From the Couch Sports

#9 Alabama 34 #8 Oklahoma 24

An absolute electric environment in Norman went from the ceiling to the floor in the matter of a few hours. This was no doubt one of the biggest sporting events in Oklahoma football history and there have been quite a few. The whole campus shut down for this one as students and fans waited ALL day for the 8pm eastern time kickoff. The scenes from kickoff were so electrifying that the college football community started arguing for more home college football playoff games. The rematch was on, Oklahoma had a distinctive home-field advantage.

Damn, those fans got a treat in the opening quarter and a half. Alabama’s offense started off with three consecutive three and outs and the Sooners took full advantage. It was 17-0 Oklahoma just five minutes into the second quarter. Then the Alabama offense woke up. Alabama QB Ty Simpson stood strong in the pocket on a crucial 3rd & 5 early in the drive and delivered a beautiful pass near the sideline to Lotzeir Brooks. Brooks secured the catch as he hit the ground, the reception went for 29 yards, Alabama had their biggest play of the game. Six plays later the Simpson would find Brooks again on a short slant, he made a few men miss, and dove into the end-zone, spinning mid-air in the process.

On Oklahoma’s next drive a decision was made that 100% changed the outcome of the game. Oklahoma had the ball on their own 47-yard line, 3rd & 3. Sooner QB John Mateer evaded the rush and escaped into the clear. He had plenty of green in front of him as he tucked the ball away. At the last minute, he squared his shoulders and heaved one deep to an open receiver running a crosser. It was an accurate throw but the ball went right through the hands of Xavier Robinson. Given the space Mateer had, it’s really easy to say he could’ve easily ran it for the first down but also, his throw was accurate it just wasn’t caught. One of those bang-bang decisions that was made in the heat of the game and unfortunately for OU, it took the air out of the building.

The Sooners were forced to punt and to make matters worse OU punter Grayson Miller caught the snap but dropped the ball right before he was able to boot the rock downfield. Alabama jumped on the miscue and had great field position and a boost of momentum. Bama kicked a field goal but still trailed 17-10.

Not for long. Oklahoma had the ball around mid-field late in the first half. Mateer dropped back to pass and threw a quick one to his left, right to Alabama DB Zabien Brown. Literally right to him. To be fair, it was an obvious miscommunication between the quarterback and his receiver but nonetheless Brown raced down the sideline untouched. Alabama tied the game 17-17 right before the first half ended.

The first half really was a tale of two quarters. Alabama started slow while Oklahoma shot out of a cannon. The script flipped entirely after that first Alabama touchdown in the second quarter.

Alabama would go on to score another touchdown early in the 3rd quarter from another beautiful Ty Simpson pass to Lotzeir Brooks. Brooks made the over-the-shoulder catch and got both feet in the end-zone for his second touchdown of the night. The Tide forced another OU punt and added a field, they scored 27 unanswered points after trailing 17-0.

Oklahoma finally broke through offensively after being stymied for almost two full quarters. Mateer fired a great pass over the middle to WR Deion Burks who outran the defense for a 37-yard score. The Sooners were back in the game.

A few possessions later, a bad Oklahoma punt would set up Alabama in great field position and they capitalized on another mistake. An insane catch by Germie Bernard set up a 1st & goal. Bernard caught a back shoulder fade by going over the back of the OU corner. He secured the ball David Tyree style with his helmet. Alabama punched it in a few plays later and had another 10-point lead.

Oklahoma would get their chances by forcing two Alabama punts late in the game but two missed field goals by Lou Groza Award winner Tate Sandell would seal their fate.

A shocking end to what was a promising and dominant start by Oklahoma. Shout out to Alabama, many people, including myself, were shocked they even made the playoff. They looked awful early but made the adjustments necessary to get back in the game. Alabama became the first team in the 12-team playoff era to win a road playoff game. The Tide avenged their regular season loss to Oklahoma and will face the one-seed Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day.

#10 Miami 10 #7 Texas A&M 3

If you love good defense and bad special teams play, this game was your early Christmas present. I’m not going to sit here behind my computer and say, “the score was low, these teams didn’t deserve their spot in the CFP.” I’m not going to do that. What I will say is sometimes elite defenses are so dialed in, points are at a premium. I respect games like this, they build tension and decrease the margin for error. One mistake, one missed assignment, one hesitation can cost the game.

