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0 out of 4
Roger Steinman / Associated Press
While the National Championship will soon get our full attention, the 2020 season is over for all programs other than Alabama and Ohio State.
They will enter the No.1-contested title showdown, but the rest of B / R’s Top 25 are blocked.
B / R’s expert panel, made up of five experts – David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Kerry Miller, Joel Reuter and Brad Shepard – each submitted a top 25 newsletter. A vote for first place counted for 25 points, followed by 24 points for second, 23 for third, etc.
B / R Post-Bowl Top 25
1. Alabama (last week: 1)
2. State of Ohio (3)
3. Clemson (4)
4. Notre Dame (2)
T-5. Texas A&M (6)
T-5. Oklahoma (7)
7. Georgia (11)
8. Cincinnati (5)
9. Northwest (14)
10. State of Iowa (16)
T-11. Indiana (9)
T-11. BYU (12)
13. Florida (10)
14. Coastal Carolina (8)
15. Louisiana (15)
16. North Carolina (13)
17. Freedom (20)
18. State of Oklahoma (24)
19. Ball State (21)
20. Miami (18)
21. Iowa (19)
22. Texas (23)
23. USC (NR)
24. San Jose State (17)
25. State of North Carolina (25)
Others receiving votes: Buffalo, Wisconsin
Editor’s Note: This article was edited after publication to correct a voting error.
1 of 4
Michael Ainsworth / Associated Press
After winning three straight spots in the college football playoffs, the Oklahoma Sooners missed out in 2020. The first losses to Kansas State and Iowa State doomed Lincoln Riley’s team.
Prepare for a hype-laden offseason, however.
Capped by a 55-20 Florida demolition in the Cotton Bowl, the Sooners ended the season with an eight-game winning streak. They finished 9-2, won a sixth straight Big 12 title, and ultimately paired a legitimately strong defense with an effective offense.
Clearing shorthanded Florida was impressive, but the most important note is what Oklahoma is bringing back in 2021.
Even without including his 287 yards and four touchdowns in the Cotton Bowl, quarterback Spencer Rattler totaled 3,191 yards and 34 scores in his first season as a starter. The Sooners are likely to fire any offensive players beyond running back Rhamondre Stevenson, but 2019 leader Kennedy Brooks plans to return after his retirement this season. Additionally, the Sooners are only expected to lose a handful of key defense contributors.
Oklahoma will be the Big 12’s favorite and a popular choice to reach the college football playoffs in 2021.
2 of 4
Michael Ainsworth / Associated Press
Let’s be clear: Bowl records are somewhere between trivial and of little value. This is not a lasting judgment on ACC.
But 2020 hasn’t been a good postseason for the 0-6 league.
Alabama had few issues with Notre Dame, and the state of Ohio chose Clemson. The CCA had two of four teams in the college football playoffs but will have no chance of winning a national title.
Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman–who threw an interception in 236 regular season passes–pitched a pick on four straight drives in a loss to Wisconsin at Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Miami fell behind Oklahoma State 21-0, lost quarterback D’Eriq King to a torn ACL and had a short comeback at 37-34.
North Carolina State made three turnovers in a 23-21 loss to Kentucky in the Gator Bowl, and shorthanded North Carolina fell to Texas A&M 41-27 in the Orange Bowl.
Hey, at least Conference USA finished 0-6 too?
3 of 4
Gerald Herbert / Associated Press
Rose Bowl game: Alabama 31, Notre Dame 14
While the game didn’t hit explosive territory until the third quarter, Alabama controlled the Rose Bowl. Quarterback Mac Jones and receiver DeVonta Smith connected for touchdowns on two of Tide’s first three possessions, the second of which immediately responded to Notre Dame’s lone goal of the first half.
“It wasn’t about getting knocked down or not having enough players to face Alabama,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly told reporters. “It was about doing plays.”
And the Irish fought badly in this department.
Ian Book only managed 5.9 yards per passing attempt, and Notre Dame rushed for 3.7 yards per carry. It’s just not good enough to keep up with an attack of the caliber of Alabama.
Jones completed 25 of 30 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns, hitting Smith seven times for 130 yards and three scores. In all likelihood Jones or Smith will be named the winner of the Heisman Trophy on Tuesday night. Running back Najee Harris also scored 125 yards and added 30 receiving yards in the win.
Sugar bowl: Ohio State 49, Clemson 28
As the Buckeyes and Tigers stalled 14-14 in the first quarter, it looked like a high scoring shootout was on the way. But the next 15 minutes shaped the result.
Justin Fields Quarterback–who played some massive hits, including one by James Skalski which resulted in a targeting call and subsequent ejection–threw three more scores before half-time. The Buckeyes took a 35-14 lead in the break and left no doubt which sideline deserved to be celebrated.
“They were the best team and they deserved it,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said by Eleven warriors.
Ohio State racked up 639 yards on offense (averaging 8.9 yards per play), destroying an excellent Clemson defense time and time again. Fields threw for 385 yards and six touchdowns while running for 42, and running back Trey Sermon had 254 scrum yards.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 400 yards and two touchdowns in what was likely his last college game.
4 out of 4
Ron Jenkins / Associated Press
CFP Championship 2020
Registers: Ohio State (7-0) vs. Alabama (12-0)
When: Monday January 11
Or: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Ohio state beat Alabama 42-35 in the CFP semifinals six years ago. This time around, there is a national championship at stake.
Alabama is listed as an eight-point favorite, according to DraftKings.
On the Buckeyes ‘side, most of the headlines leading up to the contest will focus on Fields’ health. For Alabama, they will revolve around Jones, Smith and the Heisman breed, as well as Steve Sarkisian. The offensive coordinator has accepted the head coach job in Texas, but still plans to call the games in the title game, per Matt zenitz from AL.com.
Perhaps this is a fitting way for Alabama to move on from Sarkisian’s time as a coordinator. Four years ago, Sark replaced Lane Kiffin–who had been appointed Florida Atlantic coach–between a CFP semi-final and the national championship.
Clemson, however, edged the Tide in this contest. Sarkissian hopes to leave the program on a better note.
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