It's CFP time my feathered friends. Tonight in Norman Oklahoma. We have an SEC rematch featuring two of the classic brands in all the sport. 10-2 Oklahoma is a 3.5 point underdog vs 10-3 Alabama. Despite beating the Crimson Tide just four weeks ago.

Alabama has struggled rushing the ball all year, and I don't see that changing against the number one rush defense in the SEC. Oklahoma also sacked Alabama QB Ty Simpson five times, and forced him into multiple interceptions. Something he hadn't done all year. Now Alabama did put up over four hundred yards of offense, out gaining the Sooners by over a yard yards. But the untimely mistakes cost Alabama the game.

The winner of this game will move on to face Indiana in the Rose Bowl. This is the eight vs nine game, and is on the same side of the bracket as Oregon. If one of these programs gets hot, they very well could be the Semifinal matchup vs Oregon, should the Ducks get past Texas Tech. Which I think happens, and what I'm hoping happens.

Who wins? Is Oklahoma as good an eight seed as Ohio State was last year? I personally think Alabama has the higher ceiling, and has the best chance of giving Indiana trouble. But Oklahoma is a bad matchup for Alabama imo. I think Oklahoma vs Alabama will look similar to Indiana vs Ohio State. The higher ceiling team will be dragged down, and forced into a mud fight. Oklahoma is more suited to win a mud fight.

Oklahoma 20 Alabama 16.

This is a tough one. I pulled for OU the first time but I think Alabama/Indiana is a much better round two matchup (I would be interested to see what kind of creative ways DeBoer might come up with to attack IU's pass defense as I think both Oregon and tOSU attacked too much into its strengths). Either way Dan gets another shot at either DeBoer or Cignetti if Oregon can get past Texas Tech, which is fun. So go Bama tonight I guess? 😐

Edited yesterday at 02:28 PM1 day by AnotherOD

I don’t have a dog in this fight, and don’t see either team lasting long enough to play OBD.

The good thing about this game is an SEC loss. The bad thing about this game is an SEC win.

20-17 Bama pulls out a low score win. Either way the SEC is staring down a beating by Indiana a week and a half later!

It's very hard to beat the same team twice in the same season. Based on that, Alabama wins a close one in Norman.

Personally I want Alabama to go down. A win by a three-loss SEC team somewhat "validates" choosing to put a three-loss SEC team, over several 2-loss teams in a twelve team playoff. HOWever, going to a 16 team PO combined with the SEC and ACC going to 9 game conference schedule probably mitigate much of that validation.

OU offense is generally...uninspiring, but the defense is formable. Alabama is more balanced on both sides of the ball. If OU can turnover Alabama and minimize their own mistakes, at home, then I think OU pulls out a close 17-14 type game. If not, then same score, opposite result.

So. Alabama 17-14.

OOOOOOOOOOOO, Oklahoma! With a D that brings the pain!

And the Sooners fans can make plans to head the Rose Bowl way.

24 to 17, I'll say. 😁

FWIW - Oklahoma is one of the few teams with an overall winning record vs The Tide - 5-2-1 - Venables 2 - DeBoer 0 - Since 2000, Oklahoma has the best home record in CFB.

Low scouring (SIC) affair, probably decided by a late drive or defensive score.

I suspect 'Bama by 17-14.

I expecte Whine will be served, with an unhealthy helping of cultish ESPN genuflection as the main course.

They just matter more.

1 hour ago, sports fan said:

It's very hard to beat the same team twice in the same season. Based on that, Alabama wins a close one in Norman.

There were six rematches in FBS football this season. Five of the first game losers, including Wazzu, which blasted Beavis the 2nd time around, won the rematch.

The team that was 2-0? Texas Tech with two blowouts of BYU.

If the DeBoer to UM smoke is real, it’s enough of a distraction to tip the scales imo

Mateer is finally back to 100%. The OC will adapt the play calling to that reality and Mateer wil be slinging the ball to his NFL wide receivers suddenly giving Oklahoma an offense to match their defense, making them a contender to win it all.

This game is going to look like a repeat of the SEC championship with Alabama not looking like they belong on the field.

Oklahoma. Alabama should never have gotten into the playoff with 3 losses.

There is no winner in this lose / lose situation.

But I wouldn't mind the possibility of Dan righting the ship vs DeBoer.

5 hours ago, PittDuck said:

The good thing about this game is an SEC loss. The bad thing about this game is an SEC win.

Yes, the best thing is that the SEC will lose a game. Too bad they can't both lose.

