And now we wait.
This weekend's slate was being touted as the best we've ever seen in college football. Conference titles were at stake and there were playoff implications in virtually every matchup.
Ohio State fans are celebrating another Big Ten championship, but one big question is yet to be answered.
There were some tight ones and a few blowouts, but one thing is certain: Sunday's final playoff rankings will be surrounded with controversy as Buckeyes and Crimson Tide fans await their team's fate.
No. 6 Georgia 28, No. 2 Auburn 7
The team that throttled the Crimson Tide just last week was thoroughly dominated yesterday in Atlanta. The Bulldogs and Tigers met about a month ago at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium, and the home team was victorious by a score of 40-17. Kirby Smart has now more than made up for that as the Georgia Bulldogs are the SEC champions and will make their first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Jake Fromm threw for 183 yards and a pair of scores. Nick Chubb, D'Andre Swift, and the Bulldog ground attack came through in a big way with 238 yards and a late touchdown that more than sealed the deal. Chubb ran for 77 yards, but it was Switft – a true freshman – who delivered the dagger with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Dandre Swift said bye-bye pic.twitter.com/sn0XM1YUE9
— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) December 3, 2017
Butkus/Bednarik finalist Roquan Smith and the Georgia defense delivered by holding one one of the country's hottest teams to just 259 yards while forcing two turnovers; both fumble recoveries by Smith. Jarrett Stidham completed 16 of 32 passes for 145 yards and a score. Kerryon Johnson fought through a shoulder injury and totaled 44 yards on 13 carries.
Buckeye fans certainly can't complain about the result. The Auburn loss is another blemish on Alabama's lackluster resume.
No. 3 Oklahoma 41, No. 11 TCU 17
Say what you will about Baker Mayfield and all of his ridiculous antics, but he's got to be one of the best college football players we've seen over the last several years. The Sooners are headed to the College Football Playoff and Mayfield will be handed the Heisman Trophy next Saturday night in New York.
The senior put up 308 yards of total offense and four scores against one of the country's top defenses. Wide receiver Marquise Brown and Mykel Jones both caught touchdown passes. Mark Andrews hauled in seven passes for 58 yards and scored twice on the day. The Sooners got off to a 17-0 lead thanks in part fo a defensive scoop and score by linebacker Caleb Kelly.
TCU quarterback Kenny Hill amassed 285 yards of total offense and threw a pair of touchdown passes. It was an ominous start when tailback Kyle Hicks fumbled on the first offensive play of the game, leading to the Kelly score. The Horned Frogs only trailed by a touchdown at the half, but Gary Patterson and the TCU offense failed to put up any points in the game's final two frames.
This will be Oklahoma's second appearance in the College Football Playoff. Not a bad start to the Lincoln Riley Era.
No. 1 Clemson 38, No. 7 Miami 3
Miami's turnover chain has been one of the team's top storylines of 2017. Saturday in Charlotte, the Hurricanes got hit with a bit of their own medicine as the Clemson defense stymied Mark Richt's offense while forcing three turnovers.
Clemson having some turnover chain fun of their own right now. https://t.co/kBmIKPjl73
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) December 3, 2017
Junior quarterback Kelly Bryant completed 23 of 29 passes for 252 yards and two total touchdowns. The Clemson ground game didn't exactly gash Miami (77 yards on 41 carries), but it did find the end zone four times on the day. Ray-Ray McCloud was the game's leading receiver with six receptions for 100 yards.
Malik Rosier struggled again for Miami as he completed 14 of 29 passes for 110 yards and a pair of interceptions. The offense as a whole managed just 214 yards and didn't get on the board until Michael Badgley connected on a fourth-quarter field goal.
Three straight CFP appearances for Dabo. Impressive.
No. 10 USC 31, No. 12 Stanford 28
Some of the talking heads were doing some whining this week because USC hasn't been in the CFP discussion with the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide. I think that's a pretty absurd thing to cry about, but the Trojans did pick up their second huge win of the season Friday night as they topped Stanford once again.
Sam Darnold and Ronald Jones II pretty much ran the show for Southern Cal, but a new wide receiver stepped up in a big way as well. Michael Pittman Jr. hauled in seven passes for 146 yards and a score, including a big fourth-quarter catch that helped to seal the deal. Before the game kicked off, Pittman's biggest outing of the season was for a modest 59 yards. Darnold threw for 325 yards and two scores. Jones had 30 carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns of his own.
Bryce Love was banged up for the Cardinal, but give the Heisman candidate credit as he gutted it out for a 125-yard performance that included a touchdown. Stanford had the ball at the USC goal line midway through the fourth quarter, but the Trojan defense made a huge stand that proved to be the difference in the game. K.J. Costello connected on 10 of 22 passes for 192 yards and two scores.
No. 14 UCF 62, No. 20 Memphis 55
This one didn't have the implications as the other championships games, but Scott Frost's final game at UCF was an impressive one; at least from an offensive standpoint. The new Huskers' head coach has now led the Knights to an undefeated 12-0 season, and his move to Lincoln already has the Nebraska faithful beyond excited.
The two teams combined for 117 points and close to 1,500 yards so I'm not sure if either school even employs a defensive coordinator. Quarterback McKenzie Milton accounted for 558 yards and six of UCF's touchdowns. Otis Anderson rushed for 117 and a score. Tre'Quan Smith hauled in six passes for 161 yards and a pair of scores. Dredrick Snelson caught nine for 145 and two touchdowns of his own.
The Tiger offense was led by Riley Ferguson who completed 40 of 42 passes for 471 yards and four scores. Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor Jr. both topped the century mark on the ground and found the end zone. Anthony Miller caught a whopping 14 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns. Ferguson's only interception came in double overtime and ultimately gave the win to the Knights.
.@Brett_McMurphy reported Scott Frost had serious cold feet about taking the Nebraska job. In this interview with Todd McShay, you can see exactly why.
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) December 2, 2017
A fan to Frost: Youre the man. Good luck. pic.twitter.com/S8t7CFZCmO
What a weird situation for Scott Frost. News of the Nebraska job broke while this one was still underway, and he was bombarded with questions before even getting off the field. Frost is a hell of a coach, so Husker fans have every reason to be excited.
I don't even know where to start with what transpired this weekend.
Truly I wasn't surprised by most of these results, but today is going to be one of the more fascinating days in college football history. Two of the country's top programs are vying for the final spot in the College Football Playoff. Nick Saban is campaigning and criticizing Ohio State's blowout loss to Iowa. Urban Meyer's platform consists of a Big Ten championship and a trio of big wins against Top-25 opponents.
Fresno State conveniently jumped into the Top-25 last week, but they should be out following this weekend's loss to Boise State. Auburn getting blown out by Georgia doesn't help Saban's case either. On the other hand, the playoff has never featured a two-loss team.
My personal rankings:
- 1. Clemson, 2. Oklahoma, 3. Georgia, 4. Ohio State
The final College Football Playoff rankings will be unveiled Sunday at 12 p.m. The show will air on ESPN.
What's your prediction on the committee's final rankings? How would you personally rank them?
