It is January 2nd, it is the observed New Year’s Holiday. It was not until 3:30 pm that I remembered that there were Bowl Games today. The New Year’s Day bowl games are, of course, normally on January 1. Being a Sunday, all the football games yesterday were NFL games. By the time I realized there were college games on today, the Cotton and Citrus Bowls were already in the 3rd Quarter. Mississippi State had already beaten Illinois 19-10. LSU was trouncing Purdue 42-7 and Southern Cal and Tulane were in a closely contested game with USC leading 35-30. Later this evening Penn State and Utah square off in the Rose Bowl.
Besides it being January 2nd, large part of the reason I was oblivious to the bowl games today was because my team, the University of Michigan, played on New Year’s Eve in the College Championship Semi-Final Game. Ranked #2, the 13-0 Wolverines faced the 3rd ranked Horned Frogs of TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. Following Fiesta Bowl, the Peach Bowl featured #1 Georgia vs #4 Ohio State.
It was impressive that two Big Ten teams were in the National Championship Semi-Finals. If both Michigan and Ohio State won they would face each other in the National Championship Game on January 9. It would have been a rematch of The Game. It would have been the first time Ohio State and Michigan played each other twice in the same season. It would have been unprecedented. It would have been pretty cool. Imagine beating Ohio State twice in one season.
It would have been…
Both Michigan and Ohio State lost. Michigan lost 51-45. Ohio State lost 42-41. Both games were exciting. TCU and Georgia will play for the National Championship on January 9th.
Let’s start with the Ohio State - Georgia game. After losing to Michigan, there were five teams more likely to make the Championship Playoffs than Ohio State. Georgia and Michigan won their conference championships and were shoe-ins as the only undefeated teams. Clemson, TCU, and USC lost in theirs. USC, Clemson, and Alabama all had two losses. TCU and Ohio State only had one loss. The committee rounded out the four teams with TCU and Ohio State. Ohio State upset with their loss to Michigan looked at this a “second chance.” The coach and players all said they wanted this challenge to show everyone they were tough, hard nosed, and not only belonged in the play-offs but were intent on winning it.
They did just that. They looked tougher and harder hitting than any other game I saw them play in all season. Ohio State led or the score was tied all but 1:49 of the entire game. Sadly for them, it was the last 1:49 of the game. Ohio State QB Stroud drove them into field goal range with 51 seconds left. Their kicker Noah Ruggles shanked the kick and Georgia won the game. Ohio State played very well. Ohio State and Georgia were very closely matched in yards passing, yards rushing, and time of possession. As a Michigan fan, I was almost sorry they lost. Almost.
The Michigan game was more of an upset. Michigan threw two pick six interceptions and two 1st and goal opportunities that resulted in only a field goal. That is a 25 point differential which is hard for any team to overcome. We didn’t. Yet, in our last possession, we had a chance to for a miraculous drive from our own 30 with just 51 seconds left. We turned it over on downs. We had more first downs then TCU, we 342 yards in passing to their 225, they led in rushing 263 to 185, and time of possession was about average. The pick six interceptions killed us.
Was I upset?
Well, I wanted them to win out and become National Champions. I was sorry they lost a game they could have won. But woulda, shoulda, coulda aside, they did lose, and the season ended. It was a magnificent season. 13-1 and ranked third in the country. They have beat Ohio State twice in a row, are back-to-back Big Ten Champions, have gone to the National Championship round two years in a row. I would take these kinds of results any time! It is a complete turnaround from the Rich Rod and Brady Hoke years. It was an exciting year a great team on both sides of the ball. It was a breakout year for J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum. The offensive line was superb anchored by the fifth-year transfer center Olusegun Oluwatimi. The defense was kind of a no name crew that was very good. I loved the conditioning of the team and the attitude of the entire team.
Looking forward to next season. Go Blue!
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