Again, on-campus playoff games in college football need to stay, they may just need to add more of them because Kyle Field was tuned up for this one. College GameDay was in town and brought the juice. Pat McAfee had his famous kicking contest on the field and one lucky student attempted the infamous 33-yard field goal. The kid brought the thunder with two kicks that had plenty of distance but the wind pushed both of them wide right. The wind pushing his kicks was an appetizer for the three-course meal of wind-pushed kicks we’d see in the game.

Texas A&M started the game with the ball and had a decent start. Aggie QB Marcel Reed looked composed as he picked up a few first downs with his legs and lead the offense into Miami territory. The drive stalled at the Miami 38-yard line on a failed 3rd down attempt and the Aggies punted.

Miami had their first offensive possession deep in their own territory, they achieved one first down but then they punted. Aggie ball, another good drive. Aggies at the Miami 29-yard line. Marcel Reed rolled out left and was chased from behind, he fumbled the ball right before he had the chance to throw it. Miami recovered and stalled another good drive. Miami ball, Miami punt, Texas A&M punt, Miami punt. Sheesh.

The Canes had very little success throwing the ball down the field and their screen game was not fooling the A&M defense. Carson Beck had Malachi Toney wide open on a deep ball but it was overthrown, probably because of the wind.

With little to no offense to this point and almost as many punts as first downs, this game needed something. It needed a 59 YARD PASS FROM MARCEL REED TO MARIO CRAVER!!! Miami missed a deep ball attempt on their last possession and A&M took their shot and connected. Finally, something. Something to get the crowd going, something to make me put down my coffee.

The Aggies were in a good spot, ball on the Miami 11-yard line. After three plays, the kicking team came out, Miami’s defense made a good stand but we were about to get some points.

Never-mind.

Miami’s defensive superstar Rueben Bain Jr. reached his hand over the line and blocked the shit out of the field goal attempt. Missed field goal #1 and a missed opportunity for the Aggies to finally end a good drive with a score.

Miami ball, Miami punt. Again. Texas A&M, ball, Texas A&M punt. Again. This game needed something, something like MALACHI TONEY BREAKS THROUGH THE RETURN TEAM, HE MIGHT TAKE THIS PUNT ALL THE WAY! At the very last second by the smallest margin one of the fastest players on the field was tripped up before reaching glory.

That’s ok, the ball was at the Aggies 25-yard line with a great opportunity to add the game’s first score. The Miami offense couldn’t keep the momentum, Carson Beck was sacked on 3rd down but alas, here comes points. Miami kicker Carter Davis, 14-17 on the year, attempted a 47-yarder, but by golly he pushed it or the wind took it. Missed field goal #2. No points. No score.

Texas A&M ball, Texas A&M punt, OH NO WAIT, IT’S A FAKE! THE PUNTER THROWS IT…but it’s incomplete. Even a fake punt trick-play couldn’t spark this scoreless half into points. The Hurricanes had great field position again, and finally started getting some downfield passes, they were mixing run and pass and set themselves up for a go-ahead 40-yard field goal. Carter Davis back out again… he pushed it, NO GOOD! The damned wind again. Missed field goal #3.

The first scoreless half in College Football Playoff history. An absolute dud for both offenses. A big plays from each team couldn’t even garner a score. Three missed field goals, seven punts, and a whole lot of nothing. Both defenses were playing air-tight coverage and pressuring QBs into quick throws, inaccurate throws, or sacks.

On to the second half.

Miami started the third quarter with their best possession of the game. They opened it up a bit and started really moving it. RB Mark Fletcher made some plays and the Canes rolled into the red zone. Carson Beck had a great drive too, he threw for more yards on that one drive than he did in the entire first half. The Aggies defense made a good stand from inside their own 10 and the Miami kicking team trotted out. This time Carter Davis connected. FINALLY! The scoreless tie was no more.

Miami would quickly threaten again after a poor throw from Marcel Reed resulted in a HUGE Miami interception by Bryce Fitzgerald. Reed’s second turnover of the game. Again, the Texas A&M defense would make a stand. The Aggie defense had their backs against the wall again and delivered. Carter Davis back on the field, 35-yard field goal. WIDE LEFT! This time he overcompensated and misjudged the gusts that had been pushing his kicks right. Unreal. Missed field goal #4.

After back-to-backs punts, Texas A&M would finally get some movement. The Aggies went all the way down the field going 67-yards in 16 plays, they melted the clock but unfortunately had to attempt another field goal. This time, after a kicker change, ding ding. Texas A&M finally had points too.

