College Football
Michigan is set to face off against Washington in the upcoming College Football Playoff National Championship game next Monday. This highly anticipated matchup is the final game before the offseason begins.
The postseason proved to be a pivotal moment for the Wolverines as they successfully cleared the playoff hurdle by defeating Alabama in the Rose Bowl. The win allows them to secure the program’s first undisputed national title since 1948.
In the other semifinal, Washington won against Texas, fueled by an unforgettable performance from senior quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who earned offensive MVP honors of the game.
Despite falling to the Crimson Tide, the SEC had a remarkably positive bowl season. Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Missouri all scored wins against Power Five opponents. Particularly notable was Georgia’s comeback after its first loss in two years, scoring a dominant 60-point win against Florida State College football.
As bowl season reaches its peak and the only national title has yet to be determined, let’s assess the teams that emerged as dominant winners and those that faced setbacks during this exciting postseason.
WINNERS
Michigan
After consecutive playoff losses to Georgia and TCU, Michigan showed significant progress as a program by scoring a decisive 27–20 overtime victory against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. The hard-fought contest culminated in the second overtime game in playoff semifinal history and ended with a surprise decision: Alabama opted to charge quarterback Jalen Miller straight into the center of the Michigan defense on a fourth-and-goal play. . This milestone encapsulates the story of Michigan’s entire season, where they consistently demonstrated superior physicality and aggression while earning notable wins against Penn State, Ohio State, and the Crimson Tide College football.
Washington
Washington’s victory in the Sugar Bowl against the Longhorns decisively addressed any doubts about their ability to meet the physicality standard set by the other three playoff teams this year. In particular, the Huskies showed exceptional quarterback performance from Penix and demonstrated the power of their deep and experienced receiver corps against Texas. Despite being considered a bit of an underdog heading into the upcoming showdown with the Wolverines, the Huskies are poised to pick up another win, potentially bringing a coveted national championship back to the Pac-12 before the season ends College football.
Tennessee
In the Citrus Bowl, the Volunteers were given an early preview of a promising future in a dominant 35–0 victory over Iowa, led by young quarterback Niko Imaleva. Making his starting debut, the former five-star recruit showcased his talent by completing 12 of 19 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown, complemented with an impressive three rushing scores. Tennessee’s offensive efficiency was evident as they accumulated 383 total yards, the second-highest offensive performance allowed by Iowa all season, surpassing the 397 yards given up to Penn State in late September College football.
Mississippi
The Ole Miss football team is gaining momentum after an impressive 38-25 victory over Penn State in the Peach Bowl. Despite facing some doubt throughout the year, especially after setbacks against powerhouses like Alabama and Georgia, this win serves as a confirmation of the Rebels’ growth under Lane Kiffin. Combined with the nation’s premier transfer class, Ole Miss is poised to be a strong contender in the SEC for the upcoming 2024 season. The impending return of quarterback Jackson Dart only adds to the excitement, making it easy to expect an increase in support for the team. The Ole Miss hype train is gearing up for a remarkable ride in College football.
Missouri
Despite Ohio State’s strong defense holding Missouri off until the final drive of the third quarter, the Tigers had two scoring drives of over 90 yards in the final 20 minutes, en route to a 14–3 victory in the Cotton Bowl. Wide receiver Luther Burden was largely contained until the late touchdown, forcing Missouri’s offense to rely heavily on All-America running back Cody Schrader, who finished with 29 carries, 128 yards, and a touchdown. Ended the game with. Coach Eli Drinkwitz has led Missouri to an impressive 11–2 record in this breakout season, which has them likely finishing in the top seven in the final US LBM Coaches Poll.
Kansas
Kansas finished an impressive season with nine wins, demonstrating the program’s remarkable progress under the guidance of coach Lance Leipold. Taking charge of what was once considered the weakest Power Five program, Leipold has transformed the Jayhawks into a formidable force in the revamped Big 12. In a highly anticipated matchup, Kansas won against UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl with quarterback Jason Beane. An outstanding performance of 449 passing yards and six touchdowns. The team’s offensive efficiency totaled 591 yards leading them to a 49–36 victory in a thrilling offensive contest College football.
Northwestern
It has been a remarkable year for Northwestern, overcoming the challenging hazing scandal of the summer and achieving success under new coach David Braun. Despite hitting one of the program’s historic lows, Northwestern bounced back impressively, picking up eight wins. Notably, they sealed the season with a dominant 14–7 victory in the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah, which struggled with offensive playmakers, culminating in only 211 yards passing and three turnovers in College football.
