MIAMI GARDENS – The College Football Playoff Committee made it easy for everyone at yesterday’s (Dec. 5) Selection Show.
After No. 2-ranked Michigan (12-1) blew by then-No. 13/now-No. 17 Iowa (10-3) in a 42-3 win at Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis) for the Big Ten title, it was quite clear which four teams would qualify for this year’s CFP.
Also in the playoff are two SEC teams, as then-No. 3/now No. 1-ranked Alabama (12-1) soundly beat then-No. 1/now No. 3 Georgia (12–1) in the SEC Championship Game by a score of 41-24.
And history was made this year as the first Group of 5 team qualified for the big stage, with No. 4-ranked Cincinnati (13-0) handling its business by taking down then-No. 21/now-No. 20 Houston (11-2) by a score of 35-20 in the AAC Championship Game.
No. 1 Alabama will be facing off against No. 4 Cincinnati in this year’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium (Friday, Dec. 31 in Arlington, Tx.; 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN).
No. 2 Michigan will be facing off against No. 3 Georgia in this year’s Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium (Friday, Dec. 31 in Miami; 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN).
“Here’s some indication or some explanation of why we ranked the teams the way we did,” CFP Selection Committee Chair Gary Barta said.
“Alabama at 12-1, Michigan at 12-1, Cincinnati at 13-0, all three of those are conference champions, and we took that into account certainly,” Barta continued. “Alabama had beaten the previously ranked all year long Georgia Bulldogs at No. 1, and Michigan had beaten the previously ranked No. 13 team in Iowa, and then Cincinnati remains undefeated, the only undefeated team left in the country, and they had beaten the previously ranked Houston Cougars at 21. In each one of those games those winners were in a dominant fashion. Georgia had its one loss, and that loss of course being to Alabama, No. 3 coming in, and really had been the dominant No. 1 all year long.”
Now that the CFP field is set, our focus will be on the Michigan-Georgia matchup.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke to reporters in yesterday’s press conference about his team’s selection to the Capital One Orange Bowl.
“Really thrilled about the way our team has played all season long, especially, particularly the last half of the season,” Harbaugh said. “Just awesome to watch our team compete. And now we flew back to Ann Arbor today. Stopped by Schembechler Hall, got a meal, we were able to see we’re going to the Orange Bowl to play Georgia and everybody’s super excited.”
Harbaugh had more to say about his team’s selection to the national semifinal round.
“The facts are you’ve gotta win two games to be the national champion,” Harbaugh said.
“My thoughts, and from what I can tell from all the players, it didn’t make any difference what seed we were,” Harbaugh said. “Even had a bunch of conversations with guys and that was what their thoughts were, and I echo those. Why stop now? Why not us? We’re gonna take a few days off here and coaches will start preparation for the game immediately. I’m excited to prepare. All the teams that are in the playoffs are great teams, worthy. Yeah, we’re happy to be one of them. Like I said, you’re gonna have to win two to be in the national championship, and I don’t see the great difference of whether you’re going two, three, or four.”
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reacted to his team’s selection to the Capital One Orange Bowl.
“It’s a tremendous event, usually great weather. I know the players really enjoy getting to go down to South Florida, practice outside, enjoy all the sights and sounds,” Smart said.
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to play a first-class organization that has meant so much to the University of Georgia,” Smart said. “Then I’ve got a lot of respect for Michigan. Coach Harbaugh’s team. I got to see a little bit of their game last night. I’ve seen a few of their games on TV throughout the season when we had some late kicks and they had some early ones. I’ve got a lot of respect for the job they’ve done. I’ve always respected him as a college coach and pro coach. Obviously, with his brother-in-law being Tom Crean, Tom and I have grown to be good friends and a mutual respect for their family. So I know our university is certainly excited about representing in the College Football Playoff. And our players today are enthused to get this opportunity and get a chance to go back out and play.”
Smart talked about what will be his second CFP opportunity as the Georgia head coach.
“I certainly think having an experience as a coach, organizing it, and knowing what’s about to happen,” Smart said.
“You’ve basically got three-and-a-half to four weeks that you’ve got to try to manage better than four other programs,”Smart continued. “We’re all at square one. Nobody’s really ahead of anybody else. It’s like the beginning of a new season. So who manages the next three-and-a-half, four weeks best, in terms of awards shows, final exams, Christmas break, practices, bowl time, there’s a lot that goes into that. Weight discipline. It’s a competition. So whoever handles that best is going to have one foot forward and be ahead of the other. And we want to manage that the right way. And I think having done that one time certainly helps us from understanding what we need to get done, how to prepare, and those things.”
NOTE: The Capital Orange Bowl and Goodyear Cotton Bowl winners will meet up and play each other for the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium. The kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN.
PHOTO CREDITS: College Football Playoff and Orange Bowl
