Undefeated Clemson, fresh off of an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game win over North Carolina claimed the top spot, and will square off with number four Oklahoma – the Big Twelve Conference’s victor – in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve. As expected, Long admitted that this season was easier than last season. As soon as we learned that the committee had made Clemson No. 1, we learned that Vegas considers them a 2.5-point underdog to the Sooners in the Capital One Orange Bowl. The Crimson Tide first played in the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys to open the 2012 season against MI, defeating the Wolverines, 41-14. The committee rewards a team for playing close against a better team.
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The ACC Champion and No. 1 Clemson Tigers (13-0, 8-0 ACC) set a record for wins in a season with their 13 win in the ACC Championship game over No. 10 North Carolina. Had the Cardinal played Delaware-by-the-Sea State it may now be preparing for a national semifinal game.
Had the BCS still been in place, this year would be a mess, with Alabama, Michigan State and Oklahoma all vying for one spot against Clemson, and Alabama likely getting it. Thankfully, the playoff is again proving to be a huge upgrade. “We had great discussion, great debate”. Michigan State (12-1) had a 22-play drive in the fourth quarter capped by a 1-yard touchdown run with less than a minute remaining to beat Iowa, 16-13.
The Tigers and Sooners both have quarterbacks worthy of Heisman Trophy consideration, and the teams know each other well after facing off in last season’s Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando.
Miami (8-4) makes its second Sun Bowl appearance and its 39th bowl appearance overall when it faces Washington State (8-4) on Saturday, Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. (CBS).
“What I tell our players…is guys, you really should be happy and you should be excited about what you have been able to accomplish and winning the SEC championship, but now I have a question for you: What do you want to do now?” said Tide coach Nick Saban, who has led Alabama to three national championships and coached at Michigan State from 1995-99. It takes a strong passing game to move the ball on Saban’s team, and when MSU’s is fully functioning, it is among the best the Tide will have seen. This time, after months of arguing, there is no controversy.
Top-25 games are based on current selection committee rankings. It is a fair policy in many cases (especially when looking at nonconference games), but it can also lead to the committee being unable to correct themselves when a team with no real resume to speak of loses a game to a better team. Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield should be invited to pack his bags for the Big Apple as well.
Clemson’s talented defensive line and improving offensive line will test the Sooners’ toughness the way Texas did. Both teams have stellar pass rushers and productive running backs. His 178.86 quarterback rating is third-best in the country and makes him one of the best passers in the country. The Crimson Tide typically dominate conventional teams that have similar styles to Alabama, and it’s possible this will follow that trend. You can look down Alabama’s body of work and it’s an impressive group of teams that they’ve beaten, and then the same with Michigan State.
“I would not be in this position as a head coach had I not been afforded the opportunity to come to Michigan State by Nick”, Dantonio said.
Welcome back: When it faces Northwestern in the Outback Bowl, Tennessee will be playing on New Year’s Day for the first time since playing Wisconsin in the Outback at the end of the 2007 season.
Florida State draws an entertaining Houston in the Peach Bowl, and Oklahoma State-Ole Miss is a parade-worthy matchup at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. With no Big 12 title game, Oklahoma’s final statement to the Selection Committee was the Bedlam win from last weekend.
The matchups are tasty, even without Stanford, Ohio State or Notre Dame in the mix. The Big 12 doesn’t have a conference championship game, but the Sooners won the league. The American had as many top-25 teams as the ACC, whose three teams were in the top 10.
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And now the Tigers are two wins away from becoming the first 15-0 team in FBS history – not to mention a national championship.
