UPDATE: What a tournament! Georgia v Alabama, Michigan v Tennessee heading to Football's Final Four

Could there be a more memorable, competitive first six games of the tournament?  Of the six contests, three one-point wins, a two-point victory, and an average margin of 4.5 points.

FIRST ROUND KANSAS CITY: #9 Clemson 22, #7 Kansas State 20

Both First Round games were played at 30 degree weather, but not all 30 degree days are created equally.  Whereas Provo was sunny and windless, Kansas City's high winds made it feel like the lower 20's.  But both teams knew a southern California Rose Bowl awaited the winner.  

Early on, Kansas State was in control, Will Howard passes and Deuce Vaughn runs drove the ball to the Clemson 39, but Howard's intercepted pass gave the ball to Clemson.  A punt returned the ball to the Wildcats, and their possession posted a score on Ty Zentner's 41 yard field goal.  Another punt gave the ball to K-State, and they scored on the perfect drive for today's KC weather: a one play drive with a Deuce Vaughn touchdown run for 88 yards.  Certainly Kansas State was in control.

But Clemson's quarterback Cade Klubnik, a true freshman in his first ever collegiate start, was undeterred with solid play and a bit of poise.  Clemson added a  B.T. Potter 31 yard field goal in the first frame to narrow the gap to 10-3.  Then to end the first half, Klubnik threw a TD to Adam Randall from 13 yards out.  Potter, struggling with the high winds, missed the extra point kick, and Kansas State held the 10-9 halftime lead.

But the momentum completely went to Clemson during Kansas State's first third quarter set of downs, when on 3rd & 8 from the KSU 14, Howard's pass was intercepted and returned for 2 yards to the Kansas State 17 yard line.  Will Shipley eventually ran it in from 3 yards out, and after another missed PAT, Clemson had its first lead, at 15-10.  Kansas State's offense stalled, and there was no more scoring in the third quarter.

In the fourth, Kansas State narrowed the margin to 15-13 on Zentner's 28 yard field goal, but Clemson responded with ten minutes to go with a Klubnik touchdown run of four yards, even adding a PAT, to extend the lead to 22-13.  With three minutes to go, Kansas State scored on Jordan Schippers 1 yard touchdown run, cutting the lead to two.  But the Wildcats never regained possession, and Clemson and their first time starter QB Klubnik set their sails for a Rose Bowl match-up with #2 Big Ten champion Michigan.

FIRST ROUND PROVO: #8 Utah 47, #10 Tulane 46

Like Kansas City, Provo had 30 degree temperature at kickoff, but unlike KC, a warm sun brightened the snow covered peaks and still winds made the playing field feel much warmer.  Utah was back in Provo for a First Round game a year after winning an overtime game against Oklahoma State.  Last season, winning provided the Utes a Sugar Bowl match-up with SEC champion #1 Alabama.  This year, the winner of Provo's Utah-Tulane game was an Orange Bowl with SEC champion #1 Georgia.  

Utah was in solid control in the first quarter, scoring first on a Jordan Noyes 23 yard field goal, and adding two more field goals.  Tulane was contained to short drives and punts, and Utah was cruising to a 9-0 lead at the end of frame one.  Utah's Ja'Quinden Jackson ran it in from five yards out early in the second, to extend the lead to 16-0.  

But Tulane responded with a 8 play, 75 yard, 3:03 minute drive, including a 40 yard run by QB Michael Pratt to the Utah 33.  The drive was capped with a Tyjae Spears run for 3 yards for a TD.  Utah responded with QB Cameron Rising's 6 yard touchdown run, followed by a Tulane two play drive ending with a Pratt pass complete to Jackson for 87 yards for a TD.  The swinging pendulum continued with a Utah TD Rising 9 yard run before halftime, and at half, the Utes led 30-14.

But Tulane was not raising the white flag in the snow covered mountains.  The Green Wave started the second half with a three minute, 76 yard touchdown drive.  The drive started with a Spears run for 47 yards, and ended with a 7 yard Spears run.  Tulane held Utah, and responded with a drive including QB Pratt's run for 23 yds to the Utah 39, culminating with a field goal by Valentino Ambrosio (the most romantic kicker's name) from 42 yards out, and the Green Wave drew within 30-24.  

Utah responded with a touchdown drive completed by Micah Bernard's 12 yard run, only to be answered by a three play easy-peasy Tulane drive: Spears run for 62 yards to the Utah 3, and incomplete pass, and a Spears 3 yard TD run (no PAT). End of the third, Utah clung a to 37-30 advantage.  