All that said, I would rather have Bama lose, because if they win they will say, "I told you we belong in the CFP." ...and then they will whine and cry next year too. I have Alabama/SEC Exhaustion Syndrome.

1 minute ago, Steven A said:

There is no winner in this lose / lose situation.

But I wouldn't mind the possibility of Dan righting the ship vs DeBoer.

Good call. But if DeBoer wins in Norman, I don't think he'll be able to put out a Cig in Pasadena. 😉

A score over DeBoer could Just Mean More, no doubt, but I want revenge for this season's loss. 🤬

19 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

A score over DeBoer could Just Mean More, no doubt, but I want revenge for this season's loss. 🤬

WIN / WIN, just WIN

I think the game is a coinflip.

I'm rooting for Oklahoma.

I would like OBD to play Alabama in the Semifinals. Been hoping to play them for years.

If Bama can run the ball I think they win. However, that’s a tough ask I’m thinking against this OU defense. So it will come down to pass protection for the Bama offense I assume. Hard to consistently protect your QB if they know your passing though!

Either way, I’m gonna go against the grain a bit and say Bama wins in a close one. We will hear no less that 20 times that Ryan Williams is only an 18 year old Sophomore, but he will earn his praise tonight and become the game MVP! In truth…🤷 I’m honestly just hoping for a great game!

All week I've been on OU but right before kickoff I am leaning Bama. I just have that feeling of doom watching Debore in his pregame.

• OU beat Bama

• OU beats Indiana

• OBD beats OU on a controversial onside kick

• The state of Oklahoma descends into anarchy and collapses

The tracks of Ma Terrs. 😧

Alabama's starting running back would be in the transfer portal at Oregon. He's crazy slow and bad vision.

And the announcers are talking like he's playing with so much burst now that he's rested.

And Oklahoma's passing scheme is doodoo. Half the time there is nobody on side of the field Mateer is trying to throw to.

Both of these teams looked shaky tonight. Hats off to Bama, but OK did all it could to help Bama come back in this game.

I like Indiana in the Rose Bowl vs. Bama.

And following the Massey composite rankings, I think Indiana, Ohio State, and OBD are 1, 2, and 4. A nod to No. 3 Texas Tech, but I see OBD winning a hard-fought Orange Bowl game. (Knock on my head 😁)

Unbelievable. The kicker missed his first and last field goals for the year and made every other one in between.

Oklahoma deserves to lose this game. Too many mistakes.

I really hope Indiana wipes the floor with Bama next week.

It really sucks watching two teams with identical colors. White and dark red.

Even the head coaches are nearly indistinguishable.

12 hours ago, MicroBurst61 said:

Personally I want Alabama to go down. A win by a three-loss SEC team somewhat "validates" choosing to put a three-loss SEC team, over several 2-loss teams in a twelve team playoff. HOWever, going to a 16 team PO combined with the SEC and ACC going to 9 game conference schedule probably mitigate much of that validation.

OU offense is generally...uninspiring, but the defense is formable. Alabama is more balanced on both sides of the ball. If OU can turnover Alabama and minimize their own mistakes, at home, then I think OU pulls out a close 17-14 type game. If not, then same score, opposite result.

So. Alabama 17-14.weakes

They made it to their Conference Title Game in clearly a much tougher conference than Notre Dame's. Oh...Notre Dame isn't in a conference are they? Not to mention, the closest iteration of a conference they played in was the ACC. Home of the weakest P4 conference by far. Furthermore, the Tide victory is an "in your face" moment for arguing Bama didn't deserve their spot. Especially since Bama erased a 17-0 lead. Question: how likely would ND be able to erase a 17 point lead against the playoff field?

I don't mind giving the SEC credit. Especially when they display prowess legitimately. The conference dared giving Texas a tougher schedule, and Texas demonstrated what the conference is like when balanced scheduling is in play. Bama played nearly as tough a schedule, and matched Texas in eliminating Vandy as a contender-whom had a weaker conference schedule. Scheduling matters and Bama had a tougher schedule than Notre Dame. It was front loaded like ND, but they had more teams to get through, and they did. Not to mention, getting to the SEC Title game should be an automatic bid. If Vandy would have done that, I'd say the same. They would have had to win the two games they were guaranteed to be underdogs in. How many times is ND an underdog? That should be another factor involved frankly, because teams must demonstrate they can win games against a tough field, not just win games because they are pretty good.