Game tied 3-3. Miami ball. Miami started the drive with a great run by Mark Fletcher but then they lost it. Malachi Toney caught a pass and fumbled after the catch as he tried to spin away from the tackle. Texas A&M had gotten their break. The Kyle Field crowd came alive! Could they finally take the lead?

Miami’s backs against the wall, but by golly the Hurricane defense stepped up. Rueben Bain Jr. sacked Marcel Reed twice on that drive and the Hurricanes had the ball with just over four minutes left.

On the first play of the Miami drive, Beck handed the ball to Mark Fletcher. Fletcher broke through the line, he burst through the second level and down the sideline thanks to some great down-field blocking. Fletcher fought for extra yards with a stiff arm but was finally brought down at the Texas A&M 32-yard line. Miami had their biggest offensive play of the game. Mark Fletcher had quietly ran his way to over 150-yards in a day where they really couldn’t throw the ball. Fletcher kept pounding the ball closer and closer to the end-zone.

On a 3rd & 5 from the Texas A&M 11-yard line, Miami sent Toney in motion, he caught the touch-pass and widened outside, he tip-toed down the sideline for the FIRST touchdown of the game! The Kyle Field crowd, stunned. Miami legend Michael Irvin went absolutely BONKERS on the sideline. It took nearly all game, over 58 minutes without a touchdown, but we finally got one. Miami had the lead with under two minutes to go.

Crunch time for the Aggies. Marcel Reed completed a few passes and drew a personal foul penalty on Miami’s D-Line. Miami had been plagued with personal foul penalties in both of their losses, i couldn’t help but think this would cost them the game.

On the next play Marcel Reed fired, and I mean fired, a tight pass to a receiver running a curl route in the middle of the field just through the outstretched hands of DB Keionte Scott. Texas A&M was driving, WR KC Concepcion set them up inside the 5-yard line with a great catch and run. 1st & goal from the Miami 4-yard line. First play: incompletion out of the back of the end-zone. Second play: Marcel Reed dropped pack and stalled, he waited for his running back to sneak out of the backfield on an angle route, pass over the middle, IT’s CAUGHT, NO IT’S DROPPED! Miami LB Mohamed Toure was waiting in coverage and absolutely blasted Aggie RB Rueben Owens II. Looked bang-bang, could’ve been a potential targeting but no flag was on the field. Toure was down, he put his body on the line for the team to prevent the score. He layed motionless for a few seconds but slowly made his way back to the sideline. Third play: Marcel Reed had a clean pocket, he threw it over the middle to a man on a short post, THE ROUTE WAS JUMPED! MIAMI INTERCEPTION IN THE END-ZONE! Bryce Fitzgerald again with the interception!!

Miami’s defense came up big again! They clinched the game with that goal-to-go stand and ended the defensive battle in College Station with their first ever playoff win in their first ever playoff game. The Hurricanes defense forced three turnovers and sacked Marcel Reed seven times en route to a 10-3 victory in Kyle Field. Points were at a premium, but the thrilling ending made it all worth it.

Miami will move on to play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Years Eve.

#6 Ole Miss 41 #11 Tulane 10

First game for Ole Miss without Lane Kiffin in over 6 seasons. Ole Miss with a home playoff game against a Tulane team they beat in the regular season 45-10. What could go wrong? Well, nothing.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was packed and checkered with navy and red sections, the Ole Miss faithful showed up in supported of the best team in school history and in just three plays into the game the Rebels had a touchdown. Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss completed two long passes and RB Kewan Lacy a capped off the drive with yet another rushing score from 20-yard run.

Tulane was down 7-0 faster than you could say American Conference Champion, but they buckled up their chin-straps and got to work offensively. QB Jake Retzlaff had some nice runs, converted a 3rd down pass and the Green Wave looked like they were on their way to answering the Rebels first score. He dropped back to pass on a 2nd down throw deep in Ole Miss territory and side-armed one to his intended target. The pass was a just a hair out in front and was intercepted by CB Jaylon Braxton, he returned it for a few yards. With a deep, deflating sigh Tulane’s solid offensive drive was over.

Kewan Lacy had another long run for the Rebels, Chambliss had another long-pass and he finished of the short drive with a 4-yard TD run. Ole Miss had a 14-0 lead just like that. In the game’s opening quarter, Ole Miss had more points than the entire Miami and Texas A&M game.

Tulane fought back though and had a few first downs on their next drive, only to turn it over on downs in Ole Miss territory.

