The College Football Playoff is set. After an upset-filled final few weeks, Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati remain in the hunt for a championship. However, each of their journeys had their own unique storylines, Here’s what makes each team special:
For the first time in the history of the Playoff, a Group of 5 school has made the playoff. At times, such a feat seemed impossible. Last season, the Bearcats finished undefeated, but were denied a berth into the playoff and lost a nail biter to Georgia in a New Year’s Six bowl game. UCF went undefeated in both 2017 and 2018, but never got a shot for college football glory. But after the committee ranked the Bearcats at No. 4 heading into the final three weeks of the college football season, reality set in.
On Saturday, they took care of business against Houston in the American Athletic Conference Championship, winning 35-20 and completing an undefeated season. This time, they left no doubt for the committee. After beating now ranked No. 5 Notre Dame on the road earlier this year, the Bearcats had their marquee win that they lacked in years past. Quarterback Desmond Ridder and Jerome Ford highlighted an explosive offense while the Bearcats secondary behind Bryan Cook, Coby Bryant and Ahmad Gardner remained the strength of their defense. Despite earning the No. 4 seed, there’s no reason to think that Cincinnati can’t pull off the upset. They’ve been counted out before.
College football’s most dominant team in 2021 hit a roadblock last week against Alabama. For years, the Bulldogs’ Achilles heel has been Alabama. On Saturday, the Crimson Tide again rolled to a 41-24 win over the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship. Georgia might still be the nation’s best team as they have been for most of the season. Alabama was playing for its season and the Bulldogs had pretty much secured their berth into the Playoff even with a loss.
Nonetheless, Saturday was a wake-up call for a team that had won all of its conference games by double figures. The Bulldogs looked outmatched. They allowed a season-high number of points and Alabama controlled the Bulldogs rushing attack. Now, even if coach Kirby Smart might not publicly admit it, Georgia has a quarterback decision to make. JT Daniels, a highly touted transfer from USC, has remained the backup to former walk-on Stetson Bennett since he went out with an injury. Bennett didn’t look sharp last week and that might be enough for Smart to make the switch. But if the Bulldogs defense plays like they have throughout the season, they might be the best team still remaining.
If Jim Harbaugh doesn’t win National Coach of the Year, someone better make a really strong case against him. After going 2-4 last season with doubts about the future of Harbaugh’s ability to win in big games at Michigan, he brought the Wolverines to glory. After Sunday’s rankings were revealed, they became the first team to begin the season unranked and make the College Football Playoff.
It was no fluke, either. The Wolverines flat-out dominated in the final three weeks of the season. They snapped their eight-game losing streak to Ohio State behind strong offensive line play and cruised to a 42-3 win over Iowa in the Big 10 Championship game. Michigan has two of the best pass rushers in the nation in David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson, a Heisman finalist, set the Michigan single-season sack record in the win against the Buckeyes. On offense, running back Hassan Haskins has carried the load after the team lost star wideout Ronnie Bell early in the season to an injury. Michigan might not be the flashiest team in the Playoff, but there might not be a team playing as well as them in the country.
Surprise, surprise. The Crimson Tide are back in the Playoff. Was there any doubt? Actually, yes, but they shattered it on Saturday. Fighting for their Playoff Lives, the Crimson Tide knocked off Georgia behind quarterback Bryce Young. It hasn’t been easy for Alabama. Their playoff hopes nearly ended in Auburn as they trailed 10-0 in the fourth quarter as heavy favorites. They did enough in the fourth quarter and came back to win in four overtimes. Wide receiver John Metchie tore his ACL last week and that could slow their passing attack against Cincinnati.
Still, if there’s a team that seemingly always finds a way to win, it’s Alabama and coach Nick Saban. Now, with a month to prepare, Saban can regroup and maybe he’ll work his magic on the way to a second straight championship.
Max Baker can be reached at max@chathamnr.com and @maxbaker_15.