I had to lecture here, so pardon the soliloquy. Alabama absolutely deserved to be in the playoff in my opinion. A CCG game loss isn't the regular season. It is the post season. It is proof you belong amongst the best. Especially given Bama is in a pretty tough conference. Losing three regular season games makes it far more unpalatable to place a team from ANY conference in the playoffs. Even in a 16 team field in my opinion. Let's hope in the future, the SEC gets soundly rebuked if a three loss team in the regular season has the nerve to lobby for a playoff spot.

Oklahoma proved tonight that they suck playing with a sizable lead. The biggest play of the game IMHO came in the 2nd Quarter when Mateer, facing a 3rd and 3 around midfield, spun away from pressure and threw ACROSS HIS BODY to a receiver 20+ yards down field when he had 10-15 yards of unoccupied green grass in front of him. Had he not committed this egregious brain fart and simply tucked the ball and taken the easy 8-10 yards and the first down, he'd have put his team in FG position and likely been in position to improve on his 17-3 lead. What happened? The stop put a charge in the Bama offense and before you knew it, they marched down the field to cut the lead to 7. Plus OK quit pressuring Simpson and let him pick apart their zone defense. Really the game was never the same from that point on: a complete turn around.

Will Bama compete with Indiana. It will not surprise me in the slightest. However, because the opponent is Bama, this is one of the very few times I will root for a B1G team other than OBD to win a playoff game.

3 hours ago, Solar said:

It really sucks watching two teams with identical colors. White and dark red.

Even the head coaches are nearly indistinguishable.

Indiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma uniforms are almost identical to me.

As for DeBoer, and Venables. There was a comment saying Venables was DeBoers evil doppelganger. Imagine DeBoers offensive mind ,paired with Venables defensive one.

3 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

Both of these teams looked shaky tonight. Hats off to Bama, but OK did all it could to help Bama come back in this game.

I like Indiana in the Rose Bowl vs. Bama.

And following the Massey composite rankings, I think Indiana, Ohio State, and OBD are 1, 2, and 4. A nod to No. 3 Texas Tech, but I see OBD winning a hard-fought Orange Bowl game. (Knock on my head 😁)

It was entertaining, but not well played. Spaghetti Cignetti is going to make ragu sauce with Alabama, if the Tide are that sloppy next week.

1 hour ago, Nevada Dawg said:

Oklahoma proved tonight that they suck playing with a sizable lead. The biggest play of the game IMHO came in the 2nd Quarter when Mateer, facing a 3rd and 3 around midfield, spun away from pressure and threw ACROSS HIS BODY to a receiver 20+ yards down field when he had 10-15 yards of unoccupied green grass in front of him. Had he not committed this egregious brain fart and simply tucked the ball and taken the easy 8-10 yards and the first down, he'd have put his team in FG position and likely been in position to improve on his 17-3 lead. What happened? The stop put a charge in the Bama offense and before you knew it, they marched down the field to cut the lead to 7. Plus OK quit pressuring Simpson and let him pick apart their zone defense. Really the game was never the same from that point on: a complete turn around.

Will Bama compete with Indiana. It will not surprise me in the slightest. However, because the opponent is Bama, this is one of the very few times I will root for a B1G team other than OBD to win a playoff game.

Alabama has the talent on the outside, but they tend to give up pressure. I watched how Indiana pressured a more poised QB, with even better receivers two weeks ago. DeBoer had better put it in Simpsons ear, that Indiana will take the ball away if he is not precise. I think they led the B1G in turnover margin.

Mendoza didn't win the Heisman because he was a gunslinger. He won it because he didn't lose his team the game.

1 hour ago, Nevada Dawg said:

Oklahoma proved tonight that they suck playing with a sizable lead. The biggest play of the game IMHO came in the 2nd Quarter when Mateer, facing a 3rd and 3 around midfield, spun away from pressure and threw ACROSS HIS BODY to a receiver 20+ yards down field when he had 10-15 yards of unoccupied green grass in front of him. Had he not committed this egregious brain fart and simply tucked the ball and taken the easy 8-10 yards and the first down, he'd have put his team in FG position and likely been in position to improve on his 17-3 lead. What happened? The stop put a charge in the Bama offense and before you knew it, they marched down the field to cut the lead to 7. Plus OK quit pressuring Simpson and let him pick apart their zone defense. Really the game was never the same from that point on: a complete turn around.

Will Bama compete with Indiana. It will not surprise me in the slightest. However, because the opponent is Bama, this is one of the very few times I will root for a B1G team other than OBD to win a playoff game.

