College Football Playoff Semifinals
Oregon Ducks vs. Florida State Seminoles
It's About Time
The Seminoles came into this game undefeated through 13 games. However, they had fallen behind teams they should have dominated in each of their last 6 games, only to mount a successful comeback. Unfortunately, none of their opponents could stick their foot in the ground and defeat these playoff pretenders. Through all of this the Seminoles had dropped from #1 to #3 in the College Football Playoff ranking with teams with 1 loss jumping over them. Their lower ranking would be more than justified in this game.
The 1st half was a back-and-forth affair, with Oregon holding onto a slim 18-13 lead at halftime. Florida State got the ball first in the 2nd half and would have a chance to take their first lead of the game. On 2nd and 10 in Oregon territory, Florida State running back Dalvin Cook sprinted forward 10 yards but then Oregon linebacker Derrick Malone ripped the ball out of his hands and recovered the loose ball. 3 passes by Oregon's Heisman winning quarterback Marcus Mariota and 2 runs by running back Royce Freeman got the Ducks' another touchdown and lengthened their lead to 25-13.
On their next possession, the Seminoles managed to hold onto the football and scored a touchdown on a 10 play drive. But the Ducks' offense was far from finished. 2 runs by running back Thomas Tyner (pictured below) and two passes by Mariota got the ball close to midfield. Then on the 5th play of the drive, Mariota, and he had many times before, ran away from the pass rush and found a wide open receiver, this time being Darren Carrington, who caught the ball and ran the rest of the way for a long touchdown.
Once again down by 2 touchdowns, the Seminoles frantically tried to put together another touchdown drive. However, Dalvin Cook's not so firm grip once again hurt resulted in another turnover. After he caught a 15 yard reception, the ball was knocked out of his hands again by an Oregon defender and recovered by the Ducks. 2 plays later Mariota fired another long pass to Carrington who caught it for the touchdown. The Ducks had built a 39-20 lead and now the Seminoles were getting desperate. On a 4th and 5 in Oregon territory, Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston, who has had numerous major off the field issues, finally made a stupid move on the field. He dropped back to pass, had plenty of time to throw but couldn't find an open receiver. He scrambled backwards, but then decided to run forward, at which time his foot slipped. His arm flung backwards and since he only had one hand on the football at the time, he lost his grip the ball sailed awkwardly into the air. (see below)
Winston could only watch helplessly as his unforced fumble was scooped up by Oregon linebacker Tony Washington and returned 58 yards for a touchdown. (below)
The result of the game was assured after this blunder for the ages. To make matters worse for Florida State, Oregon would add two more touchdowns and turn the first-ever College Football Playoff semifinal into a 59-20 rout. After the Ducks' high-flying performance finally ended the Seminoles quest for a second national title, I only have one thing to say: "It's About Time!!"
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
A Glorious Day
For the second game in a row, Ohio State was labeled as the underdog. Quarterback Cardale Jones was making only the 2nd start of his career, so surely Alabama would be able to win easily, right? WRONG!!
Through the first quarter and a half, however, it seemed Alabama was going to win easily. After a couple of turnovers and two failed chances to get touchdowns in the redzone, the Buckeyes found themselves trailing 6-21. Then, with 8 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, the Buckeyes' offense began to get into gear. 2 passes by Jones converted 2 key third-down conversions in the drive which was capped off by a 3 yard plunge by underrated Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliot. With just under 3 minutes remaining in the half the Alabama offense got the ball but was forced into a timely three-and-out by a stingy Ohio State defense.
Alabama held only a slim 21-20 lead at the half and that lead would soon vaporize. The Buckeyes got the ball first in the 2nd half, and in only 6 plays took the lead on a touchdown pass from Jones to star receiver Devin Smith. After trading punts, the Alabama offense started to move down the field again but would soon dig themselves a deeper hole. In a rare defensive play call, Ohio State defensive lineman Steve Miller was told to drop back into coverage. The unusual play call paid dividends as Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Sims threw an ill-advised pass seemingly right at Miller who caught the ball and returned it for a 41 yard defensive touchdown.
Alabama quickly responded with a 7 play touchdown drive that made the score Ohio State 34 Alabama 28. Early in the final quarter, Ohio State was pinned back at their own 9 yard line by a exceptional punt by Alabama freshman punter J.K. Scott. The Buckeyes went three-and-out and soon had to punt themselves. A horrendous bounce on the punt gave Alabama a golden opportunity to take the lead, starting at the Ohio State 23 yard line. However, on the next play, Sims threw another interception which would spell the beginning of the end for the Crimson Tide. After two more punts, Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliot practically put the game away with a 85 yard run for yet another Buckeyes touchdown.
Don't forget to tune into the National Championship Game on Monday January 12 at 8:30 p.m on ESPN
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon Ducks
Will Heisman winner Marcus Mariota lead Oregon to their first-ever National Championship or will Ohio State pull off yet another upset?
My pick: Ohio State (but an Oregon win would make me happy too)
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