Utah could not score on the next possession, but Tulane's Spears fumbled on the Utes 28.  Noyes connected on a field goal, and certainly Utah was in control, leading 40-30 with about six minutes to go.  But Tulane had another brief drive of two plays: Pratt pass complete to Duece Watts for 59 yards to the Utah 4, then Spears run for 4 yds for a touchdown.  Utah by 3, 40-37.  Utah fumbled the subsequent kickoff and needed to start the drive at their own 1 yard line.  Two plays later, the Utes Jackson was tackled in the end zone.  Tulane was rolling, getting the ball back down one point.  Three minutes later, Utah's QB Pratt three a TD pass complete to Alex Bauman for 6 yards, and the Green Wave was shockingly in front 46-40, with about two minutes to go.  Utah took the ball 73 yards to the Tulane 5 yard line.  With 25 seconds to go, a short pass lofted to Jaylen Dixon for 5 yds for a TD created a cacophony explosion by Utah throngs.  Tulane could not score, and Utah escaped with a 47-46 victory.  On their way to play Georgia, Utah earned an Orange Bowl slot.  

QUARTERFINAL BOWLS

ORANGE BOWL: #1 Georgia, 34, #8 Utah 21

Georgia was heavily favored as the #1 seed playing in their neighbor state to the south.  Certainly, Bulldogs were ready, stopping Utah without a first down before a punt on the first drive.  Georgia drove downfield but Jack Podlesny missed a 47 yard field goal attempt.  Still, Dawgs received the ball back and drove again, capping a drive on Kenny McIntosh 25 yard pass from QB Stetson Bennett IV.  

That was all the scoring for the first quarter.  But in the second frame, a touchdown was set up by a Bennett pass complete to Arian Smith for 47 yards to the Utah 11, followed immediately by a  Kendall Milton 11 yard touchdown run.  Down 14-0, Utah started a 7 minute drive, completed with a Cameron Rising pass complete to Thomas Yassmin for 1 yard touchdown.  Utah took the ball back, and used a quick two minute drive, highlighted by Rising's pass complete to Devaughn Vele for 47 yds to the Georgia 28, and capped by Ja'Quinden Jackson's run for 19 yards for a TD.  Shockingly, tie game 14-14.  Georgia's quick drive and  Podlesny's 32 yard field goal provided a 17-14 Bulldog advantage at the break.  

In the third quarter, Dawgs kicker Podlesny missed another field goal, but connected on a 32 yard field goal to extend the Georgia lead to 20-14.  Ute QB star Rising suffered a leg injury with 8:31 left in the third quarter, and was replaced by backup Bryson Barnes.  Barnes finished a third quarter drive with a TD pass to Jaylen Dixon, and Utah grabbed a 21-20 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Though they had the lead, a sense of foreboding existed on the Ute sideline as Barnes struggled against the Bulldog defense.  Georgia's offense focused under fourth quarter duress, and a Kenny McIntosh 52 yard run to the Utah led to Bennett's 3 yard touchdown run two plays later, and Dawgs had the lead back.  Three play drives too long for you?  Georgia's final score was a one play drive, a Arian Smith 76 yard pass reception from Bennett.  Utah was scoreless in the fourth, and Georgia emerged with a 34-21 victory.  The Bulldogs punched the first ticket for Syracuse and Football's Final Four, awaiting the winner of Alabama/TCU Sugar Bowl.

SUGAR BOWL: #5 Alabama 45, #4 Texas Christian 36

Though higher-seeded with a single loss, TCU was a big underdog to Alabama, who won their way into eleven of the last thirteen Football's Final Fours.  But the Horned Frogs were determined to earn respect.  While Crimson Tide star QB Bryce Young was distinctly off target, Texas Christian took advantage.  In the first frame, TCU scored first on QB Max Duggan's 1 yard run.  Soon after Duggan hit Quentin Johnston for 32 yards to the Alabama 19, eventually leading to Taye Barber's 6 yard TD reception from Duggan (PAT kick missed). Still in the first quarter, Griffin Kell's 33 yard field goal gave TCU a 16-0 lead. 

As the first was drawing to a close, the Crimson Tide's Young started to show his star power.  His pass to Jahmyr Gibbs for 60 yards landed the Alabama on the TCU 9 yard line.  Young's pass to Isaiah Bond for a 6 yard TD pass capped Bama's first scoring drive.  Early in the second quarter, Young connected on a pass complete to Jermaine Burton for 47 yards to the TCU 2.  Two plays later, Young passed to Cameron Latu from one yard out to narrow the lead to 16-14.

Both teams added another touchdown before the half.  TCU started a drive with a Duggan pass complete to Quentin Johnston for 46 yards to the Alabama 29, finishing the drive with an Emari Demercado 1 yard TD run.  Alabama's last scoring drive before halftime started with 1:01 to go in the second on the Tide 2 yard drive.  With 10 seconds to go, Young's 12 yard TD pass to Jermaine Burton narrowed to a 23-21 TCU halftime lead.

