CFP Quarterfinals: Indiana and Oregon Dominate, Miami Shocks the Defending Champ, Rebels Win in Late Thriller

Dawgbone Jr's CFP Quarterfinals Observations

CFP Quarterfinals: Indiana and Oregon Dominate, Miami Shocks the Defending Champ, Rebels Win in Late Thriller

Cotton Bowl: #10 Miami 24 - #2 Ohio State 14

Ohio State was the biggest favorite out of any team coming into the quarterfinals, but Miami was not phased at all. The Canes came out hot in this game with a couple of touchdowns, including a 72 yard pick six by Keionte Scott. Carson Beck had an efficient performance against the Buckeyes and protected the ball well, finishing 19/26 with 138 yards and one touchdown. Miami RB Mark Fletcher Jr. was the real weapon for that offense, as he ran for 90 yards and had a receiving touchdown in the second quarter. Even with the 14 point lead at halftime, the Buckeyes started to rally back, making the score 17-14 in the fourth quarter with some big plays from WR Jeremiah Smith. It was looking rough for the Hurricanes with most of the momentum on Ohio State’s side, but they answered with a 10 play, 70 yard touchdown drive that sealed the victory. Miami gets their biggest win in a long time while also getting revenge for the 2003 National Championship loss to the Buckeyes.

Orange Bowl: #5 Oregon 23 - #4 Texas Tech 0

Texas Tech was coming into this game 12-1, with all of their wins being by 20 plus points, but the Ducks defense played the game of their lives, completely shutting down the Red Raiders offense. It was a slow start for both teams offensively, but Oregon was showing signs of life while Texas Tech just looked awful. Red Raider QB Behren Morton finished 18/32 with 137 passing yards and two interceptions, both thrown to true freshman Brandon Finney Jr., who had one of the best games of the week out of any player in the quarterfinals. The score was just 6-0 late into the third quarter, but a strip sack by Matayo Uiagalelei, reminiscent of David Pollack back in the day, led to an Oregon touchdown that pretty much sealed this one. Even with the Oregon win, the Ducks will have to stop making simple mistakes offensively, as there were multiple drives where they moved the ball well before a crucial mistake cost them points. Oregon will need to clean that up before facing Indiana in the Peach Bowl.

Rose Bowl: #9 Alabama 3 - #1 Indiana 38

The granddaddy of them all featured the most dominant program in college football history against one of the most historically losing teams, and Indiana made Alabama look completely outmatched. The Crimson Tide were competitive early, but a few massive mistakes turned this game into a blowout. Alabama failed on a fourth down attempt early in the second quarter deep in their own territory, leading to an Indiana touchdown to make it 10-0, and soon later a Ty Simpson fumble set up another Hoosiers score. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza played like a champion, throwing for more touchdowns than incompletions, while Indiana also dominated the ground game with 215 rushing yards and two backs topping 80 yards. Alabama managed just 23 rushing yards total, and if the Tide want any chance of competing next season, fixing a historically bad run game has to be the top priority. Curt Cignetti has turned a once hopeless program into the best team in the country, and this Indiana team is becoming one of the greatest stories college football has ever seen.

Sugar Bowl: #6 Ole Miss 39 - #3 Dawgs 34

The Dawgs were looking to avenge last year’s loss in the Sugar Bowl while the Rebels were looking to avenge their regular season loss to Georgia, and Ole Miss got the better of them in a late thriller. Rebels QB Trinidad Chambliss delivered an unbelievable performance, finishing 30/46 with 362 passing yards and two touchdowns, playing his best football in the fourth quarter after struggling late against Georgia earlier in the season. Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy was also a problem for the Dawgs despite a costly fumble that was returned for a touchdown, as he ran for 98 yards and scored twice. Georgia’s offense did not reach the level it played at in the first matchup, rushing for 221 yards in Athens but only 124 in New Orleans, and despite leading by nine at halftime, the Dawgs collapsed in the second half. This goes down as one of the worst second halves of the Kirby Smart era. Ole Miss moves on to the Fiesta Bowl playing its best football of the season and Lane Kiffin should be regretting his decision to leave the team.

Predictions for the rest of the CFP

Semifinals

Fiesta Bowl: Miami 24 - Ole Miss 27
Peach Bowl: Oregon 21 - Indiana 28

National Championship

Ole Miss 31 - Indiana 41

Dawgbone Jr (aka Bennett Wiggins)