of college football playoffs is in place, but not everyone is happy.
Florida State became the first undefeated Power 5 conference champion to be removed from the CFP after quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury in Week 12.
The Florida State Seminoles lift the trophy after defeating the Louisville Cardinals 16-6 in the ACC Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 2, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. mike nobel (Isaiah Vasquez/Getty Images)
”florida “This is a different team than the first 11 weeks,” CFP selection committee chairman Boo Corrigan told ESPN. “If you look at their team right now, without Jordan Travis, without the offensive power that he brings, they're a bad team.” Another team and committee voted 4 for Alabama, 4 votes for Florida State. Voted 5 votes. ”
The committee selected Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama as the four playoff teams, setting up two jaw-dropping matchups on New Year's Day.
What we learned from Conference Championship Weekend: 12-team playoffs can't happen soon enough.
Michigan State and Alabama will play in the Rose Bowl, and Washington State and Texas will play in the Sugar Bowl.
Let's take a look at the current situation national championship According to Caesars Sportsbook, here are the odds:
Michigan Wolverines +185
jim harbaugh Back on the sideline, the Wolverines kept moving.
Harbaugh, who had been suspended for three games by the Big Ten for the sign-stealing scandal, played in Michigan's victory over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game.
Harbaugh became the first coach. Big Ten history According to the Associated Press, they won the conference championship for the third consecutive year.
“It felt great,” Harbaugh said of the feat. “I have a question for you guys in Michigan: Who has a better team than us?”
Michigan Wolverines defensive back Mike Sainristil (0) during the Big Ten Championship Game between the Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Dec. 2, 2023. Hoisting the Big Ten Most Valuable Player trophy. (Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The University of Michigan is 13-0 and will enter the CFP undefeated for the second straight year. This time, the Wolverines will try to avoid an upset against the highly anticipated Alabama Crimson Tide.
“Michigan was in the lead for most of the season. They had a huge run,” Caesars assistant director of trading Adam Pullen told Fox News Digital.
“They're just beating teams left and right. Obviously, they had some close games in the last three games of the season, all of which they won by single digits. Penn State, Maryland State, Ohio State. “The loss to Georgia solidified that trend even more.'' They're definitely No. 1. ”
Alabama Crimson Tide +200
After Week 2 of the 2023 college football season, the Alabama Crimson Tide was deemed too flawed to compete in the CFP. nick saban's Retirement has begun.
None of them were accurate.
Since losing to Texas in early September, Alabama has reeled off 11 straight wins, including an impressive victory over No. 1 Georgia in the SEC title game.
The Crimson Tide defeated Florida State to be selected as the fourth and final team in the playoffs, sparking much controversy over the past few days.
“This year is just one of many years like this where deserving players were left behind,” Saban said Sunday, according to CBS Sports. “Certainly, Florida State did everything they could to go undefeated and make the playoffs. Unfortunately, they won't get that opportunity, probably because of the quarterback injury.”
Michigan's Blake Corum believes team already has a 'scratched shoulder' heading into CFP
Although many feel that FSU should have been in the CFP over Alabama, crimson tide This is not the same team that lost to Texas in Week 2.
The Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with the SEC Championship Trophy after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 27-24 in the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on December 2, 2023. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Jalen Milroe did not compete after this loss. south florida Saban hit Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner with shots down the center field. After an unimpressive win, Saban returned to Milroe. Milroe has transformed this season into a potential Heisman winner.
Milroe was outstanding over the final 11 weeks of the season, scoring 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions since the loss to Texas in September.
“We won 11 straight games and beat the No. 1 team in the country, so we're not the same team we were when we played Texas earlier in the season,” Saban said. “At the quarterback position, it was a little bit of a transition period. There was some uncertainty. I think that affected the team.”
Alabama was rewarded with a matchup against No. 1 Michigan, a matchup between traditional college football powerhouses in the sport's most historic venue.
“Alabama is a close second choice at 2-1. Michigan is plus-185, but the line speaks for itself,” Pullen continued. “This game is pretty much a win-win game. Michigan is the small favorite. This just shows that these two teams are very close in rating, even if it's a 1-4 matchup. You have to give up your seeding rights.'' If you get to this stage, look out the window. ”
Texas Longhorns +270
Texas is back.
After head coach Steve Sarkisian took over, these three words can finally be said with certainty. led the longhorns It was the school's first Big 12 title since 2009 and its first CFP appearance.
They did so by blowing the door down oklahoma in the final Big 12 game.
Sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers big 12 title game He threw for 452 yards, passing Oklahoma's Sam Bradford on the passing record.
Texas scored on Oklahoma State early and often, entering halftime with a 35-14 lead. According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Longhorns offense gained the most yards in the first half of a Big 12 title game over the past 20 seasons, and Ewers was the first to throw four touchdowns in the first half of a championship game. became a player.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers, 3, celebrates a touchdown during the Big 12 Championship Game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on December 2, 2023 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. and offensive lineman Jake Majors, 65. (Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Deion Sanders, who played at Florida State in college, doesn't care about CFP's disdain: 'I'm not upset'
Texas is currently playing Washington in the Sugar Bowl, a rematch of last year's Alamo Bowl, which the Huskies won.
Asked if the way Washington and Texas won the conference championships affected the odds, Pullen said, “It does play into it a little bit. Obviously, everyone looks at what they saw last time. “There is,” he said.
“For me, the Big 12 wasn't that strong, but they definitely beat Oklahoma State and closed it out with a big win. A lot of people were expecting to see Texas-OU again.” [Oklahoma] A rematch never occurred. But look, Texas took care of their business. Their only loss was a close loss to Oklahoma State in the Red River Rivalry. They have proven themselves over the past year. ”
This matchup is familiar to Sarkisian, who coached Washington from 2009 to 2013.
“I think it's kind of ironic, but in a way, Washington still holds a special place for me,” Sarkisian said, according to On3. “I got my first head coaching opportunity there and spent five years rebuilding that program. And ironically, I played against them in the Alamo Bowl a year ago, so I was there. I think there is a certain degree of familiarity.”
Washington Huskies +750
Despite being undefeated in the regular season and defeating the Ducks in Week 7, Washington entered Friday's Pac-12 Championship Game as the last-place team against Oregon.
They left Las Vegas as conference champions and qualified for the CFP.
The Huskies were selected as the No. 2 team in the nation, breaking the Pac-12's six-year playoff drought and becoming the first Pac-12 team to go 13-0 heading into bowl season.
“It's sad to see something like this happen and for it to be the last football game there.” coach washington Karen DeBoer said, according to ESPN. “But I think the other part is understanding how strong the conference was this year.
Washington Huskies head coach Karen DeBoer holds the PAC-12 Championship Trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks 34-31 in the PAC-12 Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on December 1, 2023. . (Mark Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“There were eight teams. [from the Pac-12] At one point, I think we were ranked in the top 25, but we played the best, and we played one of them twice. I don't think anyone else in this country has gone through what we went through. ”
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Washington will once again be the underdog as it prepares to play Sto in the CFP for the second time.
“We're going to play a great football team in Texas, and we're going to have to be at our best in every aspect,” DeBoer said, according to 247Sports. “We've gotten a little bit of it throughout the year, but that familiarity comes from playing against each other at the end of the season in the Alamo Bowl a year ago. Coach Sark has done a great job of growing this team. “I continued” in the third year.
“Last year, we didn't get to see everyone. We've got some additions to their roster, we've got some additions to our roster. But there's an understanding that it's going to be a physical football game. They'll be well-coached. They'll have playmakers. “They're going to be in all areas of the football field. It's going to be a great battle and we're really looking forward to it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
