This year's tournament field was completed with excellent resumes and storied histories, but surprisingly without Alabama. Nick Saban's Tide were #2 in the pre-season polls, and won seven straight, until a highly anticipated game against LSU. LSU prevailed on the road, then Bama star QB Tua Tagovailoa was hurt for the remainder of the season the next week, and then Alabama lost to Auburn in the regular season finale. Baylor took the final at-large bid, with Wisconsin and Alabama on the outside, looking in.
The top three seeds were undefeated conference champions, all 13-0: LSU, Ohio State, and the defending national champion Clemson Tigers. Other automatic qualifiers were #4 Oklahoma, #7 Oregon, and #10 Memphis. The at-large teams were Georgia, Florida, Penn State, and Baylor. In the final BCS standings, the closest race was between Florida and Oregon for the sixth spot. The Gators outpointed the Ducks for the last bye spot. However, Oregon may not have minded so much, getting #10 seed Memphis in Corvallis, and the chance to stay out west to play Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. This may have been preferable to heading straight to the Orange Bowl to face defending titlist Clemson.
And a notable storyline was all the transfer quarterbacks within the top-ranked schools. #1 LSU's Joe Burrow started at #2 Ohio State, Ohio State's Justin Fields originally matriculated to #5 Georgia, and #4 Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts had been successful at Alabama, who after eight straight Football's Final Four appearances was AWOL from the tournament.
ESPN made their predictions for the tournament, seeing Oklahoma as the only top four seed not making the Final Four by losing to Georgia, and LSU taking the title with a narrow one-point win over Clemson:
FIRST ROUND, Philadelphia: #8 Penn State 25, #9 Baylor 14
Penn State travelled to Philadelphia for a First-Round match against fellow at-large team Baylor. Penn State started the season undefeated and was #4 when they lost a road game to a ranked Minnesota team. A subsequent loss at Ohio State left the Nittany Lions with two losses and out of the Big Ten title game. Meanwhile, Baylor, unranked in the pre-season after coming off 1-11 and 7-6 seasons, emerged unbeaten under coach Matt Rhule, until two losses to Oklahoma, by 3 points and then by 7 in overtime.
On a gray afternoon in Philly, Penn State's ground game ruled the day. The Lions started scoring on Jake Pinegar's 45-yard field goal, but Baylor took their only lead on Denzel Mims 12-yard TD pass reception from QB Charlie Brewer, for a 7-3 Bears lead at the end of the first quarter. But the rushing show by PSU really hit its stride in the second quarter. Journey Brown's 32-yard TD run, Devyn Ford's 2-yard TD, and another Pinegar field goal upped the lead to 20-7 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Baylor added a touchdown on QB Brewer's 1 yard run, but Penn State added a safety, and a fourth quarter field goal. With their 25-14 victory, the Nittany Lions head to the Peach Bowl match-up against top seed Louisiana State.
FIRST ROUND, Corvallis, OR: #7 Oregon 52, #10 Memphis 39
A little drizzle could not stop some Ducks and Tigers from posting high octane scoring on a Saturday afternoon in Corvallis. Although some of the Memphis drives sputtered throughout the game, excellent place kicker Riley Patterson fought through the wetness to hit six of six field goals and 21 points. For instance, in the first quarter, Memphis scored on Patterson's 48-yard field goal, Patrick Taylor Jr.'s 3-yard TD run, and a Patterson 37-yard field goal. However, while Patterson added 3 points at will, Ducks QB Justin Herbert was getting Oregon into the end zone. Oregon held a 14-13 lead at the end of the first on a Cyrus Habibi-Likio 1 yard TD run and a Jaylon Redd 1 yard TD pass from Herbert.
Oregon continued to march on with three TDs in the second: Jacob Breeland 7-yard pass from Herbert, another Habibi-Likio 1 yard run, and Redd's 3-yard TD scamper. Memphis added a Kenneth Gainwell 1 yard TD, and Patterson hit a 44-yard field goal as the half ended, to trail 35-23 at the break. The second half continued in the same vein, Oregon maintaining its margin with another Hebert TD pass and another Habibi-Likio run, and Memphis' Patterson's mastery continued, including a 51 yarder, and the game ended with the Ducks taking a 52-39 victory. Next up, an Ohio State-Oregon Rose Bowl.