Alabama's one minute touchdown drive in the waning seconds of the first half was one-fourth of a tidal Crimson Tide wave that threw the Horned Frogs into troubled waters.  Alabama started the second half with recovery on their onside kick, and three plays later, Young's pass was complete to Ja'Corey Brooks for 32 yards for a touchdown, a 1:06 minute drive.  Forty-six seconds later, TCU QB Duggan threw a pass intercepted by Alabama's Brian Branch, returned to the Texas Christian 17.  The next play, eight seconds later,  the Tide's Jase McClellan run for 17 yds scored another Bama TD.  In the span of four minutes, a TCU 23-14 lead was transformed into a 35-23 Alabama advantage.  

But Texas Christian was here for respect and came back fighting.  Still in the third quarter, Demercado's run of 69 yards fell 1-yard short of the goal line.  Duggan punched it in from 1 yard out to narrow the lead, and another Kell field goal brought the score to 35-33 in favor of Alabama.  However on the final play of the third quarter, the Tide's Kobe Prentice 47 yard TD pass from Bryce Young increased the lead to 9.

The fourth quarter scoring consisted of a Alabama's Will Reichard's 49 yard field goal and a third TCU field goal, and an classic match-up ended with Alabama returning to Football's Final Four for the twelve time in fourteen seasons, with a 45-36 victory.  TCU played as well as Alabama, however three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble lost) for the Horned Frogs compared to none for the Tide, and 85 penalty yards compared to 45 for Bama in the end was the difference.

ROSE BOWL: #2 Michigan 15, #9 Clemson 14

The college football world dreams of playing at the picturesque Rose Bowl.  But over the past two seasons, it has become a nightmare for Michigan fans, who might start calling it Pick Six Park.  On the other side of the ball, Clemson might call it the Land of Misfit Tiger Offense, which can move the ball freely midfield, stalls in the red zone, and cannot kick a field goal.

Michigan was trying to overcome the memories of being #2 seed last season but being upset by #7 Baylor in the Rose Bowl, which featured a key Baylor pick six that turned the tide.  Certainly things looked promising on the Wolverine's first play, as Donovan Edwards ran for 54 yards to the Clemson 21 yard line.  But in a game where Michigan seemed to play things too cute or overthink situations or both, when it was fourth and goal on the two, Jim Harbaugh faced plenty of criticism for electing to use a “Philly Special” play call.  Armed with the best offensive line in college football, the Wolverines decided a trick-play pass was the call, and not a field goal, or a running play. Result?  Colston Loveland sacked for a loss of 8 yards to the Tiger 10.  Later in the game, Michigan seemed too cute again, when on the goal line after a 50-yard completion from J.J. McCarthy to Roman Wilson, the Wolverines handed the ball to recently converted linebacker Kalel Mullings, who fumbled away the scoring opportunity.

Clemson also pulled out some unsuccessful gadget plays, but perhaps mainly to take pressure off of Clemson's true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik.  Klubnik's first drive had some good gains, including a pass to Cole Turner for 33 yds to the Michigan 49, and a pass complete to Joseph Ngata for 14 yds to the Wolverine 33.  But the drive stalled, and rather than taking the field goal from the 27, a trick play failed om fourth down and Drew Swinney was tackled two yards short.  Later in the half, first and ten from the Michigan 22, Clemson tried a pass from tight end Davis Allen into the end zone that was woefully incomplete.

These plays may have been chosen to ease pressure on Klubnik on this huge stage, as he often found himself running away from the Michigan rush.  His reaction to run towards his own goal line often turned third and long plays to third and infinity and beyond heaves.  And the Tiger offense's red zone issues were not helped with three missed field goals by B.T. Potter.

Yet, Clemson took the lead on Michigan's second possession's first play, as Tiger safety R.J.

Mickens picked off a McCarthy pass and ran in the 41 yard interception return touchdown.  Not until the second quarter could Michigan score, on a Jake Moody 42 yard field goal, and the game remained 7-3 Tigers at halftime.

A light drizzle fell during the second half, but Moody's 21 yard field goal narrowed Clemson's lead to 7-6.  Early in the fourth, Michigan took the lead on another Moody field goal, for the 9-7 Wolverine lead.  However, pick six drama returned, as linebacker Barrett Carter picked off McCarthy and ran the interception return 29 yards for a touchdown.  Clemson back on top 14-9.  

But for Michigan, finally a gimmicky gadget gamble paid off.  McCarthy ran a flea-flicker with a little help from running back Donovan Edwards, and found Ronnie Bell wide open for a 34-yard touchdown with 3:18 left, for a 15-14 Michigan lead.  The Wolverines missed the two-point conversion but were never threatened, and Michigan moves on to Syracuse to play the winner of the Ohio State/Tennessee Orange Bowl.