I couldn't agree more. That play flipped the game. Mateer went for the home run instead of getting the first down and slowly twisting the dagger into Bama. Okie looked undisciplined from that point on.

Looking forward to watching that Rose Bowl after OBD dispatches TTech on NYD.

I know I'm jumping ahead, but Hoosier daddy in that bowl of peaches?

Oregon!

Tough to beat the same team twice.

Go Ducks!

2 hours ago, Nevada Dawg said:

Oklahoma proved tonight that they suck playing with a sizable lead. The biggest play of the game IMHO came in the 2nd Quarter when Mateer, facing a 3rd and 3 around midfield, spun away from pressure and threw ACROSS HIS BODY to a receiver 20+ yards down field when he had 10-15 yards of unoccupied green grass in front of him. Had he not committed this egregious brain fart and simply tucked the ball and taken the easy 8-10 yards and the first down, he'd have put his team in FG position and likely been in position to improve on his 17-3 lead. What happened? The stop put a charge in the Bama offense and before you knew it, they marched down the field to cut the lead to 7. Plus OK quit pressuring Simpson and let him pick apart their zone defense. Really the game was never the same from that point on: a complete turn around.

Will Bama compete with Indiana. It will not surprise me in the slightest. However, because the opponent is Bama, this is one of the very few times I will root for a B1G team other than OBD to win a playoff game.

ND, thanks for the spot on take.

As you so noted, a meltdown decision by Mateer and the team fell apart to the point where it looked like the fix was in. The punter muffs a perfect snap. Mateer throws a pass for a pick six that was supposed to go to ...? How to upchuck a 17 point lead.

A terrific win by Bama and DeBoer, first expanded playoff road win, but the OK coaches lost their poise and concentration and the team followed suit.

A lot of the good will Venables built up this season after going 6-7 the prior two seasons left with the early departing crowd. I'm surprised Boz didn't make an arrest.

Bama heads to Pasadena with Mo along for the ride.

Best of luck to your Dawgs in the Sugar Bowl. Give Ole Miss the Kiff of PO death.

PS - What happened to Bama WR Ryan Williams?

4 hours ago, Solar said:

It really sucks watching two teams with identical colors. White and dark red.

Even the head coaches are nearly indistinguishable.

Someone, please take both coaches out for a triple cheeseburger, chocolate shake, and a double order of greasy frend fries.

Where's the Great Pumpkin when you need him?

Seems like most Michigan people think DeBoer would've taken the job, had it been Boomer Sooner. I guess they're going to have to Roll Tide with Dillingham. Although, Arizona State is trying to get boosters, including Phil Mickelson to help keep the hometown boy in Tempe.

Michigan folk are truly confident that they can get anybody, from anywhere. I've heard every name on their list, except Kirby Smart, and Ryan Day. I've even heard the names Nick Saban, and Urban Meyer.

I thought some of my fellow Gator fans were crazy, but even they didn't think Florida could take away a Dan Lanning, or Kalen DeBoer. I heard Marcus Freeman, and of course Lane Kiffin. But Freeman isn't leaving for anything but the NFL, or Ohio State. Lane didn't happen because Scott Stricklin wouldn't give Kiffin total control, and LSU would. Time will tell who's wrong, I'm guessing it's going to be Stricklin, but Kiffin is a wild card. It could be a royal flush, or a dud draw.

As for Alabama, I think they need to realize they have their guy. He isn't going to win at a Saban level. Nobody has, or will going forward. Just look at the competition, for goodness sake. You have Indiana, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss winning ten games a year now. Texas Tech is now a juggernaut.

Oregon is going to have to beat Texas Tech, Indiana/Alabama, Ohio State/Georgia/Texas A&M/Ole Miss/ Miami in three consecutive weeks to win a title. Heck look at what Ohio State had to do last year, there's no way you can expect a coach to win a championship every two, or three years. Especially if you don't know which guys you are counting on as the future, are even going to wait around to be there with the transfer portal.

Nick Saban knew it, even he couldn't maintain his level in today's game. Go look at the depth of those Alabama teams.

1 hour ago, GatOrlando said:

Seems like most Michigan people think DeBoer would've taken the job, had it been Boomer Sooner. I guess they're going to have to Roll Tide with Dillingham. Although, Arizona State is trying to get boosters, including Phil Mickelson to help keep the hometown boy in Tempe.

Michigan folk are truly confident that they can get anybody, from anywhere. I've heard every name on their list, except Kirby Smart, and Ryan Day. I've even heard the names Nick Saban, and Urban Meyer.

