Sooners earn spot in College Football Playoff

The Jack Allen-led blockers cleared a path. Freshman tailback LJ Scott did most the legwork across the length of the field, all the way to the Iowa end zone.

Alabama’s Nick Saban was the coach at Michigan State from 1995-1999 before leaving for LSU, the Miami Dolphins and moving on to Tuscaloosa in 2007. So which one are we most looking forward to?

QUOTE TO NOTE: “This has been a great journey these last seven years, but where we are right now is simply a reflection of a lot of hard work by a lot of great people”.

That theme resonated throughout the game against the hard-nosed Hawkeyes whose effort matched that of the Spartans every step of the way to another improbable ending. It was the longest play given up by the Spartans this season. The Rose Bowl, which matches the champions of the Pac-12 and Big Ten, has its choice of another team from one of those conferences if that conference’s champion plays in a national semifinal game. The Crimson Tide have held nine opponents under 300 yards and rank No. 2 in the nation in total defense (258.2 yards per game). Cook kept the ball on an option on fourth-and-2, barely picking up the first down. Instead, the Crimson Tide gets to face Michigan State, while the Sooners head to South Beach to take on top-ranked Clemson in the Orange Bowl. A big difference from last season, when the committee had to choose from Ohio State, Baylor and TCU, and ticked off the Big 12 by jumping the Buckeyes past Bears and Frogs in the final rankings. Or, after losing at Nebraska, having to win out against Maryland, at No. 2 Ohio State – where the Spartans won with a field goal on the last play – and Penn State just to reach the conference final. “It just goes to show the toughness we have, the grit we have, the fact that we’re not going to be denied”. Second, there are no games on December 27, 2015. Although three of the 4 teams have losses on their resume, there was nary a touch of discontent over the sector in that will play for the championship of college football. He surpassed 100 yards on the ground in four of the last five games.

Nate Silver’s model has spoken and Jay Boice has revealed its predictions for the College Football Playoff on Five Thirty Eight.

We’ve established that these teams can score, but what about the defense?

“Nothing that we’ve got has ever been given to us”, Allen said. “Who thought we’d be here after that game?”

“When you’re in the final four, you’re splitting hairs”, Swinney said.

“I don’t think any of it is about getting teams back”, Oklahoma cornerback Zack Sanchez said, when asked about the rematch with Clemson.

Iowa finished with 268 total yards of offense, 97 yards shy of the Spartans total. “I know he would like to play”, Swinney said of the postseason. They had a big physical back, and they got a physical offensive line. “I feel very comfortable that he’ll be able to manage that”. Iowa drops two spots to sixth after its first loss. You could see it in their eyes and there’s a point in time when you see the tide turning. Sometimes respect is a better word, and when you know that somebody is a really good coach and has done a great job for you, it’s easy to respect them. The silver football from atop the trophy was passed from player to player and Allen was one of several who gave it a kiss.

But not playing on championship weekend allowed for the Big Ten champ to gain the upper hand.