COTTON BOWL: #6 Tennessee 41, #3 Ohio State 40

On quarterback Joe Milton III's high school signing day, dreams of beating Ohio State in big games was probably part of his mental landscape of his football future.  But for the transfer from Michigan, that it would be as the QB of the Tennessee Volunteers playing the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl would have been an unexpected detour on his college journey.

This Texas sized battle of two at-large teams matched all expectations.  Though both the Bucks and the Vols were on the sidelines on championship Saturday both worked in their favor.  TCU's loss moved Ohio State to third seed, and though Utah's win over USC threatened to burst the Tennessee tourney bubble if the Trojans took the final at-large spot, in fact the Vols remained in the tourney and moved up to the top six seeds.

The Buckeyes were ready from the start.  Quarterback CJ Stroud rolled right to avoid Tennessee pressure, and still conducted his receiver like a maestro, gesturing Marvin Harrison Jr. to all head stage right.  From 31 yards out, Ohio State found the scoreboard first with a pristine pass from Stroud to Harrison Jr. about 5 yards deep in the end zone, and the Buckeyes grabbed the lead with about 5 minutes left in the first frame.

Perhaps to slowly give their QB confidence in only his second start of the year, initially Milton only threw quick passes for short gains, and the Volunteers seemed averse to letting him feel pressure, and took their share of offensive holding penalties as the Buckeye pressure infiltrated the Tennessee backfield.  But the Vols were determined to hang around, and Chase McGrath's 32 yard field goal with 3:15 left in the first closed the score to 7-3.

But Ohio State seemed determined to advance.  With 10:56 to go until halftime, Miyan Williams fought to get in the end zone with some help from a teammate from 2 yards out, Ohio State extended the lead to 14-3.  But with 9:03 to go in the second, Milton finally threw long, and his pass zipped past a sea of OSU hands, hitting Bru McCoy in the back line of the end zone, for a 16 yard TD completion to reduce the lead again, 14-10.  This started a back and forth scoring second quarter duel.  As Stroud amazingly avoided Tennessee pressure, he rolled right hitting Harrison  as he hauled in his second touchdown grab of the night on a great pass from Stroud.  Trying to capitalize on their offensive momentum, the Buckeyes went for two but were stopped, as the OSU lead remained 20-10.  Tennessee responded on a big pass from Milton to a wide open, diving Squirrel White for 50 yards to the Ohio State 2 yard line.  Jabari Small followed a Tennessee surge into the end zone for a 2 yard TD run.  Back came the Bucks. as  receiver Xavier Johnson makes his defender look silly with a nasty spin move on his way to a touchdown from 37 yard TD pass from Stroud.  Finally as the first half ended, White waddled in an end zone celebration after Joe Milton stayed tough in the pocket for a TD pass to White for 14 yards.  Buckeyes were strong, but Vols kept hanging around, trailing 27-24 at the half.

Scoring slowed in the second half, although the Buckeyes started quickly, as Emeka Egbuka's 10 yard TD pass reception from Stroud extended the OSU lead to 34-24 with 10:37 left in the third.  Later in the quarter, Milton dropped a 46-yard dime to a wide open Ramel Keyton, as he sauntered in for a 46 yard TD reception.  Was SEC opponent fatigue starting to creep up on Ohio State?  The Buckeyes offense did respond, with Noah Ruggles 25 yard field goal in the final minute of the third quarter, and OSU ended the quarter ahead 37-31.

With 10:01 to go in the game, a Ruggles 48 yard field goal extended the Ohio State lead to 40-31.  Two minutes later, Vol kicker McGrath hit a 27 yard field goal, narrowing the gap to 40-34.  Both teams battled scoreless until 54 seconds to go in the game, when Tennessee's Jaylen Wright ran in a dramatic 50 yard run.  After 59 minutes and 6 seconds of action, the Volunteers took their first lead of the game 41-40.  Down but not done, Stroud's running and passing lead to a 50 yard field goal attempt.  However, Ruggles’ 50-yard field goal attempt with three seconds remaining sailed wide left, setting off a celebration on the Tennessee sideline.

“That probably was the most fun game I’ve ever played in my life,” said Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. “It just sucks it comes down like that."

“If we’re going to win these games we can’t give up those big, explosive plays,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

On the other sideline, “All the adversity this group’s faced during their careers, what they’ve done the last 23 months, I couldn’t be prouder of a group of individuals,” said Tennessee coach Josh Heupel.

“I trust myself, I trust my coaching and I just let it happen," Milton said.

“It’s been a fun climb," Heupel said. “The best is yet to come.”  Yes, Joe Milton will see familiar faces, as Tennessee faces the QB's former team Michigan in Syracuse's Football's Final Four.