I thought some of my fellow Gator fans were crazy, but even they didn't think Florida could take away a Dan Lanning, or Kalen DeBoer. I heard Marcus Freeman, and of course Lane Kiffin. But Freeman isn't leaving for anything but the NFL, or Ohio State. Lane didn't happen because Scott Stricklin wouldn't give Kiffin total control, and LSU would. Time will tell who's wrong, I'm guessing it's going to be Stricklin, but Kiffin is a wild card. It could be a royal flush, or a dud draw.

As for Alabama, I think they need to realize they have their guy. He isn't going to win at a Saban level. Nobody has, or will going forward. Just look at the competition, for goodness sake. You have Indiana, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss winning ten games a year now. Texas Tech is now a juggernaut.

Oregon is going to have to beat Texas Tech, Indiana/Alabama, Ohio State/Georgia/Texas A&M/Ole Miss/ Miami in three consecutive weeks to win a title. Heck look at what Ohio State had to do last year, there's no way you can expect a coach to win a championship every two, or three years. Especially if you don't know which guys you are counting on as the future, are even going to wait around to be there with the transfer portal.

Nick Saban knew it, even he couldn't maintain his level in today's game. Go look at the depth of those Alabama teams.

Dillingham has signed a new 5 year deal, he is staying in Tempe!

11 hours ago, Solar said:

It really sucks watching two teams with identical colors. White and dark red.

Even the head coaches are nearly indistinguishable.

SO MANY teams have red as their color. Love the way the green and yellow stands out in the crowd. 🙂

Theres been "chatter" about Oregon not being able to "win the big ones" while ignoring that Kelly, Helfrich and Cristobal each won a Rose Bowl.

But nothing much gets said about Oklahoma. Here's a bit of history:

1-3 - in Championship games in the two-team BCS era

0-4 - in semi-finals in the 4-team CFP era

0-1 - in the 12-team CFP era

The way this Season of the Which has gone, how about a title game of Tulane vs. Oklah ..., er, OREGON?

2 hours ago, SoGaDawg said:

Dillingham has signed a new 5 year deal, he is staying in Tempe!

Welp!!! I wonder if they go for Whittingham, Fisch, or lower themselves into hiring a coordinator. I know Womack was seen as an up and comer, a rumor kept popping up about Arkansas being interested in him. The defensive coordinator at Indiana, and your Georgia Bulldogs are also future head coaches. But, I don't think Michigan will go that route.

The Kirby Smart tree isn't a bad one to be picking from though. Dan Lanning has been an incredible hire for Oregon.

Michigan can't wait too long, the January transfer period is coming up.

4 minutes ago, GatOrlando said:

Welp!!! I wonder if they go for Whittingham, Fisch, or lower themselves into hiring a coordinator. I know Womack was seen as an up and comer, a rumor kept popping up about Arkansas being interested in him. The defensive coordinator at Indiana, and your Georgia Bulldogs are also future head coaches. But, I don't think Michigan will go that route.

The Kirby Smart tree isn't a bad one to be picking from though. Dan Lanning has been an incredible hire for Oregon.

Michigan can't wait too long, the January transfer period is coming up.

Schumann will likely get a shot at some point, but even with so many openings I haven’t heard his name mentioned. Also, the fact that Muschamp took the Texas DC job makes me think Schumann isn’t likely to leave. Although, money talks, and the rumor is that Texas just made Muschamp the highest paid coordinator in the country.

45 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

The way this Season of the Which has gone, how about a title game of Tulane vs. Oklah ..., er, OREGON?

We have three programs in the playoffs that have had their head coaches hired away, and two who have had an assistant, or two hired as head coaches at new programs.

In the NFL, you have to wait till a teams season is over with. If college football wants to take aspects of the pro game. They should adopt things like stricter off-season schedules. A player, or coach should have to play out the remainder of their teams season before going to another team. They are being paid to fulfill that agreement.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by GatOrlando

3 minutes ago, SoGaDawg said:

Schumann will likely get a shot at some point, but even with so many openings I haven’t heard his name mentioned. Also, the fact that Muschamp took the Texas DC job makes me think Schumann isn’t likely to leave. Although, money talks, and the rumor is that Texas just made Muschamp the highest paid coordinator in the country.

I can see Schumann waiting for the right job, much like Kirby, or Venables did. I think he'll become a hotter commodity over the next year or so. By that time, you could have South Carolina, Wisconsin, or FSU open up.

I’m sure someone will get a safety at some point!