Thanks to their defense though they crawled back in the game, they made a stop, converted a field goal and kept the Rebels from scoring another TD in the first half. Late in the second quarter, Ole Miss was driving the ball into Tulane territory. Trinidad Chambliss looked elite on that drive. He scrambled on a 1st down pass and picked up the first down, but he slammed his head on the ground when he was brought down. A crushing hit that forced him out of the game. Backup QB Austin Simmons came in. Simmons was the starter at one point for Ole Miss but he was hurt early in the season and was replaced by Chambliss. The savvy lefty came in and completed a few passes. With the ball inside the 10-yard line, he dropped back to pass on a play-action but was hit from behind in the pocket and fumbled the ball. Tulane forced a crucial red zone turnover. Their offense was stuck, but at least they had some points on the board, they trailed 17-3 at the half.

Unfortunately it was more of the same for the Tulane offense in the second half. Decent starts, but turnovers and turnovers on downs killed their offense.

Chambliss returned to the game for the Ole Miss offense and picked up right where he left off.

He threw the ball accurately and marched the Ole Miss offense to four scores in their first four possessions in the second half, (three touchdowns.) Chambliss finished the day with over 300 total yards three scores on a day where his former school Ferris State won the Division II National Championship for the second year in a row, he won was a superstar for them last season in their 2024 National Title campaign. Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy added 87 yards and a score as the Ole Miss offense was nearly unstoppable to close the game out.

Tulane added a late garbage time TD, but it didn’t matter. Their offense was solid in terms of yards gained but they couldn’t get out of their own way. They turned the ball over three times and went 0/4 on 4th down.

Tulane’s season is done and Head Coach Jon Sumerall is headed to Gainesville to coach the Florida Gators.

Ole Miss will take on Georgia in another regular season rematch in the Sugar Bowl on New Years Day.

#5 Oregon 51 #12 James Madison 34

We have reached the night-cap. The Mighty Ducks against the Dukes. After the way Tulane was dominated against Ole Miss how would the Group of 5 Dukes fare against the Power 4 Ducks?

It’s just so crazy when you look back at James Madison. They were an FCS main-stay from 1986-2021 and won the FCS National Title in 2004 and 2016. Curt Cignetti lead them to the final four of the FCS Playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2019-2021 and now in just their fourth season in the FBS they were playing a game in Autzen Stadium in the First Round of the College Football Playoff. Just wild.

Again, the argument for the home more home playoff games is so legit. Autzen Stadium was so fired up for this one. The atmosphere is unlike anything JMU has ever experienced and they would need all hands on deck to keep this one competitive.

Much like the start from Ole Miss, Oregon struck gold in just a few plays. They hit the Dukes early and scored a touchdown on a deep 41-yard pass.

In an almost identical start to the other G5 vs. P4 game, James Madison sustained a long, physical drive. They almost lost it on a fumble and needed a 4th down conversion but the Dukes first drive went 63-yards in 15 plays and ended it with a field goal.

Oregon’s speed and athleticism took over, they hit big play after big play in the first half. Oregon had that 41-yard TD pass, a bubble screen that went for 40-yards, a 56-yard TD run, a 30-yard run, and another long 46-yard TD pass. They really dominated the 2nd quarter on both sides of the ball. JMU missed a field goal and punted three times before adding another field goal late in the 2nd quarter.

Oregon had a 34-6 halftime lead.

The 2nd half was a story of pride and persistence for the JMU Dukes. They opened the third quarter with a big play on a short pass where JMU WR Nick DeGennaro made a man miss on the outside and scampered down the sideline for JMU’s first TD. It was impressive but kind of all for naught as Oregon responded with another deep TD pass of 45-yards.

Oregon blocked a punt and returned it for a TD to put the score at 48-13.

Credit to JMU though, they kept fighting. They scored three touchdowns late in the game, two touchdown drives went for over 85-yards. One of them went for 99-yards. They actually outscored the Ducks 28-17 in the 2nd half but the first half deficit was way too much for JMU to overcome.

The Dukes became the first team this year to put up over 500-yards of offense against Oregon and they had the most points scored against Oregon this season.

When you look back at this game, Oregon’s speed and big-play ability was too much for the Dukes. They fought valiantly but were too susceptible to the big play.

James Madison’s historic season is over and their Head Coach Bob Chesney will become new Head Coach at UCLA. Former UF coach Billy Napier will take over,

Oregon will go on to play #4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on New Years Day.