The Sporting News Tournament Predictions

 As we are soon to kickoff the tournament, The Sporting News predicts the First Round and Bowl Quarterfinal games (not really, but this is how the tournament would look based on Sporting News predictions of the actual games).

Hey Martha, it is time for the 2022-2023 college football tournament selection show!

Welcome to the 2022-2023 College Football Tournament selection show, sponsored by Lou Malnotti's Pizza.  Now to the ESPN Studios, with Rece Davis, Mark May, and Lou Holtz.

RECE:  Welcome back to our College Football Tournament selection show, and welcome to our old friends Lou Holtz and Mark May.  Guys, we had championship weekend, but it was also a unique spoiler weekend, in that each of the Power Five conference championship games had an underdog that would only make the tournament if they won.  So no games where both teams would make it, no matter what the result.  Mark, what did that mean?

MARK: Rece, it meant that we basically had a set tournament before the weekend started, and if all the favorites had won, the tournament would have not changed.  But alas, Utah won the Pac-12, and Kansas State won the Big 12.  What that set into motion was nervousness among the four at-large teams that seemed poised to make the ten team field.  Those would be Ohio State, Alabama, Tennessee, and Penn State, probably in that order, with a maybe outside shot to Washington.  So with Kansas State and Utah playing there way in, it may mean that Tennessee and Penn State will be on the outside looking in.

LOU: That's right, it was a dandy of a weekend, I tell you.  LSU, Purdue, and North Carolina could not keep the chaos momentum going, but we have some big questions today.  I would say the only things that are set in this tournament are that Georgia will be #1, Michigan #2, and Tulane will be #10.  Everything else, the seedings, who gets in; it's all up in the air Rece, I tell you.

RECE: What we can say, for certain, Georgia, Michigan, Clemson, Kansas State, and Utah are definitely in, winning their conferences.  Tulane is pretty sure to be the representative champion from the Groups of Five conferences.  So that leaves four at-large spots, with TCU, Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee, USC, Penn State, and Washington hoping, hoping, for an at-large birth.

MARK: The biggest wild card in this entire situation is USC.  They were a top five team last week.  Their great quarterback Caleb Williams was banged up in the Pac-12 conference game, and Utah pulled way.  I have seen USC still projected as top six seed, most predictions are that they will be a First Round game team with a #7 to #10 seed, but I have also seen them projected as out altogether.  A team like Tennessee is really hoping they can make it in above USC.

LOU: Also, seeing how far TCU drops will be interesting.  Oh, they will make the tournament, but will they fall below a team like Alabama?  TCU on fourth down in overtime yesterday, they really should have kicked the field goal on fourth down.  This is not a situation where if TCU does not make the touchdown, Kansas State has 99 yards to go; Kansas State gets the ball in field goal range.  If your TCU, kick the field goal, and tell your defense, boys, keep Kansas State out of the end zone.  That is all I ask.

RECE: And I think a lot of questioning of not letting TCU quarterback Max Duggan try to get the touchdown on those goal line situations.

LOU:  Oh yes, no doubt about that Rece!

RECE: So Mark, I think for the top six teams, it seems like five should be in: Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and TCU.  Who will be sixth team in that group?

MARK: Guys, yesterday I would have Tennessee was out of the tournament with the K-State and Utah wins, however, now I think it will be USC completely out of the tournament, and the Volunteers will be in the top six. 

LOU: Mark, USC is making the tournament, they will be a First Round team, but Clemson will be in the top six.  Golly, they are a conference champion, with two losses.  A one-point loss in a rivalry game with South Carolina on the road and a loss at an improving Notre Dame team in South Bend.  And, you know, I know those two schools pretty well, I tell you.  But Clemson has to be above all these other two loss teams, and in the top six. No doubt about it.

RECE:  So coach, do you think the at-large teams will be Alabama, Ohio State, USC, and TCU?

LOU: That is what will happen, but I think Penn State deserves to be there more than some of those teams.  Look, Penn State lost to Ohio State and Michigan, two of the top four teams, maybe two of the top three teams.  Mark likes Tennessee, but hey, they lost to South Carolina 63-38, by golly.  No two loss team has the resume of Penn State, they really deserve to be there.   I think Mark is not on the bandwagon about Penn State being left out of the tournament, because he is a Pitt guy.  

MARK: Coach, I think it is going to be Ohio State, Alabama, TCU, and Tennessee as the four at-large teams, but I do think we saw an improvement in qualified teams this year.  Most recent seasons, Penn State and USC, even Washington, would have the resume to get in.  This year we have an abundance of quality teams.

LOU: No doubt Mark, what a great season it has been.  Golly, I want to see the brackets, I cannot wait.  

RECE: Coach, the waiting is over.  It is time to go to Brent Musburger on the field at SoFi Stadium in Southern California, where this year's championship game will be played. Brent?

