Alabama and Miami Score Big Wins in 1st Round of College Football Playoff

After the bracket for the 12 team College Football Playoff was set, the most vocal criticism was how Notre Dame (10-2) was left out over either Miami (10-2) or Alabama (10-3). The Irish lost to Miami and Texas A & M, another CFP participant, at the beginning of the season and then reeled off 10 straight victories. Miami’s losses were to unranked teams, while Alabama, with a very difficult schedule that included six top 25 teams, had three losses. But both the Hurricanes and Crimson Tide showed why they were selected, opening the playoff with victories.

Oklahoma hosted Alabama on December 19th. The Sooners beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 earlier this season, and jumped off to a 17-0 lead in this one. But it was pretty much all Alabama after that. The Tide tied the score at 17-17 at the end of the first half, and shutout the Sooners 10-0 in the third quarter. The teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but the result was a 34-24 Alabama victory. Alabama will meet undefeated Indiana (13-0) in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day in a quarterfinal.

Miami faced Texas A & M (11-1) in the first game of the December 20th schedule. This one was all defense, with a scoreless first half and a 3-3 score until Miami executed a six play 84 yard drive, ending in an 11 yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Malachi Toney with 2:18 left in regulation. A & M wasn’t done, and on its next possession, got down to the Miami five yard line before Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted a Marcel Reed pass in the end zone with seconds remaining to seal the victory. Miami (now 11-2) will play Ohio State (12-1) in the Cotton Bowl on New Years Eve in their quarterfinal matchup.