LOSERS
Alabama
Leading 17–13 and headed for victory with less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Alabama missed a key chance to clinch a win against the Wolverines. Instead of a touchdown, he settled for a 52-yard field goal. Courtesy of Blake Corum’s 17-yard touchdown run and a key defensive stop, this misstep allowed Michigan to tie the game with 1:34 on the clock and ultimately win in overtime. Despite errors on both sides, it was an unusual semifinal loss for Nick Saban and his Alabama team. While Alabama deserves credit for overcoming a slow start in September to reach this level, they fell short in their bid for a national title College football.
Texas
Despite controlling the ball for over 36 minutes and disrupting the rhythm of the Texas offense, the question remains why, given the continued success, the Longhorns did not prioritize the running game more. Ultimately, the deciding factor between going home and advancing to the title game came down to turnovers. Texas struggled to protect the football and suffered the consequences. While under Steve Sarkisian, the program is clearly on an upward trend, the unpredictable nature of seizing opportunities makes the future uncertain for College football.
Ohio State
In the absence of former starting quarterback Kyle McCord and standout wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Ohio State faced significant challenges during its game against Missouri. The situation was worsened by an injury to Devin Brown, McCord’s replacement, in the second quarter, which limited the team to just 203 yards of offense in a 14–3 loss. As Kyle McCord heads to Syracuse and Marvin Harrison moves to the NFL, uncertainties loom over the future of Ohio State’s offense for the upcoming season. Struggling with its fourth loss in six postseason games, coach Ryan Day faces key questions about the team’s performance moving forward.
Florida State
The game began on an uneven playing field as FSU found itself at a disadvantage from the start. Dealing with a roster significantly reduced due to numerous opt-outs and transfers, the Seminoles faced a challenging situation, resulting in the most lopsided result of the entire bowl season. Georgia’s dominant 63-3 victory over FSU in the Orange Bowl further solidified the Bulldogs’ position as a dominant force in 2024. The interpretation of FSU’s loss depends on the perspective of the four-team playoff makeup.
For those who doubted FSU’s worthy spot in the playoffs, the crushing 60-point loss served as supporting evidence. Conversely, if one considers that FSU, as the third undefeated team in FBS, is ranked among the top four, the decimated roster can be seen as an incomplete representation of the Seminoles’ season College football.
Auburn
After a 31–13 loss to Maryland in the Music City Bowl, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze turned his attention to recruiting, admitting that he played a somewhat distant role in shaping the Tigers’ offensive game plan. Although there may be validity to the statement – after all, it would be imprudent to claim otherwise – public acceptance raises questions. With an annual salary of $6.5 million, one might wonder if Freeze can effectively balance coaching and recruiting together, especially when other coaches appear to manage both responsibilities.
Miami (Fla.)
Miami had a mixed year on the gridiron. On a positive note, the Hurricanes picked up wins against Texas A&M and Clemson and earned bowl eligibility despite a poor record in Mario Cristóbal’s inaugural season. However, the season ended in disappointment as they suffered a 31–24 loss against Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl. This marked a season-ending slump for Miami with four losses in five games. What initially seemed like a promising momentum build in early November ultimately came to a lame conclusion, sending the team to a new low in the offseason College football.
SMU
Future ACC member SMU got a glimpse of the dynamics of the current Power Five league in a 23–14 loss to Boston College in the Fenway Bowl. Despite the Eagles finishing 10th in the conference standings, with all due respect it is acknowledged that the ACC has strong teams. SMU’s decision to forego nine years of payments from its ACC television deal to join is notable, a move undoubtedly appreciated by the league College football.
North Carolina
After starting the season with an impressive 6–0 record, North Carolina suffered a significant collapse in the second half, culminating in Duke’s disappointing 30–10 loss to West Virginia in the Mayo Bowl. One silver lining was that head coach Mack Brown was spared the mayonnaise bath tradition. However, it was an overall disappointment for the Tar Heels, conceding a touchdown early in the game and struggling to generate momentum on offense. The responsibility fell to young quarterback Connor Harrell, who was expected to succeed in NFL-bound Drake Mays College football.
Eastern Michigan
In the ’68 Venture Bowl, Eastern Michigan not only suffered a crushing 69–10 defeat against South Alabama, but they also compounded the loss by instigating a brawl on the field. The unpleasant incident occurred as the Jaguars were uniting to sing their school’s fight song. It marks a significant blemish on their record, overshadowing an already substantial 59-point deficit, if such a thing is possible in College football.
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