In semis, Cincinnati, Michigan aim to deliver

Quarterback Desmond Ridder and his Cincinnati teammates aren’t caught up in what their semifinal playoff appearance could mean for other non-Power Five teams.

After a season-long debate about whether the outsider deserved a spot in the College Football Playoff, and being the only team to win every game along the way, the Bearcats (13-0) get their shot in the Cotton Bowl on Friday against defending champion Alabama.

“We’ve already had so much pressure on us throughout the entire season of marking off the checklist, so why add the pressure of every other non-Power Five school that we have on our back?” Ridder said. “It’s really just been about us.”

The SEC champion Crimson Tide (12-1) are the playoff standard bearer. This is Alabama’s seventh semifinal appearance in the eight seasons of the four-team CFP.

But the Tide most likely wouldn’t have made it back without Heisman Trophy winning-quarterback Bryce Young leading a late game-tying, 97-yard TD drive in the regularseason finale against Auburn that ended in an overtime win. The sophomore then set an SEC championship game record with 421 passing yards in a 41-24 win over Georgia, which was undefeated before then and plays Michigan in the Orange Bowl in the other semifinal.

“It’s always challenging when you come off of winning a championship for players to have the same hunger, to have a sense of urgency to prove something,” said Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who has won six national titles the past 12 seasons. “But because we were young, I think it took this team a little longer to maybe respond on a consistent basis.”

As for the Orange Bowl, Michigan (12-1) — the first team to start unranked in the AP Top 25 and reach the CFP — is looking to extend its turnaround from a 2-4 season in 2020 by defeating the Bulldogs (12-1).

“We’re happy to be here, but not just happy to be here,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I feel like the buzz — created some new buzz with this 2021 team. Yeah, let’s face it, it had died down a little bit, and I do feel like our guys have created some new buzz, and it’s been a good thing.”

Reaching the playoff in 2021 was the expectation for Georgia, and it seemed like a foregone conclusion by November as the Bulldogs rampaged through their schedule.

Not even a resounding loss to Alabama in the SEC title game could keep Georgia out. But instead of bounding into the Orange Bowl semifinal off huge victories the way Michigan has, the Bulldogs enter trying to re-establish the air of invincibility they carried much of the season.

“You lose some, and you just go on getting better,” Georgia All-America defensive tackle Jordan Davis said. “Obviously, we’re not going to be the same team from last game to this game with Michigan, but we just have to keep moving forward and worry about ourselves and just get ready for the game.”

The Wolverines, led by third-team AllAmerica running back Hassan Haskins, average 223 yards rushing per game, 5.31 per carry and have scored 39 touchdowns on the ground. Georgia, led by Davis and All-America linebacker Nakobe Dean, has been an immovable object against the run, allowing 82 yards per game, 2.61 per attempt and just three rushing touchdowns.