BEST EVER?

BY: Mike Rifkin

Saturday, a day when we celebrated the coming New Year surrounded by friends and family, was also the day when the College Football Playoff semifinals were played. As College Football fans, we got the best two semifinal games since this format was instituted in 2014. 

The first game saw the TCU Horned Frogs taking on the Michigan Wolverines. Many people did not give TCU  a chance in the game, and they pulled off a 51-45 win. Quarterback Max Duggan accounted for 282 yards and had four touchdowns ( 2 rush and two passes) for the Frogs. The Horned Frogs ran the ball for 263 yards as a team, and their defense had two interceptions returned for touchdowns. For the Wolverines, JJ Mccarthy accounted for 395 yards, three touchdowns ( 2 passes, one rush), and two interceptions. Michigan had to play this game without running back Blake Corum, who had a knee injury. Corum was 11th in the country in rushing. Donovan Edwards filled in and had 119 yards on 23 carries. There were a lot of big plays in this game, but two that there are two that stand out. The first one was on the opening drive by Michigan, where on fourth and goal, they tried to run a “Philly Special,” and TCU wound up getting a stop behind the line of scrimmage. The other came in the Second quarter when Mccarthy hit a deep shot to Roman Wilson for what looked to be a touchdown, but the replay official said he was short of the endzone. On the next play, Michigan fumbles and turns it over. 

The second game saw the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-41. The Bulldogs outscored the Buckeyes 18-3 in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Stetson Bennett threw for 398 yards and accounted for four touchdowns ( 3 passes, one rush). Georgia’s offense picked up their defense, which has been so good the last two seasons. On Saturday, that defense was picked apart by CJ Stroud. The future first-round pick threw 348 yards and four touchdowns against a great defense. Ohio State led 21-7 in the first half and 38-24 in the fourth quarter and couldn’t hold the lead. The game came down to a 50-yard field goal by Noah Ruggles, who missed it. 

Experts talk about wanting the four best teams in the playoffs. For the first time, not only did they get the four teams right, but everyone was equal. There was no domination; we got two excellent games, and I’ll say this was the best College Football Semifinals ever.