Canes and Hoosiers Heading to the National Championship
The Fiesta and Peach Bowl delivered in ever respect this week. Both were highly entertaining games showcasing the best of College Football. All four teams gave their all but at the end, the Canes and Hoosiers are heading to the National Championship.
Fiesta Bowl – Miami Hurricanes (10) Defeat Ole Miss Rebels (6) 31-27
The Fiesta bowl pitched a Hurricanes team who have battled for everything this post season against a Rebels team that have had their own internal turmoil. It is a credit to the remaining Ole Miss staff and players that they have got to this point, but their journey would ultimately come to an end in Arizona.
Going into this game I predicted a very cagey and defensive affair but that is not what played out in the end.
Miami did control large sections of this game and limited the Ole Miss offense’s time on the field. Time of possession stats were 41 mins to 18 mins in favour of Miami. The Ole Miss offense just couldn’t stay on the field. They converted 2 of 10 3rd down attempts and that was largely as they were kept at bay in the early downs. They only registered 121 rushing yards and 71 of those were the Kewan Lacy explosive TD play in the 2nd quarter.
By contrast Miami were a lot more efficient in moving the ball. They converted 11 of their 19 3rd down attempts and both of their 4th down attempts. They totalled 191 yards of rushing, the longest being a 19 yarder by Mark Fletcher. Mark Fletcher acted as the battering ram, carrying the ball 22 times for 133 yards, averaging 6 yards a carry. His play was complemented by CharMar Brown, Keelan Marion (who was very influential) and freshman Malachi Toney.
Embed from Getty Images4th Quarter Barn Burner
An entertaining game really exploded into life in the 4th quarter, where Ole Miss took their first lead of the game with a field goal. The teams would then proceed to exchange touchdowns leading to Carson Beck having the ball in his hands with 3 minutes left. He orchestrated an excellent drive that led to him running in a touchdown with 18 seconds to go.
Trinidad Chambliss used the final 18 seconds the best he could, but his hail Mary attempt was unsuccessful.
Both QBs ended the day with very similar stats, Beck was 23/37 for 286 yards and 2TD/1INT. Chambliss was also 23/37 for 277 yards and 1TD/0INT.
The one area of irritation for Miami will be the penalties. They gave away 10 for 74 yards but in potentially costly spots, especially the two 15 yarders in the 4th quarter drives.
Given their Head Coach left before the playoffs and staff members have been in and out, it is a credit to Ole Miss that they have made it this far. This game would ultimately be one challenge too far.
Despite any early criticism, Miami have demonstrated the importance of this format of bracketed playoff. They did not make the ACC Championship game but have made a spirited run through the playoffs. They deserve to be here and are living proof of the magic of knockout competition.
Embed from Getty ImagesPeach Bowl – Indiana Hoosiers (1) Dominate Oregon Ducks (5) 56-22
If the Fiesta Bowl was compelling for being a close game, the Peach Bowl served as a showcase for the Hoosier’s current excellence. Indiana dominated Oregon in a sobering end to the season for the Ducks.
The atmosphere might have felt hostile for Oregon pre-game as most of the Atlanta crowd were Indiana fans (primarily a function of geography more than anything else). It must have felt a lot worse after the first play, when D’Angelo Ponds intercepted a Dante Moore pass for a pick-six. 11 seconds in and the score was 7-0.
Oregon needed to be perfect in their execution in this game and that was not the start they needed.
Dante Moore did recover after that first moment and led the team back down the field to score a touch down and level. On that drive things looked positive, 75 yards over 14 plays with a nice mix of rushing and passing. Perhaps they did have a chance.
Indiana would then go onto demonstrate almost perfect execution in everything they did. Fernando Mendoza made play after play, marching the Hoosiers down the field, at-will, for scores. Mendoza would finish the first half making 10 of his 11 pass attempts for 110 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Embed from Getty ImagesMost of the damage was done by the end of the first half, with the score 35-7. Indiana remained disciplined throughout the second half and never let Oregon back in the game.
A Tale of Two Teams
Indiana were flawless in their playcalling, always managing to select plays that found space on offense. When they did find themselves in 50/50 situations, their players seemed to find a way to make the play. They were better in all areas. Their level of execution was such that their kicker Nico Radicic did not have to rise from the bench for a field goal (he did make 8/8 extra points).
Indiana’s talent is not only deep but broad. They scored seven touchdowns in this game, spread across five players.
Oregon didn’t help themselves either. The pick six on the first play and two fumbles represent three times that they turned the ball back to Indiana. Oregon were also not helped by a depleted running back room with key contributor Jordan Davison not on the field and Noah Whittington restricted due to injury. A number of others have left in the portal.
For Oregon, it will be a disappointing end to the season and bring back bad memories of last season’s Rose Bowl. For Indiana, this will serve as a great platform to go on and win a National Championship.
Embed from Getty ImagesNational Championship – 12.30 am (UK time) Tuesday 20th January
So, it will be Miami v Indiana in the National Championship game. The game will be played at Hard Rock stadium in Miami.
A home setting for Hurricane fans and players but, as they showed in the Peach Bowl, Indiana have a large alumni base that will travel.
I will write in more detail about this game later in the week but it is hard to look past Indiana now. That said, this is a Miami team that has been written off every week throughout this run. It would be foolish to dismiss them. More on that later.
