USA TODAY International Edition
Only CFP question is who’s 1
Alabama stuns Georgia; Michigan wins Big Ten
Four teams have secured spots in the College Football Playoff, including two from the Southeastern Conference.
Michigan beat Iowa in prime time Saturday to win the Big Ten title and reach the playoff for the first time.
One obstacle potentially blocking Cincinnati from making Football Bowl Subdivision history was removed when Baylor beat Oklahoma State for the Big 12 championship. That heartbreak for the Cowboys was great news for the Bearcats, who beat Houston to finish the regular season unbeaten and will not have to sweat out the playoff selection committee’s final decision.
In the SEC, Alabama and quarterback Bryce Young put on a clinic against Georgia’s defense to claim another playoff berth. The Bulldogs’ disappointment is great news for the SEC, which can crow over placing two teams in the top four for the second time in the format.
Alabama and Georgia: The Crimson Tide defied the odds and beat Georgia 41- 24 to win the SEC. The win should lock Alabama in as the top seed in the playoff and create a more favorable matchup in the semifinals. After months of being dismissed as very good but not great, and as Georgia was mentioned alongside the best teams and defenses in recent history, Alabama restored order to the SEC.
Michigan: The Wolverines struck early with quick scores, one on a 75yard trick play and the other via a 67yard run, before Iowa slowed down the pace of play. Instead of grinding out a narrow win, Michigan added 21 points in the fourth quarter and won 42- 3 for the program’s first Big Ten championship since 2004. The Wolverines are locked into the semifinals, perhaps as the top overall seed but no lower than second, after this long- anticipated breakthrough under coach Jim Harbaugh.
Cincinnati: The 35- 20 win against the Cougars will give the Bearcats a shot against some of the powerhouse programs in college football history. They’ve lost just once in the last two years, to Georgia in last year’s Peach Bowl. Quarterback Desmond Ridder has also been playing as well as ever, giving him an outside shot at joining Young as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.