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The College Football Playoff National Championship game is set following a stimulating semifinal that left those priorly complaining in an ocean of silence and all viewers in a roar of excitement.
You can bi*** all you want on the playoff format, I'm right there with ya, but the committee made the right choice on the four teams to play in the semi'. That surely is no cap, cha heard. Enough with the complaints, keep 'em silent, stay in that ocean and zip it. We are not trying to hear it! We experienced two slobber-knockers, the rise of a new fan favorite across the nation, and an all around thrilling setup. The first game was an instant classic between Bama (nuthin but the Tiiiide) and Michigan that needed OT to settle the heat.
What a banger it was in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl CFP semifinal between the Wolverines and Crimson Tide. A straight up slobber-knocker on the gridiron, as advertised. Over 27.2M people around the nation tuned in to the battle of the roses, the most viewers for a CFP semifinal since 2014 and the most-viewed non-NFL sporting event since 2018. With the country watching, the gladiators got to the warfare.
What a thriller this game was as we got a war in three chapters: defense-gritty offense-thrill. First chapter showed defenses takin' the swing in the first half delivering a trench battle that was a pure joy for those who adore defense. Hard nose ball with a fist fight for field-possession sprinkled with a slew of masterclass defensive drives to force punts. There is bad offense/playcallin' punts then there is just the chess match defensive prowess forced punts. We got the alternative as we were blessed with a chess match between two defensive minded powerhouses. Don't get it twisted, we still saw some fireworks and some solid offensive plays like this masterpiece from JJ McCarthy to turn a huge loss into a big gain with an unreal torqued body dot:
video via CollegeFootballReport//X
Defenses still did work as the game was just a 13-10 game going into the half. The defensive theme led into the third quarter as each team were unable to score in the period. Chapter two delivered the gritty offense as the Os finally cracked open the gate in the 4th quarter to make things happen to light some fireworks. After trailin' 17-13, the Wolverines missed an important field-goal to give the Tide a chance to ice things and march to the Natty. The college football gods had different plans.
The final chapter delivered us the thrills as the Wolverine defense held Bama to a field-goal late in the 4th to give JJ McCarthy and his offense the opportunity to march down the field to tie the game. That's exactly what they did as the Wolverines converted a clutch 4th-down conversion to help lead them in cappin' off a game-tying drive. However, they did give the Tide 90 seconds to drive for a game-winner, buuuuut once again, the Wolverine defense stumped them to force a final punt in regulation... a punt that set off MORE thrills just to keep us viewers on the edge of our seat as Bama's punter James Burnip; who mind you had a GAME (352 net yards on 7 punts)- booted a 51-yard bomb that UofM's Jake Thaw muffed at the inch line (literally). All of a sudden it went from a possible UofM theft to the Wolverines hanging on by a NEEDLE to force overtime and not lose on a game-winning safety. Luckily, they survived the scare to move the game into overtime.
There was no denying Blake Corum and the Wolverines in OT as their star tailback punched in the go-ahead score in just two plays to put the game in their defense's hands to win. Thanks to an awful 4th down play-call mixed with a one tooled Jalen Milroe the defense stumped the Crimson Tide to walk-off to the title game. I said in my prediction that this game would come down to which QB wanted to prove superiority- I was correct as JJ McCarthy did the provin'. What an awful playcall by Saban & Tommy Rees. I'm talkin' legendary awful. Check it out with Alabama's radio call:
video via wrhiv_72//X
Hands down one of the stupidest calls I have ever seen, especially considering the moment. Despite the poor call, the game was a pure banger. Wolverines never gave up; the theme of their team and season. The run game controlled the game flow and their defense stepped up majorly. Now they have a chance to quiet the haters with their first National Championship win since 1997 and their third in the poll-era. One more task; one more dangerous opp. Coach Harbaugh just needs to stick to the same gameplan despite facing a MUCH more potent offense in the final: feed your senior tailback to keep the defense off the field allowing their fatigue bar to remain stable for them to win the big moments.
Washington and Texas followed up the first semi banger with a prime-time banger of their own. We had witnessed quite the Sugar Bowl with offensive warfare, an improbable 4th-quarter comeback, and a legendary performance by a nation's new fan favorite. The first half went exactly how we imagined it would go as each team threw a punch and received one back in retaliation. Huskies never faced a deficit on the scoreboard, but the Longhorns refused to give them the chance to take full control of the game as they capitalized on a major muffed punt to even the game at 14 and also orchestrated a beautiful 10-play drive that brought the squads into the locker rooms deadlocked at 21 a piece.
