By: Cole Mantell (@lightningdragon)
The first round of the playoffs is in the books! Eight great games in the first week of the playoffs and seven more are on the docket before we can crown the Season 21 National Champion. Let’s take a look at the action from this week.
Monday
#7 USC beats #10 Texas 30-29
What a way to kick off the playoffs. While games later in the week provided more fireworks, this was a classic playoff game for both programs. USC, last season’s National Champion, had a strikingly similar regular season compared to Season 20. The team was ranked highly through the season but had some setbacks midseason. This season, losses to Michigan State and Ohio State knocked the Trojans down to #7, setting up a much tougher first round on paper compared to what people thought they would face. They got a Texas team surging after a midseason QB change, who was only #10 due to some tiebreakers, and who was coming out of a huge Rivalry Week win over Oklahoma.
Texas dominated the time of possession in this game, 20 minutes to 15 minutes for USC. There were six turnovers total, and both teams struggled at points to generate points. However, at halftime, Texas was leading 16-10. USC pulled through in the 2nd half, especially in the 4th quarter. That clutch performance is something we are used to from this version of USC, and it will be needed as they move on to face Georgia in the Quarterfinals.
#8 Kentucky beats #9 Michigan State, 55-52
What a game. Going into this matchup, the expectation was this would be a high-scoring affair, and this matchup delivered that in spades. Kentucky came into this game looking to repeat their stellar playoff records from seasons past, with a possible matchup against SEC rival Auburn up next with a win. Michigan State, meanwhile, in their second CFSL season got to make their playoffs debut. It was the new guy on the block against the playoff veteran, and in this game, the playoff veteran showed their experience.
Kentucky was tested throughout. Despite the high score, the Michigan State defense managed 7 sacks throughout the game along with 3 turnovers. Kentucky took a commanding lead through a 24-point third quarter, and Michigan State still fought back in the 4th quarter. Despite QB Cole Mantell’s 6 passing touchdowns, Kentucky escaped with a big 3-point win. Kentucky QB TJ Cunnington also threw 6 passing touchdowns, adding 555 passing yards as well. Kentucky indeed moves on to a SEC showdown next week versus Auburn in the Quarterfinals.
Tuesday
#6 Miami beats #11 UNC, 62-56 (6 OT)
I could dedicate an entire article to this game. Forget the game of the week, there were arguments on the Cole Mantell Show this week that this playoff game was possibly the best game of all time. Both Miami and UNC had played each other tough in recent history, including a 27-23 Miami win earlier this season. In the same stadium and season, this was a very different outcome between the Hurricanes and Tar Heels.
Miami HB Bo Yost was once again excellent, but this game belongs to Miami QB Leisa Pink. Pink threw 6 passing touchdowns, and three of her receivers (Zay Witherspoon, Nick Morrow, and Jalen Irvin) went over 100 receiving yards on the evening. Once we got to overtime, all logic seemed to go out the window. In the Modern Era of the CFSL, I posit that this is the best game yet. The action was great, both teams fought well, and most importantly, even after the final whistle with Miami pulling through I had no idea who was going to win watching it live. Please, schedule makers, make this game the opener of Season 22.
#5 Texas A&M beats #12 Penn State, 37-19
I feel a bit bad for the Aggies and Nittany Lions here. Although I’m sure Texas A&M will take the win, immediately following up one of the best CFSL games of all time is going to cast a shadow through the matchup no matter what happens. This game still was a great watch too, however. Texas A&M played well enough to be rated the best-place team in the country when the regular season ended. And their “reward” was a Penn State team who in Week 8 upset Michigan State and was primed to shock the world.
Texas A&M had other plans. WR Eli Riggens might play in the shadow of other higher-rated WRs on Texas A&M, but he was the star of the offense in this one. 10 catches for 109 receiving yards and a TD helped put the Aggies on top. On defense, the team held Penn State to just 10 rushing yards, in total. The Nittany Lions also only went 3 for 11 on 3rd downs. Texas A&M has taken that next step, and no matter what criticisms there are of the Big XII’s strength this season, the Aggies are for real. They are the last remaining Big XII team in the playoffs and get Alabama next week in the Quarterfinals.