BOWL QUARTERFINALS
PEACH BOWL, #1 LSU 59, #8 Penn State 35
Last season, QB Joe Burrow and LSU came off a solid win over Central Florida in the First Round, before hitting the buzzsaw, known as eventual champion Clemson Tigers, losing in the Orange Bowl 30-7. But this season, the LSU Tigers may be the buzzsaw, as Penn State came off a solid First Round win, only to find a dominant Louisiana State in the Peach Bowl.
LSU started out fast, scoring on Justin Jefferson 19 yard touchdown reception from Burrow early in the first. Yes, the Nittany Lions answered on Journey Brown's 56 yard TD gallop; but that was the most merry the PSU fans would be on this Atlanta day. The rest of the quarter featured Burrow lighting up the skis, featuring an 8-yard sling to Terrace Marshall Jr., a 35-yard throw to Jefferson, and then a Cade York field goal. Tigers were up on the Lions 24-7 and the game was only a quarter old.
The LSU offense continued to run seamlessly, with a 45-21 halftime lead, 52-28 after three, and 59-35 at the final gun. The Tigers move on to Detroit's Football's Final Four.
COTTON BOWL, #5 Georgia 43, #4 Oklahoma 28
For the second consecutive year, Oklahoma was #4 and Georgia was #5, and they met in the 4/5 game. Last season in the Sugar Bowl, Oklahoma grabbed a 28-21 victory. Would 365 days and a change of location to the Cotton Bowl change the outcome?
Georgia played out of sorts last season, but the Bulldogs were all sorts of good this time around. Motivated to turn things around from their last matchup, Georgia started the scoring on George Pickens 27 yard pass from Jake Fromm. Freshman receiver Pickens left behind his regrettable ending to the regular season and put the rest of college football on notice that he will be an exceedingly tough cover in 2020. Oklahoma briefly put up a fight. Jalen Hurts' 51-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb set up a 3-yard
touchdown run by Kennedy Brooks that tied the score at 7. The second quarter was all Georgia, as after two Rod*rigo Blankenship field goals, Fromm hit Matt Landers for a 16 yard TD reception, and the Bulldogs lead 19-7. Georgia's Zamir White ran it in from 13 yards out, answered by Sooner Hurts 2-yard TD run. But before halftime, D'Andre Swift's 3 yard TD run provided a 33-14 halftime lead for the UGA troops. The teams exchanged some scores in the second, but Georgia was always in control, winning 43-28 to avenge the previous season disappointment.
And avenging is what the Bulldogs need to continue next. They will face top seed LSU again, after being handled in the SEC championship game 37-10 by the Tigers.
ROSE BOWL, #2 Ohio State 35, #7 Oregon 28
Under Urban Meyer and now first year coach Ryan Day, Ohio State entered their seventh straight tournament. As an undefeated second seed, with the playoffs going through Semi-Finals in Detroit, enthusiasm was building for a Buckeye title run. Could Oregon's Ducks, on their own journey to return to relevance like the Buckeyes have, derail the OSU train in Pasadena?
Oregon featured an exciting QB in Justin Herbert. The game started out well for the Ducks as they scored a touchdown on their opening possession from Herbert's 4-yard TD run. On the Buckeyes' ensuing possession, Ohio State drove 47 yards in six plays to score a touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Justin Fields to Binjimen Victor. Ohio State would force a three-and-out on Oregon's next possession and would score again on an 11-play, 71-yard drive, giving the Buckeyes a 14–0 lead. Following the second scoring drive, the Buckeyes would conduct a successful onside kick and score again, giving OSU a 21–7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Buckeyes continued in the second quarter, extending the lead on a Chris Olave 2 yard TD pass from Fields. Oregon's Herbert answered before halftime on a 5-yard TD run, and the Ducks closed the lead to 28-14. In the third, the Buckeyes appeared to be coasting, but pressure on the OSU punter lead to an Oregon, Brady Breeze 31 yard fumble return, and the gap was closed to 28-21 with a quarter to go.
Ohio State added a fourth quarter insurance touchdown on J.K. Dobbins 7 yard run. But midway through the fourth, Herbert probably created the highlight reel play of the game, Herbert faked a handoff and went on the run of his life. Oregon's 6-foot-6 quarterback gracefully stiff-armed an Ohio State linebacker at the line of scrimmage. He surged downfield, found his blockers and sprinted to the green-painted end zone, even absorbing a very late hit from the frustrated Buckeyes as a reward. Oregon pressed for a chance to tie, and with a minute to go, Herbert's 28-yard pass to Juwan Johnson to the OSU 9 for a first down had fans of both teams on the edge of their seats. But the Buckeyes kept Oregon out of the endzone, and now Ohio State gets a chance to play in midwestern Detroit in the state up north in Football's Final Four.
