Rivalry Week was an instant classic. From two Top Ten teams getting upset, to a battle for the state of Georgia that rivals Waterloo; rivalry week was full of the tension that we love. How will this impact the playoffs?
Buckeyes and Wolverines: Michigan is ranked 21st in the nation. Compared to winning the National Championship last year, that’s very disappointing. Ohio State is ranked 2nd. With this game, Ohio State was presented with the opportunity to break the 3-year streak of losing in this historic rivalry game. Spoiler: they failed. Michigan was able to tie the score just before halftime after an electrifying Wolverine interception that set up a much needed touchdown. Neither team scored in the third quarter, but late in the fourth quarter, Michigan was able to convert a field goal to go up 13-10. Ohio State had one final chance to get the game-winner, but they failed, and the upset was complete. Then, the chaos started. Michigan proceeded to plant the flag in the middle of the field, which led to a brawl between the two teams. Finally, police officers used pepper-spray to separate the combatants. Overall, the game was very sloppy for both teams, but unexpectedly, it brought a fiery spirit, which made it very entertaining.
The Storm is Weathered: Yet another major upset. Syracuse is unranked, and Miami is ranked 6th. And yet Miami managed to lose the game and get knocked out of the ACC title game. However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Syracuse. Behind 21-0 at the beginning of the second quarter, something needed to be done to get them back in the game. They charged back into the game, scoring three straight touchdowns while locking down the Miami offense, 21- 21. The teams traded touchdowns, and magic happened. The Canes’ quarterback Cam Ward completed a pass to his wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, but Syracuse defenseman Devin Grant stripped him of the ball, leading to a Syracuse recovery. Syracuse proceeded to storm down the field and score a touchdown, but Miami was unable to respond. Syracuse would get their top 25 finish, and Miami would be knocked out of the ACC title game, which was be the best and worst possible situation for both teams respectively.
Texas beats…Texas?: The game went as expected; # 3 Texas was able to beat #15 Texas A&M to secure the SEC championship berth. Texas A&M, throughout the entire game, just looked worse, and it wasn’t nearly as exciting as the rest of the games. Texas will face off against Georgia next, and it’s set to be one of the best games of the year.
“The Greatest Win In History”: Eight overtimes. Athens, Georgia, witnessed eight overtimes. The Bulldogs normally destroy the Yellowjackets. But by halftime, they found themselves down 17-0. One half later, and it was tied 27-27. Over two overtimes, they traded touchdowns, making the score 40-40 going into the third overtime. No score in the third and fourth, and both teams made two-point conversions in the fifth overtime to make it 42-42. Same story as the third and fourth for the sixth and seventh, but going into the eighth, each team was eager to win. Georgia Tech failed to capitalize on their drive, and the Bulldogs just ran it up the middle for a 44-42 win.
Predictions: The playoff bracket is not final, but if the games were to be played starting today, these would be my predictions. The college football playoff kicks off with an exciting wildcard round: Penn State against Indiana in a game that starts off competitive, but sees Penn State pull away by the fourth quarter to secure a decisive win, while Notre Dame dominates over South Methodist University (SMU) in a lopsided matchup and advances easily. The match between Georgia and Tennessee is going to be very grueling and gritty, as the experience of Georgia helps them beat Tennessee in a photo finish. Ohio State closes the wildcard round with an annihilating win over Arizona in a commanding performance to make that big statement up the ladder.
The semifinals will make room for two electrifying contests: Ohio State takes on Georgia and is way too strong for the Bulldogs as it gorges through with its game plan en route to winning. Texas comes out with victory after an all-drama display from its side in front of Miami in the tiniest margin possible single digit-into the title game.
Texas and Ohio State will play one for the ages in the National Championship. Dominant throughout the playoffs, Ohio State met their match with a resilient Texas team. The Longhorns pull off the narrow 32-28 victory for the National Title to set in stone their legacy as champions to end the intriguing 2024-2025 College Football Season.
