This year has been a fascinating year. college football.
After Deion Sanders took over the sport for several months, the Colorado Buffaloes lost eight of their final nine games to end the season and the Conference of Champions became a conference of only two teams. florida They became the first undefeated Power 5 conference champion to be eliminated from the College Football Playoff.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is shown before a game against UCLA at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Sean M. Huffey/Getty Images)
All of the stories lead to the final edition of the four-team CFP, which could be the best semifinal in the CFP's 10-year history.
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Let's take a look at the New Year's Day matchup where the winner plays. national championship in Houston on January 8th.
Rose Bowl – No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama, 5 p.m. ET
This is a matchup between two traditional factions in “The Granddaddy of Them All.”
In what looks like a classic, Michigan and Alabama will face off in the Rose Bowl with their 13th and 11th straight wins on the line.
The University of Michigan is looking to bounce back from last year's CFP performance after a tumultuous season.
Rose Bowl Stadium will be shown in Pasadena, California on December 27, 2023. (David McNew/Getty Images)
head coach jim harbaugh He was suspended by the school for the first three games of the season after the Big Ten accused him of sign stealing, but missed the last three games.
With or without Harbaugh, the Wolverines have been complete and accomplished on the defensive side of the football.
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Michigan allows the fewest points per game (9.5 points) while holding opponents to just 239.7 yards per game.
After starting the year with a very soft schedule, Michigan finished the year playing two top-10 teams before shutting out No. 16 Iowa in the Big Ten title game.
They need quarterback JJ McCarthy to have a better game to beat him. red alabama team.
Michigan Wolverines' JJ McCarthy (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
in Michigan's first seven games of the season. According to The Athletic, McCarthy threw 14 touchdowns and averaged 10.6 yards per pass attempt. In his final six games, McCarthy threw only five touchdowns and averaged 7.7 yards per pass attempt.
The Crimson Tide have won the CFP for 11 games in a row, and the streak can be largely attributed to their quarterback. Jalen Milroe's play.
Since I sat against it south florida In Week 3, Milroe threw for an impressive 2,269 yards, 18 passing touchdowns, and just four interceptions.
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Milroe's ability to make plays with his feet (12 rushing touchdowns) makes the Alabama offense dangerous for Michigan, which is preparing a quarterback rarely seen in the Big Ten.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (Jeffrey Best/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I don't think I've ever seen a quarterback like this,” University of Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said, according to USA Today.
The New Year's Day matchup at the Rose Bowl will be a can't-miss game for college football fans.
Sugar Bowl – No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas, 8:45 p.m. ET
Longhorns fans can finally say “Texas is back.”
It's been 13 years since Texas last played in a national championship. Steve Sarkisian His team is on the doorstep of reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
Texas entered the 2023 college football season as the Big 12's villain, preparing to leave the conference for the SEC in 2024. Texas, which won its first conference championship since 2009, has a final chance to break away.
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“We have a chance to be legends,” senior linebacker David Gbenda said. “Then why don't we do something great?”
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
The Longhorns enter Monday's game against Washington with an offense that ranks in the top 10 in yards per game and a defense that ranks in the top 15 in points allowed per game.
The offense is led by the quarterback. quinn ewersHe showed great improvement in his second season under Sarkisian.
After missing two games with an injury, Ewers entered CFP due to injury and threw for 1,246 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions in the final four games of the year.
Ewers had 3,161 yards, 21 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2023, and the sophomore QB significantly improved his pass completion percentage, going from 58.1% in 2022 to 70.7% in 2023.
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Texas' defense was good at stopping the run, allowing just 80.3 rushing yards per game, fourth-best in the nation.
They will be facing a Washington team that they lead. heisman trophy An offense that is a finalist and can get up and down the field.
The Huskies finished the year 13-0 for the first time in program history as they prepare to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024.
Michael Penix Jr. led the nation's top passing offense (343.8 yards per game), throwing for 4,218 yards, 33 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Washington Huskies Michael Penix Jr. (Brandon Sloter/Images of Sports/Getty Images)
on the other hand, washington offense Despite a slowdown in the second half of the season, the Huskies found a way to win close games, winning their final four games by a combined 15 points.
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Their receiving core is elite, led by two 1,000-yard wideouts in Roman Odunze and Jarrin Polk.
“It's a touchdown. It's a chain movement in a big, big moment. There's been so much that we forget a lot.” [them] Washington head coach Karen DeBoer said of Odunze, “I don't take for granted his impressive record. Think about how many times he's come through when we really needed him.” He talked about Odunze. He often thinks about times when he lost a football game or wasn't able to perform at a critical moment. you remember them. I don't remember Rome not being successful. ”
Washington is known for its passing attack, but running back Dillon Johnson has been strong in the second half, averaging 136.6 yards per game over the past five contests, including a 256-yard performance. vs. USC.
With a secondary allowing 263.2 passing yards per game (120th in the nation), college football fans could be in for a high-scoring event in New Orleans.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
