So the first week of the postseason of College Football happened, starting from the 17th, and going all the way to the 21st. There were some bowl games out there that showcased the future for teams looking to be a dominant force. It also started the first round of the playoffs, of which we saw about 4 massacres. Each game’s favored team completely demolished the visiting opponent, some of which may have violated the rules of the Geneva Convention. How bad were they? Let’s just say people are already calling for the playoff to decrease to eight teams already.
The Battle Of Indiana: Almost A Comeback! Notre Dame Holds Off a Desperate Comeback by Indiana, 27-17
In the Battle of Indiana, The Fighting Irish ended up on top, surviving what looked to be a final comeback by the Hoosiers. However, it had been too little, too late for them as the offense just could not get started at all. By the time there were almost five minutes left in the 4th quarter, it had been 27 to 3 after a Riley Leonard Rushing TD. The defense tried to do everything in its power to stay in the game, but when you call a punt on 4th and three, deep in the second half, you can’t expect to do it all. Yet, this has been an extremely successful season for the Hoosiers, once projected to finish dead last, at the very least say they can make it to the dance. Can they get back to the promised land next year? Only Curt Cignetti will know that answer.
For the Fighting Irish, they now get a huge test against a regular in the playoffs. Having to head to the New Orleans Superdome to take on Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs. Their defense is demolishing, but backup Gunner Stockton will need to take the helm at QB, promoting a very interesting matchup. Will the Irish keep the momentum heading in the Caesars Superdome, or will the Georgia Dynasty wake up once again?
Lions on Top of the Food Chain, Penn State Completely Wipes Off SMU From The Earth, 38-10
This game could have just been an email. SMU was completely destroyed, Kevin Jennings threw three picks, two of which led to pick sixes, and the Nittany Lions finally won an important game. Similarly to Indiana, still a great season, managing to lead the ACC for most of the year, and getting to the playoffs. Even if it did mean getting blown out, they still definitely deserved a spot over “some” SEC teams…
As for Penn State, a much-needed win by James Franklin keeps his seat on the cold side, for now. For the Nittany Lions, they now need to travel to the land known as Glendale, Arizona, where they get to compete in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Their opponent? The man known as Ashton Jeanty, and a Boise State team who is a known regular in Arizona. Can the defense be able to contain the man who is trying to chase Barry Sanders’ record, or will James’s seat be scorching hot once again?
An Actually Decent Game, In This Economy?! Texas Takes Down Clemson, 38-24
Ok, it wasn’t as close as the score says to be. The Tigers could not stop the run game whatsoever, letting Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner run for two touchdowns each. Cade Klubnik still put up a respectable game, but could not finish them off in order to pull off a spoiler in his homecoming game. Also, that attempted pass when he was falling to the ground in the 3rd Quarter? Basically, this sums up all the visiting team’s performance this week. Still, this Clemson team, which was projected to keep taking steps back, clinched an ACC title and now can look to be a contender in the future. As long as the offense develops, and Dabo starts taking a look in the Transfer Portal, they can easily make it back next year.
For the Longhorns, a much-needed victory at home was needed, as now they head BACK to Atlanta again in the same stadium they lost against Georgia. However, what waits for them is the winner of the chaos conference known as the Arizona State Sun Devils. Led by another runner-up to the Heismen, Cam Skattebo, this extremely young team wants to prove themselves as a true underdog force immediately. But will the might of the Texas defense stop any running attack, or will the curse of the Pac-12 live on throughout the Sun Devils?
Neyland North? Sorry, You’re Not Michigan, Ohio State Flattens Tennessee, 42-17
And in the Primetime Matchup, the Buckeyes straight up bulldoze the Vols. Like the SMU/Penn State Matchup, this match could have just been an email. For the Vols, Nico Iamaleava(Thank goodness I don’t have to try and pronounce that name again) did not have a great game whatsoever, only managing two measly rushing touchdowns. Then again, this is his freshman year, so improvement must be made in the offseason and beyond so this can’t happen again. And maybe that defense may need some reworkings as well, considering they didn’t do anything against the Buckeyes.
For the Buckeyes, Ryan Day gets a massive break, and now they get a chance at revenge. They get to head to the Rose Bowl, home of the UCLA Bruins(Unfortunately they won’t host), where they get a rematch with the #1 Oregon Ducks. Can Ryan Day finally win more than one important game? Will the Ducks prove themselves as the number-one seed for a reason? Which version of the Buckeyes will appear against the Ducks, the ones that looked like the 2007 Patriots, burying the Vols and completely destroying them on offense? Or the ones that looked like a JV practice squad against Michigan?