BRENT:  You are looking...LIVE at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, the site of this season's college football championship game.  Hi there everybody, ten teams will play to win here, and take home the BCS championship trophy. And now, it is time for the Portillo's bracket presentation.

Let's go to tournament Commissioner Nelson, who will reveal this year's tournament. Commissioner..."

COMMISIONER: Thank you Brent. It is my yearly pleasure to announce the teams that will be playing in the 2022-2023 BCS College Football Tournament.

In the First Round, in Kansas City, Missouri, the seventh seed, the Wildcats of Kansas State University, champions of the Big XII, will play the ninth seed, and champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Clemson University Tigers.

The other First Round game will be played in Provo, Utah, where the eighth seed and champion team of the Pac-12 Conference, the Utes of the University of Utah, will take on the tenth seeded Tulane Green Wave, champions of the American Athletic Conference.

So let's move onto the BCS Bowl quarterfinals. Either Utah or Tulane will move on to the Orange Bowl, to play the top seed and defending champion, the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia, champions of the Southeastern Conference. 

The winner of the Orange Bowl, will take on the winner of the Sugar Bowl, which will feature the fourth seed, at-large from the Big XII Conference, the Horned Frogs of the Texas Christian University, and fifth seeded at-large from Southeastern Conference, the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama.

Either Kansas State or Clemson will move on to the Rose Bowl, to play the number two seed, and champion of the Big Ten Conference, the Wolverines of the University of Michigan.

The Rose Bowl winner will take on the winner of the remaining quarterfinal game, the Cotton Bowl, which will feature the third seed, at-large from the Big Ten Conference, the Ohio State University Buckeyes, who will play the sixth seed, at-large from the Southeastern Conference, the Volunteers of the University of Tennessee.

The winners of the BCS quarterfinals will meet in Syracuse for Football's Final Four, and the winner of the semi-finals will play for the BCS championship, right here, in Southern California.

BRENT: Thank you Commissioner, it shapes up to be a very competitive tournament. So for the viewers who may be wondering, seventh seed Kansas State does not play tenth seed Tulane because they already played one another this season, correct?

COMMISH:  Exactly.  Our guidance is to avoid regular season rematches in First Round and Bowl game quarterfinals.  So Tulane will play Utah rather than play Kansas State again.

BRENT:  And I am sure Coach Holtz is dying to know how close USC and Penn State were to making the tournament.

COMMISH:  Actually, the race to the last spot was not that close, Tennessee was easily in.  We had two razor thin margins, Ohio State nudging out Texas Christian for the third seed, and Kansas State with a narrow margin for the seventh seed over Utah.  

BRENT:  Thank you Commissioner, it is going to be an amazing tournament.  And now back to Rece at the studio.

(microphones pick up unsuspecting continuing conversation)

BRENT: Good job Commissioner. You did fine.

COMMISH:  Thanks, I am really nervous that this alternative twelve team tournament is building momentum.

BRENT:  Now that you mention that, could I use you as a reference to see whether I can get a job at that tournament selection show?

COMMISH: I am still confident we will remain the sole tournament for college football. 

BRENT: Okay, but if I needed a reference?  

(back to the studio)

RECE:  So Coach, what do you think?

LOU: I cannot believe they placed Clemson as ninth seed.  Are you kidding me?  They are a two-loss conference champion, and they are below three loss Kansas State and Utah?  This is a real shame.  They should be in the top six.

MARK: Well, at least Clemson does not have to go to Provo and play in Georgia's bracket.  Because of Kansas State's previous game against Tulane, which they lost, at home, Clemson goes to Kansas City and a chance for a Rose Bowl game against Michigan.  Commissioner Nelson has always eyed a game in Kansas City, and now it finally comes to fruition.

RECE: Commissioner Nelson mentioned the two tight rankings, Ohio State nudging out TCU for #3 and Kansas State getting by Utah for #7.  Both of these have some big implications, right coach?

LOU: Oh boy, you better believe it.  Who do you want to play, Nick Saban and Alabama, a perennial power house, or Tennessee with a hurt quarterback out of action, and a team that has not been to the tournament for decades?  Ohio State gets the Volunteers, and TCU's loss yesterday resulted in a game against Alabama, that is one tough break for TCU.