The 3rd-quarter set up the improbable comeback. Penix Jr. marched the Huskies down for an opening half tuddy and then the defense got his offense the ball right back for a quick 3 to score 10 unanswered points to give them their largest cushion of the game up to that point. Washington held Texas to a goose egg after the third, but the Longhorns were not dead yet. After Washington extended their lead to 13 in the 4th, the Longhorns flipped the switch to outscore the Huskies 10-3 as well as forced a Washington punt to give the team a chance to win the game on the final drive as MPJ and the Huskies' offense looked on.
Despite Texas' never give up motives, the Washington defense prevailed by stopping Texas on Washington's 13 yard line on 4th down. Huskies advance to their first CFP final in search for the Universities' 3rd "championship" win; they also look to join the epic 1991 squad in Washington football galore as undefeated champs. They must topple another undefeated team in order to claim that rich history. If you ask anyone across Husky Nation; they are as confident as ever knowing they have THEIR Heisman winner leadin' the team against a fiery UofM.
Hey Alexa, play "Superhero" by Metro Boomin. That is the theme song when I think of Michael Penix Jr. after the performance he had against Texas. A performance that led to an epic post game interview that elevated Penix Jr. to a household name across the nation. A performance that has Penix Jr's Huskies a win away from a Natty. The disrespect, the Heisman snub, and the hardships all tapped out to Penix's prowess on the gridiron.
What a damn good performance, what a damn good story. MPJ had a game for the ages unleashing the 4th-best passing game in CFP history with 430 yards in the air with a 188.7 passer rating and a 97.7 QBR. Penix Jr. was straight slingin' the laces with dot after dot. I'm talkin' dot AFTER dot; straight up assassin motives by the lefty mercenary:
video via College Football Report//X
I adore lefty mercenaries at the QB position. MPJ has that Steve Young zip. That Mike VIck placement. Penix Jr. is special to watch. His story of overcoming adversity is even more special. After finishing 4 straight campaigns with season ending injuries, including two separate ACL tears, Penix Jr. never gave in; never gave up as he transferred from Indiana to Washington to resurrect his career in a stunning two-year transformation with a chance for the ultimate cherry on top. In his two year run with the Huskies, MPJ has 9,289 passing yards, a 66/17 tuddy-interception ratio, and a lights out 25-2 record as starter. Now he gets a chance to end it with a National Championship. His story was put on display during the lead up to the semifinal, his performance and post game interview had his name buzzin' around the college football world for ALL to witness:
That interview went viral as many rushed to claim support for him simply for his swaggerfied silky purple durag, strong leadership ethics, and brotherhood recognition. Oh, and for being a winner. Couldn't happen to a more deserving athlete. He is the "babyface" the college football landscape can enjoy and should enjoy. I declare him the cover star for the returning NCAA Football game in '24 (make it happen!). Penix Jr. shows that even through darkness with countless hardships/failures; anyone can rise to another level with hard work and the will to never give up. Those in Dade City and across the nation can look at him as a role model in the fullest form. That's king sh**, cha heard.
Real quick, to address those claiming that Penix Jr. was snubbed for Heisman- I agree as he was my selection. I can understand the choice to award Jayden Daniels the trophy as he had a remarkable season with 50 all-purpose tuddys, 4,946 all-purpose yards, and the best passer rating in the nation. Remarkable no doubt, but I take in team record/status with large weight- as I do for my MVP voting amongst the pro leagues. I thought Penix Jr. was the rightful choice due to Washington's undefeated record. I think they need to wait until after the Bowl season to award the Heisman trophy. MPJ's performance against Texas should be a "Heisman Moment" for him; and if he helps the Huskies win the Natty then that trumps what Daniels has done this season. Bottom line. The trophy is awarded far too early. Having the ceremony be after the season would allow the best consideration and could reduce the amount of players that opt-out if they have a chance to add to their case for an All-American award. I feel many will agree with me on that.
Those complaining about the CFP committee panel's selections for the four teams are on mute now that both games banged off in epic fashion. If they have a peep it's a quiet complaint. We still have one more epic battle to go in order to claim the National Champions. Michigan versus Washington. Stout defense versus the number one offense with air-raid motives. Oh baby, the excitement is REAL. Two more sleeps and the festivities begin. Two more sleeps and we witness even MORE thrills. Run it!
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