Wednesday
#14 Florida beats #3 Florida State, 51-41
Of all eight first-round games, this was probably the most anticipated on paper. The Sunshine State Rivalry for the second time in Season 21. Florida looking to get another upset win over their hated rival. Florida State not only looking to avenge their earlier season loss but also shed recent bad playoff memories and move on in an ACC-heavy side of the bracket. For Florida, this was more than just a statement win.
I’ve been singing the praises of Florida QB Jack Schmidt all season. But I think someone even more underrated shined here. Florida HB Aaron King’s 100 rushing yards controlled the clock and made sure Florida could have someone reliable each snap in case of a blitz or heavy pressure from the vaunted FSU defense. FSU had some big individual performances from names like Zeus Claydon, Beanie Buchanan, and Tank Monday. But it was names like Justin James and Darren Robinson on Florida’s defense that pulled through. The Gators play Miami next week in another highly anticipated Sunshine State rivalry showdown.
#13 Alabama beats #4 Colorado, 38-35
For many, Colorado was a trendy upset pick, despite their first-ever Big XII Championship. When the sportsbook came out, the two teams were tied in the odds. Alabama would eventually pull out the win, but not before a great fight from Colorado kept this game close throughout. The Buffaloes will look to build on this season, but let’s not shy away from what was a great showing from them throughout.
Alabama was the much more experienced playoff team and won this game through the time-of-possession battle. At 19 minutes to about 17 minutes for Colorado, Alabama’s decisive edge there controlled the ball, and allowed QB Johnny Ray Davis (another underrated name in the SEC) to work his magic for the Crimson Tide. Alabama will have to work on the 3rd down conversions (33% in this game), but a 25-point 2nd half sealed the win for the visitors and sent Alabama as one of a crazy five remaining SEC teams in the final 8. The Crimson Tide gets the Texas A&M Aggies in the next round.
Thursday
#15 Georgia beats #2 Ohio State, 38-26
Not again. I don’t know how this keeps happening. Any time Georgia is in the playoffs, no matter what seed, don’t bet against them. What a game. The feeling around the league was that Georgia might’ve been one of the weakest teams in the playoffs before the Playoff Draft. Ohio State took this team 2nd, with only Oklahoma being judged by the ADs as the lower seed. And Ohio State was a terrible matchup for the Bulldogs with their high-flying offense and fast-paced attack. Well, that’s why they play the games.
Georgia not only played well, they played well prepared. They matched the Buckeyes nearly even in Time of Possession, and an excellent 3rd down conversion rate gave them the edge. Georgia QB Brandon Petty passed about as well as Ohio State QB Jalen Tyree, this season’s CFSL All-American QB. Not only did Georgia hang in the passing game, their defense did more than enough to slow the Buckeyes down. It led to another high-profile upset for this program and gave Georgia a matchup against last season’s National Champion in USC as a reward. I know what the betting lines might be, but Trojan fans, beware the Bulldog.
#1 Auburn beats #16 Oklahoma, 47-24
It has gone under the radar, but the difference in Auburn this year has not been the passing game, but instead the rushing game. As of the writing of this article, it is Auburn, not Oklahoma, who leads the CFSL in team rushing. When Auburn can match your greatest strength on offense, and add the vaunted arm of QB Jay Duke, the Sooners were in trouble from the jump here.
While I will never count out Oklahoma AD Dustin Hall, the challenge was just too much for this defense. The clock might’ve struck midnight for this Cinderella story, but the Sooners made a statement in their first season back in the CFSL. Oklahoma will surely look at adjustments after a sour end to what was a great start to this season. After starting Season 21 5-0, the Sooners lost four in a row, including this game. Looking back, if this team can score 5 more points against Colorado and not be pushed out of an automatic bid, the Sooners likely won’t get this tough of a first-round matchup. But that’s how it works in the CFSL, and now Oklahoma will have the chance to reload in the offseason.