MARK:  You are right coach, big implications there.  The other close race, Kansas State instead of Utah gets a path to the Rose Bowl, and Michigan instead of Georgia in the Orange Bowl.  That is huge.  I bet the Rose Bowl would have loved to have Utah to move on to face Michigan, but alas, not to be.  What a year for Utah.  A pre-season choice as a top four, top six team.  They start to accumulate some losses, but Oregon loses then giving Utah a chance in the Pac-12 tournament.  And with all this roller coaster action, Utah ends up just where they were last year: a First Round game in Provo with a chance to play the #1 team, Southeastern Conference champion.  It is a tough slot if they end up playing Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

But one more thing amount Tennessee.  Before this past weekend, the Volunteers looked like a #7 seed, probably going to Louisiana to play Tulane, then would play #2 Michigan.  At first, when TCU and USC were upset, and they went into the at-large pool, it looked like Penn State and Tennessee might have gone from "in" to "out" of the tournament.  Instead USC is out, and Tennessee actually moves up to sixth seed and a match-up with Ohio State.  

RECE: Also, let's take a look at the Big XII.  Yes, they are losing Oklahoma and Texas, but four teams in the tournament over the last two years: Baylor, Oklahoma State, and this year Kansas State and TCU.  Plus, teams with tournament history Cincinnati, Central Florida, Houston, and BYU are joining the fold.  

MARK: Yes, Oklahoma and Texas are highly visible programs, with history and great brands, but how will they look within the SEC, among all of their strong programs.  Right now, it looks like Oklahoma and Texas will be in the middle of the pack at best in the SEC.

LOU: And I think Nebraska should go back to the Big XII because they have always needed to recruit outside Nebraska, and the Big XII would give them a connection to Texas and Oklahoma high schoolers.  Is Nebraska going to go to Ohio and Pennsylvania and pick-up talent?  I don't think so.  Maybe they can move to the Pac-12 for west coast talent.  And I don't think the Big Ten would mind Nebraska leaving.  The Big Ten likes schools in the prestigious  Association of American Universities, and Nebraska no longer is, and all the other conference schools are.  So Nebraska, move over to Big XII, get your mojo back.

RECE:  Guys, let's talk about a proposed twelve team tournament that may be on its way.  How would their proposal differ from Commissioner Nelson's tournament? 

LOU: Wow Rece, it would be really, really different.  The four byes would go to only conference champions in their new proposal.  So that would mean Georgia and Michigan get a bye, but also two conference champions, Kansas State, Clemson, or Utah get the other two byes.  In Commissioner Nelson's tournament, these are teams in the First Round, without a bye.  Big difference!

MARK: Yes coach, big difference.  The new proposal is trying to make sure that the conference championships maintain their importance, or even increase their importance.  On the other hand, Commissioner Nelson wants to maintain what a lot of people want, to keep every week of the season important.  And those losses that Kansas State and Utah had early in the season should prevent them from being equated to Michigan and Georgia. Commissioner Nelson is right, every week should matter.

LOU: That is right Mark, and part of that importance of every week is that teams, A) want to make the tournament, B) want to make the top six and avoid a First Round game, and C) want to be one of the top two teams.  This keeps every week important.

MARK:  Yes coach, and Commissioner Nelson stumbled onto this when the tournament was expanded from eight to ten teams.  And apropos to the proposed twelve team tournament, we have discussed in previous years whether we even need a ten team tournament anymore.  Conferences getting bigger, poaching from the smaller conferences, twelve game seasons, and conference championship games have all reduced the number of teams with tournament worthy resumes. 

LOU: Another difference between the two tournaments is the twelve team tournament starts out with four home games.  Commissioner Nelson does not believe in home games.  He thinks that the basketball tournament eventually dropped home games because it was not fair, why should the football tournament need home games?

MARK:  And also Commissioner Nelson loves taking the tournament all over the country, not just the southern states.  This year we have tournament games in Kansas City and Provo, in the past, people have loved when Clemson and USC played in Green Bay against Wisconsin.  The reason people talk about on-campus games as a necessity, is they say college fans cannot follow their teams all over the country to neutral sites.  However, Commissioner Nelson has done two things to deal with this objection.  The First Round games are assigned to a location with a regional advantage.  No doubt that Kansas City and Provo will sell a lot of tickets, and local businesses will like to have some mid-December visitors.  Secondly, Commissioner Nelson spreads the Semi-Finals, or Football's Final Four, to any roofed stadium anywhere in the country.  So four schools share the ticket purchases, plus a city like Syracuse, who hosts this year's Semi-Finals, sell a lot of tickets to local fans who want to take in an exciting double header of college football.

LOU:  So right Mark, I think Commissioner Nelson should be considered as the COO of the proposed tournament.

RECE: Well guys, I think Syracuse will host two intra-conference semi-final games: Georgia versus Alabama, and a Michigan-Ohio State re-match.  Mark, who do you like to win it all this year at SoFi Stadium?

MARK:  I think it is Georgia's year to win back to back titles.  They are in second consecutive Orange Bowl, they are from the pinnacle conference.  I think the Bulldogs are ready again.

