Sometimes, it’s better not to overthink things. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee got it right earlier this month. No ifs, ands or but-we-would-have-been-favored-over-everybodies about it. Talking to you, Mr. Saban.
The 2022-23 College Football Playoff is the first to be played without either Alabama or Clemson. TCU went from unranked to unbelievable. Ohio State got a mulligan by sliding into the field at the last minute. The Big Ten put two teams in, and if you have a drop of adrenaline running through your veins, you might be looking ahead to a potential Michigan-Ohio State rematch.
For better or worse, this is the first time two teams entered the playoff after losing their last games (TCU, Ohio State). For that matter, four of the top 10 in the final CFP Rankings came off losses entering bowl season. (Get used to more of that in the 12-team playoff, by the way.)
As for CFP IX, the matchups and circumstances are delicious. No. 4 Ohio State sat on the couch and got in. No. 3 TCU had to sweat out its spot despite an undefeated regular season. Its quarterback, Max Duggan, nearly won himself the Heisman Trophy with his performance in a losing effort.
Utah’s upset of USC may have indirectly avoided a Ryan Day coaching purge. You had to be there when the Buckeyes were pushed around on their home field by the Wolverines. The depths of depression and outrage were profound. Blame/credit the Utes for the Buckeyes’ second chance. Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles also gets a chance to redeem himself, as does Day. They will attempt to do so against the defending champions, No. 1 Georgia.
A third consecutive loss to Michigan could come quicker than anyone thought for Ohio State. If the Buckeyes and Wolverines win their semifinals, they would play for the national championship 44 days after meeting in Columbus, Ohio. (The last time Ohio State lost three in a row to Michigan was 1995-97, the latter marking the Wolverines’ last national championship.)
Georgia and Michigan are favored in the semifinals, each by about a touchdown. Maybe that’s the championship game we should be rooting to see. They are mirror images of square-jawed coaches who use game-manager quarterbacks, stout defenses and special teams to gain their desired results. Michigan has the revenge factor. Georgia will be the better team no matter who it plays in the playoff.
That’s not to…
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