ORANGE BOWL, #3 Clemson 31, #6 Florida 14
Clemson, taking on the ACC mantel from Florida State, achieved their fifth straight Orange Bowl birth, with a 3-1 record in their previous games. But Florida's Gators were a popular upset choice to take down Clemson. Not only would Clemson have to take down an SEC team, but one playing in its own state, with a rebirth under coach Dan Mullins.
But Clemson controlled the game from the start, first scoring on B.T. Potter 23 yard field goal. and closing out the first quarter's points on Travis Etienne's 3 yard run, for a 10-0 Tiger lead. Another Potter field goal and continued Clemson shut-out defense, and the Tigers were up 13-0 at halftime. Lamical Perine's 61 yard TD run breathed third quarter life into the Gator faithful, but a Diondre Overton 22 yard TD reception from Trevor Lawrence, followed by a 2 point conversion, took the Clemson lead to 21-7 at the end of three quarters. Florida QB Kyle Trask ran a TD score in from the 1 yard line, but Clemson added a Potter field goal and Etienne's 4 yard TD run, for a 31-14 Clemson victory. The Tigers put the speculation of an upstart Florida upset to rest. Onto Detroit to face Ohio State!
FOOTBALL'S FINAL FOUR, THE SEMI-FINALS IN DETROIT
Detroit's Ford Field certainly hosted an elite set of four teams in the Semi-Finals. Three undefeated conference champs, including the defending champion, and it is always nice to have an "upstart," divisional champ and two-loss Georgia. Okay, not exactly Boise State, but still in the upstart role nonetheless. Yes, the SEC championship rematch of LSU-Georgia is a lovely opener, but all of the buzz, and the throngs of scarlet and gray fans, was for the nightcap of Motown's Ohio State-defending titlist Clemson match-up. Let's Get it On!
#1 Louisiana State 42, #5 Georgia 26
Having recently lost 37-10 to LSU in the SEC title game, Georgia was hoping there was 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' to get a reversal of fortune in Detroit. But LSU scored first on a John Emery Jr. 6 yard TD run, followed by a bold choice to grab two more points on the conversion. Cade York added a 20 yard field goal to extend LSU's lead to 11-0. But Georgia needed to stay in striking distance, so Rodrigo Blankenship's 24 yard field goal to close the lead to 11-3 in the last minute of the first quarter kept the Bulldogs in the game.
After the relatively sedate third quarter, the second quarter was a feverish scoring extravaganza. Each team scored three times. Louisiana State had three TDs: Terrace Marshall Jr. 20 yard TD pass from Burrow, Clyde Edwards-Helaire's 6 yard TD run, and Burrow's 7 yard run. Georgia countered with George Pickens 27 yard TD pass from Jake Fromm, Rodrigo Blankenship's 31 yard field goal, and
Matt Landers 16 yard pass from Fromm (two-point pass conversion failed). So the Bulldog's moral victory of keeping up with LSU scoring was necessary, but not sufficient to win, as the Tigers halftime lead extended to 32-19.
In the second half, the pace settled down, with each team adding a TD in the third, and LSU kicking a fourth quarter field goal. The red hot Tigers were 'Dancing in the Street' celebrating a trip back to their home state for the championship in New Orleans. One undefeated team will be there; which undefeated team will join them?
#3 Clemson 29, #2 Ohio State 23
In the last minute of Detroit's nightcap, the scarlet and gray fans rose to their feet in anticipation. With their Buckeyes down 6, QB Justin Fields through a perfect spiral to the end zone. Certainly OSU would grab the pass to win. A collective "oh no" then erupted as the only receiver was a wide open Clemson defender. The Buckeyes had driven to the Clemson 23 on second-and-7, and Fields missile to the end zone and was picked off by Nolan Turner with 37 seconds left. Ohio State receiver Chris Olave had broken off his route thinking Fields was going to scramble. “That ball was supposed to go to me and I was supposed to run a post and I believe it would have been a touchdown. Definitely put it on me,” Olave said.
In a game of exciting breakaway plays, Clemson moves on. Apropos for Detroit, blaring from the Clemson locker room after yet another tourney victory was Aretha Franklin's classic “Respect.” The Tigers have won two of the last three national titles and become college football's gold standard program, yet still often feel overlooked. Doubted. Disrespected.
