat Ohio State easily last year. Heisman candidate Baker Mayfield is a start, but CJ Beathard has shown he can make big throws as well. Iowa would make this a tough game
TRENDING UP
Shaking Sanders---- Christian McCaffrey laid everything on the line for his team in the Pac 12 championship, and he set a record on his way. McCaffrey beat Barry Sanders’ all-purpose yards record for a season (3,250 yards) set in 1988. McCaffrey now has 3,496 yards for the season with one game left.
Bowl time----Now that the conference championships are over, it’s time to look forward (or not) to the bowl games. For those that only care about the big games, you can take a break from college football for a couple weeks. For those who love every game, December 19th is your first day of bowl games.
TRENDING DOWN
ACC Referees----North Carolina was down eight and had just recovered an onside kick to give them a chance to tie the game. But they were offsides. Watching the replay, no Tar Heel player was remotely close to being offsides. Since it was not a reviewable play, UNC had to kick off again, but could not recover. This rule won’t change, but it was a momentum swing that changed (and ended) the game.
Fumble Recovery----Speaking of recoveries, San Diego State may want to work on their ability to do so. The Aztecs forced an Air Force fumble that was knocked around and eventually recovered by the Falcons 30 yards downfield. Oops. Maybe Air Force will keep that one in their playbook for next year.
PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
Deshaun Watson, Clemson (289 yards passing, 3 TD; 131 yards rushing, 2TD)----Watson came up big in another big game. The sophomore helped the Tigers survive and make the playoff with a win over North Carolina. Although some of that pressure was relieved by the next guy.
Wayne Gallman, Clemson (187 yards rushing, 1 TD)----This “next guy” has been a workhorse in the backfield all year and broke through against the Tar Heels. Gallman has been the perfect complement to Watson all season and makes defenses worry about two players when Clemson decides to run.
Travis Greene, Bowling Green (183 yards rushing, 2 TD)----For once, Matt Johnson didn’t have to carry the team. Greene from Bowling Green (with some extra help from fellow back Fred Coppet) gashed Northern Illinois on their way to the MAC championship.
Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (461 all purpose yards, 3 total TD)----McCaffrey needs to be seriously considered for the Heisman. As mentioned above, he broke Barry Sanders’ single-season record for all-purpose yards with yet another stellar performance. There isn’t another player in the nation that does what he does for Stanford.
Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky (410 yards passing, 3 TD)----It’s almost becoming, ok it actually is routine for Doughty to put up these numbers. Southern Mississippi gave the Hilltoppers trouble early, but Doughty helped his team pull away late.
Derrick Henry, Alabama (189 yards rushing, 1 TD)----For a while, it appeared Henry was opening the door for other Heisman contenders to make a statement. Then the Tide let him go to work late against Florida. The race for the Heisman is still up for grabs, but Henry will most likely still be the frontrunner.
GAME BALL: McCaffrey. He threw a touchdown, rushed for one, and caught another on his way to a record breaking performance. When you break a record set by Barry Sanders, heads will turn in your direction. The biggest question will be if McCaffrey will have the Heisman come in his direction. I think it’s between him and Henry, but McCaffrey is the most outstanding player in the nation by far.
WEEK 13 PREDICTIONS
My pick: Houston 38 Temple 21 ACTUAL: Houston 24 Temple 13
If you didn’t know his name by now, take notes. Greg Ward Jr. is a game changer at quarterback and should be returning next year. Throw in the return of Tom Herman, the man credited with Ward’s success, and the Cougars will be the team to beat in the AAC. Houston will play Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 31st, and the Cougars are looking to make a statement. Their first statement was smothering the Owls and forcing Temple into turnovers. PJ Walker never looked comfortable with all the pressure Houston was applying, and the defense had no answer for Ward. Temple produced 385 total yards of offense, but only managed 3 points until late in the third quarter.
My pick: Stanford 35 USC 24 ACTUAL: Stanford 41 USC 22
In case you didn’t read above, Christian McCaffrey is pretty good, but not just at runningback. The do-it-all back had 207 yards rushing, 105 yards receiving, and 11 yards passing. And he scored all three ways. USC kept the game close, but didn’t have an answer for McCaffrey and Stanford won the Pac 12 for the third time in four years. USC is a team that has some pieces missing, but should compete for the Pac 12 title again next year. However, that didn’t help the Trojans in this game, a game in which they had a lead for only a little over two minutes.
My pick: Michigan State 33 Iowa 20 ACTUAL: Michigan State 16 Iowa 13
Both defenses were doing everything they could to keep the opposing offense off the board and give their own offense the ball. Five field goals were all both teams could muster through three quarters. Then, the breakthrough, or at least what we though was one. CJ Beathard found Tevaun Smith breaking past Michigan State’s secondary and hit him in stride for an 85 yard touchdown. With how the game was going, this appeared to be a huge blow to the Spartans and all of the momentum appeared to swing in Iowa’s favor. But in typical Spartan fashion, they kept pounding away. On their final drive, Michigan State used a heavy dose of true freshman LJ Scott. Scott finished the drive by scoring from a yard out, a play in which he was initially stopped. Scott reached for the goal line, moved the ball to avoid an incoming defender looking to knock it out, and reached over for the game winning score with 27 seconds left. The defense took it from there. Connor Cook was named MVP, and while there is controversy with how he grabbed the trophy (relax people), Scott is the true MVP. The freshman chipped away one play at a time on the final drive, and his football IQ showed when he moved the ball to avoid a turnover and give Michigan State the lead.
My pick: Clemson 30 North Carolina 24 ACTUAL: Clemson 45 North Carolina 37
It’s too bad UNC was called offsides (even though they weren’t), but the Tar Heels know there were other things they could have done to avoid relying on one play. Clemson was up 35-16 with 4:58 left in the third quarter, and appeared to be sealing the game. But back came the Tar Heels and made it an eight point game to set up the controversial onside kick. UNC’s defense did not help their offense much, surrendering 608 yards to Clemson’s offense. Deshaun Watson and Wayne Gallman rushed for 328 yards combined, and the Tigers’ defense held the lead.
My pick: Alabama 42 Florida 10 ACTUAL: Alabama 29 Florida 15
At first, I kept thinking that this game was going to be close. Florida’s defense kept making stops and giving the ball back to the offense. And while Alabama’s defense was doing the same, I thought the Gators could break through. Then the game kept going on, and Florida had no idea how to move against Alabama. Florida’s only score in the first half was an 85 yard punt return by Antonio Callaway, and didn’t score again until late in the fourth quarter. Will Grier’s presence was missed dearly by their offense, which only managed 180 total yards and 7 first downs. The Gator’s defense could only hang on for so long before Derrick Henry started breaking off bigger runs. Would Grier have made a difference? Certainly, but I don’t know if he would have made enough of a difference. Alabama looks solid once again, and won their third SEC championship in four years. No time to celebrate though, as Nick Saban has his team focused on the playoff.
