The College Football Playoff Is Set
Nobody had a tougher decision to make than the college football playoff committee. Saturday 12/2/23 was an eventful day in NCAA football. As expected, Michigan took care of business in defeating Iowa by a score of 26-0 to take home the Big 10 Championship. Texas blew out Oklahoma State 49-21 to win their last Big 12 Championship before moving to the SEC next year. Florida State had an uninspiring victory, but they still took the ACC and remained undefeated. These games followed Washington's Friday night win over Oregon for the PAC-12 title.
Meanwhile, in the game of the year, the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated number one ranked Georgia 27-24. The Bulldogs remained the top ranked team nearly all year and would have been a shoe in for the last four standing with a victory. A close loss does not take away how dominant of a team they were in 2023. However, the Tide who have played their best ball of the year late in the season, controlled the game after being down 7-0 following Georgia's first drive.
With only four teams that could make the college football playoff, who was going to be the odd ones out? Texas and Alabama entered the weekend ranked seventh and eighth in the AP Top 25. Even winning, it was no guarantee they were in. Let's see how things were shaken up following Championship weekend.
Which College Football Teams Can Win The Title?
Only four teams remain in contention for the national championship. Michigan and Washington both won their conferences and went undefeated this year. They take the top two spots.
The next two will be loved or hated by fans depending on which side you are on. Texas, who defeated Alabama in Week Two takes the third spot. The Longhorns only lost one game this year, which was a rivalry game against Oklahoma. Texas did have a couple of close calls midseason, but after a dominating conference championship victory, they are the best one-loss team in college football.
The final team to make the College Football Playoff is the Alabama Crimson Tide. After a slow start to the year including a loss to Texas, a narrow win over USF, and a miracle win over Auburn, many outside of Alabama discounted the Tide. It seemed that Georgia ran the SEC, but head coach Nick Saban and quarterback Jalen Milroe proved otherwise. It was the third conference title for Alabama in four years securing them a chance at winning it all.
As for the fans that will be disappointed, FSU and Georgia did not make it even after an outstanding year by both programs. Florida State went 13-0 including the ACC title. The absence of quarterback Jordan Travis certainly hurt their chances of winning it all. And Georgia who spent most of 2023 at number one, is also out. The Bulldogs have one of the most talented rosters in the nation, but they had to be perfect to get in. They just were not able to stop Bama's playmakers.
When Are The Semifinals?
The semifinals between the four teams previously mentioned will take place on January 1, 2024. The winners will battle it out on January 8th for the National Championship.
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
(1) Michigan vs. (4) Alabama
Sugar Bowl
New Orleans, Louisiana
(2) Washington vs. (3) Texas
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