Facing a serious challenger for the first time in months, No. 3 Clemson and its perfect quarterback had to tap into their championship DNA to advance to the title game for the third time in four years. Trevor Lawrence connected with Travis Etienne on a 34-yard, go-ahead touchdown with 1:49 left in the fourth quarter, capping a 94-yard march, and the defending national champions beat #2 Ohio State 29-23 Saturday night in the Fiesta Bowl.
Ohio State proved to be every bit Clemson's match, though the Buckeyes walked away frustrated by several close officiating calls. Especially two video reviews that could have gone either way and did not go theirs. "One play can alter the game,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “It didn't seem like we got any of those plays.”
Ohio State jumped out to a 16-0 lead in the first half and then responded to a Clemson rally to retake the lead, 23-21 in the fourth quarter. The Tigers got the ball down two at their own 6 with 3:07 left in the fourth quarter. Lawrence, after being up and down for much of the night, suddenly found the Golden Boy form that he used to lead Clemson to a national title as a freshman last year. The Tigers needed four plays and 1:18, with Lawrence completing all three of his passes and mixing in an 11-yard run. The sophomore quarterback who has never lost a college start passed for 259 yards and two scores and ran for a career-high 107 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown late in the first half.
“I told Ryan, that Ohio State team, what an unbelievable game, their quarterback, their back, those guys played their hearts out,” Swinney said. "But in the end, our guys showed what they're made of. They've got the heart of a champion, they've got the eye of a tiger.”
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in New Orleans: #1 Louisiana State 42, #3 Clemson 25
There wasn't an Alabama team to dominate the SEC and the college football tournament this season, but LSU seemed to channel the Tide's aura all season, completing a dominating run. Behind Heisman star QB Joe Burrow, and a cast of receivers that had an uncanny ability to tight rope the sidelines, extending pass completions beyond that of mortal men.
From small-town Ohio kid to Louisiana legend, Burrow threw five touchdown passes, ran for another score and finished off one of the most accomplished seasons in college football history by leading the top-ranked Tigers to a 42-25 victory against #3 Clemson. "He's one of the greatest players in LSU history," Tigers coach Ed Orgeron said. "He's done so much for the state of Louisiana and LSU. We are so grateful to Joe Burrow."
"This is what I wanted to do from the time I was 5 years old, was hoist this trophy. And bringing it back to Louisiana," Burrow said, then caught himself. "I guess we're in Louisiana, but staying in Louisiana, we weren't going to let someone come in here and steal this from us in our home state. We have a great fan base that came out and supported us. We were going to keep this thing right here." Under a shower of sparkling white, gold and purple confetti, Burrow raised the CFP championship trophy toward the Superdome roof. The party was on -- no doubt already raging on nearby Bourbon Street.
On this night, Clemson star QB Trevor Lawrence (18 for 37 for 234 yards) was no match for Burrow -- the Ohio State transfer. His ascent has been dizzying and unprecedented. Running a version of the New Orleans Saints' offense brought to LSU by 30-year-old assistant coach Joe Brady, Burrow and an array of talented receivers transformed these Tigers into one of the most prolific offenses college football has ever seen.
Clemson pushed LSU into the deepest hole it had to climb out of this season in the first half. After Lawrence ran for a career-best 107 yards against Ohio State, he opened the scoring with a 1-yard jaunt around right end in the first quarter. After B.T. Potter kicked a career-long 52-yard field goal for Clemson to make it 10-7, the Tigers sprung receiver Tee Higgins on a 36-yard reverse for a score to make it 17-7 in the second quarter.
It took LSU 5:19 to wipe that out and take the lead, with Burrow and his favorite receiver, Ja'Marr Chase, doing most of the damage. The Heisman winner hit the Biletnikoff Award winner with a long ball to set up a quarterback draw from 3 yards out to make it 17-14. Burrow and Chase hooked up for a 14-yard touchdown with 5:19 left in the second quarter and LSU fans erupted as their Tigers took the lead for the first time, 21-17. They never looked back.
Chase finished with nine catches for 221 yards. The SEC Tigers weren't done. Burrow led LSU on a 95-yard drive, taking a hard shot on a long run before finding Thaddeus Moss, son of former NFL star receiver Randy Moss, standing alone in the end zone. That made it 28-17 with 10 seconds left in the half.
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