The CFP final four is unexpected, but not an accident
How each team arrived at the precipice of a national title.
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Ten Takeaways: CFP quarterfinals
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1. An unexpected final four
If last year's final four (Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, Penn State) was a sign that bluebloods would reign supreme in the new era of college football, this year's (Oregon, Ole Miss, Indiana, Miami) is the counterpunch that things are as wide open as they've ever been. To be fair, these aren't all Cinderella stories we're talking about here. All four teams either made the playoff last year, or barely missed it. They all have also thrived in the portal system, bringing in talent across the board - most notably with each having transfer quarterbacks. Shooting a money cannon at your roster is one thing. Actually nailing your evaluations on the players you're spending that money on is another. Each have done that spectacularly, and it's a major reason why they're still playing.
More than anything else, all four programs embody how important solid coaching still is. Curt Cignetti is in the midst of an all-time job at Indiana. Lane Kiffin led Ole Miss to the dance; now Pete Golding and Co. are building off it. Dan Lanning has Oregon's whole operation running at as high a level as any in the country. Mario Cristobal –for as much grief as I give him– has unequivocally returned Miami to contender status. It may be surprising that these are the four teams left competing for the national championship, but it sure as hell isn't an accident.
2. Ole Miss and Georgia put on an instant classic
There's no sugarcoating it: the vast majority of CFP games have been lackluster. For whatever reason, the playoff –even when it was four teams– has never found a good grove in producing games that match the hype they come with. Thankfully, Ole Miss-Georgia was an exception. The Rebels' 39-34 win wasn't just one of the best games of the CFP era. It's one that will stand next to classics from any other era in college football history. This is the kind of stuff that aired on ESPN Classic 15 years ago:
The Sugar Bowl game ops staff having to clear the field twice –which included a huge Gatorade stain after Ole Miss had already doused Pete Golding– before the clock actually hit zero felt like a perfect way for a game so out of control and chaotic to finish. Another trait of classic games is that they usually have some sort of star-making performance. Rebels QB Trinidad Chambliss was this game's. He was simply magical in the second half:
Georgia's probably kicking themselves for not holding (and building) on their 21-12 halftime lead. I don't blame any Dawgs fans who feel like they threw this one away. Ole Miss deserves credit for hanging in, though, then causing the Bulldog mistakes that eventually turned the game. What a job from Pete Golding and the rest of Ole Miss' staff, who are dealing with so much off the field right now thanks to the Lane Kiffin situation. That was a win for the ages, and one that Rebels fans will never get tired of re-living.
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3. The U officially announces their return
As nice as beating Texas A&M in College Station was, Miami needed something with a bit more weight to prove to the college football world that they're undeniably back. Dethroning defending national champion Ohio State fits the bill.
What impressed me most with the Hurricanes' performance is that it feels like it played out exactly how they drew it up. Miami's biggest advantage coming into the game was trench play, and they dominated it on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Akheem Mesidor (5 tackles, 2 sacks) and Rueben Bain Jr. (3 tackles, 1 sack, 1.5 TFL) whipped Ohio State's offensive line all game, making life miserable for Julian Sayin - even when they didn't quite get to him.
Meanwhile, their offensive line got just enough consistent push on the ground (153 yards, 4.1 per carry) to be effective. Lastly, QB Carson Beck didn't try and do too much. Miami clearly wasn't interested in launching the ball downfield, so Beck was more than content to get the ball out quickly to his receivers. It helped that they were bizarrely given ample cushion on nearly every snap by Ohio State's DBs. Overall, it was a smart gameplan from Miami that their players executed almost flawlessly. Whether you like it or not, The U is back.
