There were a total of 134 FBS teams battling for a chance to be in the newly expanded College Football Playoffs. Many months after classics, upsets, and controversies later, two are finally left standing. The two teams left are teams who were considered to be the “Little Brothers” to some other teams this year (Michigan and NIU cough cough). But after these embarrassing losses, both Ohio State and Notre Dame can finally say they made it to the finale. Yet only one of them can truly erase their own narratives. Before the final matchup is set, let’s take a second to honor those who fell short…
Honorable Mention: Alabama – From a team that looked to be a juggernaut and a shoe to having some embarrassing losses, then to losing to Michigan…how sad of a year this has been for the Tide.
#12 Seed: Clemson – Well I mean, you didn’t expect to be here, and you at least gave Texas a run for their money. Maybe the daunting empire of Dabo can come back after all…
#11 Seed: SMU – Now this is a team that no one expected to be here! And they then laid an egg…at least you edged out Alabama so the SEC narrative could die.
#10 Seed: Indiana – Ok how many teams that people never expected to be here actually got here? And the only two losses this year are to the teams in the Final? And Kurtis played through an ACL tear all year? I think they’ll be just fine for now.
#9 Seed: Tennessee – Neyland North? SEC Narratives? Yeah, how about you worry about your freshman QB Nico Iamaleava not becoming Sam Darnold for his career?
#4 Seed: Arizona St – Winning your conference when projected to go dead last, giving Texas a run for their money, and the spirit of the Pac-12 guiding you along the way? Expect to see the Sun Devils be a regular here for the time being…assuming the curse doesn’t affect them…
#3 Seed: Boise St – We all wanted to see Ashton break the record so badly, but they couldn’t even manage that. All we hope now is he can run past NFL defenses with ease, with that being said, it was a great season nonetheless.
#2 Seed: Georgia – So…is the dynasty already over? A possible QB issue, Carson is leaving for Miami for his girlfriend, and with offensive talent being depleted every draft, it looks like this team will end up being the NFL’s equivalent of the Jets and Bears before they fired their coaches.
#1 Seed: Oregon – …the score speaks for itself.
#6 Seed: Penn State – And James Franklin still can’t escape the narrative about not beating top-five teams…
#5 Seed: Texas – Look at Jack Sawyer everyone, giving his old college roommate, Quinn Ewers, a welcome back hug deep into the 4th! Such a great guy, welcoming back his best friend… and then immediately getting a scoop and score from it.
And now…The Finale! #8 Ohio State vs # 7 Notre Dame in the College Football Championship!
What a moment. Two teams that battled through adversity and embarrassment, managed to have a chance to be at the top.
The Ohio State Buckeyes, getting schooled by their long-time rival in Michigan, went on a terror spree. The connection between Will Howard and Jeremiah Smith should give defenders hell. The defense? Once you get in the end zone, you can’t score. Scoring 40+ in their first two matchups, and dominating Texas in Jerry’s World, mind you, this team can easily be the reason why Ryan Day can save his job for another year. The talent this team has is soaring above Ohio, and can easily turn the tide right at the beginning.
Yet their opponent becomes the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Once being upset by Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champions, NIU, HC Thomas Hammock offered some form of advice for Marcus Freeman, and the Irish, to improve after their great loss. What followed next? A win against their instate rival first round, a dominating crushing of Georgia, and keeping the narrative of James Franklin not being able to do anything against top teams. An all-around team, led by two bell-cow RBs Jeremiah Love and Jadarian Prince. A do-it-all QB in Riley Leonard, and another stout defense, they have the skill and willpower to take on anyone in their way.
Talent vs Skill, Little Brother vs Little Brother, 134 teams down to two. A matchup between two heavyweights, both avenging an almost lost season, all heading down in Atlanta. Whose offense can score at will, whose defense can stop the offensive onslaught, and which special team will break first? And most importantly: Which coach will escape their narrative, and which team will end up with a coach on the hot seat next year?