LOU:  Mark, repeating is so tough.  We have not seen back to back champs for a long, long time.  So it will not be Georgia.  Hey, Alabama has made the Semi-Finals eleven of the past thirteen years.  Nick Saban is incredible.  So Crimson Tide, you are going to Syracuse, and once you are there, you have a one in four chance of taking the title.  So this year, look for Alabama to take it all.  

RECE:  What other team should we look out for Mark?

MARK:  I like Tennessee as a real spoiler.  If there is a gap between the SEC and Big Ten, well, the Volunteers path starts with Ohio State, and if they win there, they may play Michigan, so they might ride Big Ten teams to the championship game.

LOU:  Well, I hate to keep talking about Clemson, but boy, watch out for the Tigers.  They have a hot new quarterback, they can win against Kansas State, and have a great chance against Michigan in the Rose Bowl.  Clemson is a team under-rated and overlooked.  Unlike Tennessee Mark, they may have upgraded quarterback instead of downgrading.

RECE: Guys, the team with the most consecutive current tournament appearances?  It is Ohio State in their tenth straight tournament, with no titles yet.  I am going to choose the Buckeyes.  So let's look at the brackets one more time:

Georgia on our mind: Bulldogs beat Ohio State 31-13, take 2021-2022 national title

A chilly day in Indianapolis greeted fans of #3 Georgia and #6 Ohio State as they lined up to enter Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2021-2022 national championship game.  These two at-large teams have both been waiting for their time in the winner's circle.  Ohio State was a popular pick to emerge from outside the top four, due to their match-up against Cincinnati, followed by a pairing against a top ranked Alabama team that was maybe a notch down than some of their predecessors.  Could they run the SEC gauntlet and take out Georgia, taking advantage of a neighboring state locale?

But this title opportunity was also precious to Georgia, and after a Buckeye punt, the Bulldogs scored with six and and half minutes to go in the first, on a pass play from Stetson Bennett IV to tight end Brock Bowers from 10 yards out.  

Eager to keep pace, Ohio State went for it on 4th and 7 from the UGA 36, but CJ Stroud's completion came up 4 yards short, to give the Bulldogs the ball.  Eager to capitalize, two plays later, Georgia running back Zamir White ran 64-yards for a TD, giving them a first quarter 14-0 lead.  Momentum, all Georgia's.  

Ohio State was willing to put up a fight.  They next drove to the Georgia 1-yard line, but penalties and sacks forced the Buckeyes to settle for a Noah Ruggles field goal.  But the Buckeye defense held Georgia to a -4 yard three and out, followed by a OSU drive capped by wide-out Garrett Wilson's jet sweep TD from 2 yards out, and the Buckeye faithful cheered the reduction to a 14-10 score.  But Georgia responded with a five minute drive, capped by a 23 yard TD pass from Bennett to Bowers, to extend the Bulldog lead to 21-10.  Ohio State's 3-minute drive ended on an incomplete Stroud pass on 4th and 9 on the UGA 39, with 9 seconds left in the half.

The Buckeyes were still ready, and started the second half with a long TreVeyon Henderson scamper to set up another Ruggles field goal, and OSU was within 21-13.  Bulldogs answered with a drive ending in a Jack Podlesny 38-yard field goal, and the stellar Georgia defense held OSU scoreless the rest of the way.  Bennett finished the scoring in the fourth on a 14-yard pass to Ladd McConkey, putting the icing on a 31-13 Georgia win.  

Confetti rained down on Georgia. The Bulldogs fans chanted "Kir-by, Kir-by!" Four decades of pent-up emotion were unleashed as the Bulldogs snapped a frustrating national championship drought.  "I've never been around a group of players that really wanted it so bad and wouldn't be denied," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "I told the guys in the locker room, just take a picture of this."

On the other hand, Ohio State, in their nation leading streaks of ninth straight tournament appearance, fourth straight Football's Final Four, and second straight championship game will look to end their own title drought as soon a possible.

FOOTBALL'S FINAL FOUR: Ohio State late comeback stuns #1 Alabama, 22-19; Big second half pushes Georgia past Baylor, 34-15

 

First Round and Bowl Quarterfinals Provide Alabama vs Ohio State and Georgia vs Baylor in Football's Final Four

The First Round created an instant classic, as Utah outlasted Oklahoma State in double overtime, and Baylor outlasted Pitt after trailing after three quarters.

Baylor went on to shock Michigan in the Rose Bowl.  Cincinnati had the lead going into the fourth quarter, but Ohio State won at the end.  Notre Dame and Utah gave their best shot, but Alabama and Georgia head on to Football's Final Four.

 

Sports Illustrated makes their picks for the 2021-2020 tournament; Top seed Alabama is their choice

Sports Illustrated made their picks for the 2021-2020 tournament bracket, with Alabama winning over Georgia in the championship game (note: not really, I took their bowl picks and applied them to my bracket and algorithm)