No. 4 Southern California’s Friday night time loss to No. 12 Utah has already returned No. 5 Ohio State to the school soccer playoffs. As of Saturday afternoon, No. 6 Alabama was again in playoff debate as No. 10 Kansas State threatened to increase an already double-digit lead within the Large 12’s championship sport in opposition to No. 3 TCU.
However that is TCU, and one factor we realized throughout this wildly sudden march to a win-win season is to by no means low cost Max Duggan and the Horned Frogs.
By giving up Kansas State’s 21-10 lead within the third quarter and forcing additional time, TCU could have executed sufficient to include the Crimson Tide and keep within the playoffs. The 31-28 loss nonetheless creates a tense ready interval till Sunday morning because the Horned Frogs gear up for a head-to-head comparability with Crimson Tide.
The truth that the Horned Frogs bounced again is par for the course throughout essentially the most memorable common season in this system’s historical past. Solely as soon as for the reason that second week of October has the Frogs received, final week in opposition to Iowa State 62-14.
Historical past of the 12 months was near profitable: TCU received 5 video games with a lead in possession, final beating Baylor 29-28 on a last-second discipline aim, and defeated seven Large 12 opponents by a median margin of 6. 9 factors.
Comply with each sport: Stay NCAA Faculty Soccer Outcomes
UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING:The destiny of the TCU playoffs after the defeat is within the arms of the committee
THE DOOR IS OPEN:Surprising USC loss to Utah turns playoffs into chaos
LOW TIDE:Sorry, Alabama, this 12 months’s solely pretend playoff discipline drama.
Shedding in additional time may give Duggan a bonus over Caleb Williams within the Heisman Trophy race. He completed with 251 passing yards, 110 dashing yards and two factors, and in addition led one of many memorable throws in program historical past, a three-minute 80-yard march that ended the sport 28-28 with slightly below two minutes remaining.
Whereas Alabama and the Securities and Alternate Fee might be in favor of the Crimson Tide, the truth that the Frogs misplaced in additional time to probably the greatest groups within the nation — a staff they beat earlier within the common season — ought to carry some peace of thoughts. and readability right into a race that threatened to escalate into full anarchy on the cusp of the ultimate rankings.
Except Alabama is formally eradicated from the competitors — as predicted dozens of occasions since dropping to No. 13 LSU in November — Alabama nonetheless does not have a resume to match TCU, which wins the argument in 4 necessary classes:
Extra wins. Alabama has seven Energy 5 wins to the Horned Frogs’ 10.
Higher win. The Tide 5 defeat bowl-eligible opponents. TCU has eight.
Stronger wins. Alabama’s greatest win arguably took over Texas, sweeping Mississippi and No. 25 Mississippi. This surpasses the Frogs’ victory in opposition to Kansas State.
Texas win. Evaluating one widespread contender, Texas No. 21, displays TCU nicely. Neither staff dominated, however Alabama ran away by defeating the Longhorns 20–19, who wanted to depend on backup quarterback Hudson Card. TCU beat Texas 17-10 because of a mindless fourth-quarter landing by the Longhorns.
The playoff fourth-team debate ought to as a substitute concentrate on USC and OSU, with the Buckeyes poised to achieve the semi-finals to doubtless have a rematch with No. 2 Michigan because the third seed. However the committee was given the chance to reevaluate Alabama as an choice; something and all the things is feasible as soon as the Crimson Tide enters into this dialog.
Horned Frogs and Wildcats are the main focus of the ultimate common season winners and losers:
Winners
Michigan
No. 2 Michigan will enter the playoffs because the second seed after defeating Purdue within the Large Ten championship sport. With no working again from Blake Corum, who was out with an damage for the remainder of the 12 months, the Wolverines relied on Donovan Edwards, who rushed for 185 yards and scored a aim after setting a brand new profession excessive with 216 yards in a win over No. 5 Ohio State. . The 43-22 win additionally included JJ McCarthy’s stable however underwhelming efficiency: 11 completions on 17 throws for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Below coach Jim Harbaugh, two-time Large Ten champion Michigan entered a brand new stratosphere for the primary time for the reason that 2003-04 season and ought to be seen as Georgia’s greatest risk to the nationwide championship.
Kansas State
The primary Wildcats convention championship since 2013 units the desk for much more success sooner or later below coach Chris Kliman. Impressed by quarterback Will Howard, who was undefeated as a starter since changing Adrian Martinez in November, Kansas State will end within the high seven or eight within the playoff rankings after avenging an earlier loss this 12 months to TCU. In the end, the Wildcats have been out of playoff debate attributable to a 17–10 loss to No. 18 Tulane throughout non-conference play.
Tulane
The Inexperienced Wave heads to the Cotton Bowl after beating the No. 23 in Central Florida 45–28 to make a outstanding flip and win American Athletic. Having received simply two video games in 2021, Tulane has solely misplaced twice within the common season: a discipline aim to South Mississippi and a landing to UCF. Along with defeating Kansas State and the Knights, the Inexperienced Wave received 5 different bowl groups in Houston, East Carolina, Memphis, SMU, and Cincinnati. This success made coach Willie Fritz one of many high contenders for the job at Georgia Tech, which finally went to interim coach Brent Key. Leaving Fritz apart is a large victory for Tulane.
Troy
In one other 12 months, Troy may have been the G-5 consultant of the New 12 months’s Six. The Trojans are having fun with probably the greatest years the Bowl Subdivision program has ever had after beating Coastal Carolina 45-26 within the Solar Belt Championship. Whereas Troy shared the convention crown in 2010 and 2017, that is the primary consequence for the Trojans for the reason that 2009 staff topped the standings. At 11-2, Troy ought to take final place within the closing playoff rankings and be the second greatest staff within the Group of 5 behind Tulane.
State of New Mexico
Bowl earlier than Saturday, because of an NCAA waiver granted earlier this week, Aggie accomplished a formidable six-win end below new coach Jerry Kill, defeating Valparaiso 65-3 within the rescheduled season finale. Bowl video games are uncommon, with New Mexico State having performed in simply 4, the final of which received the 2017 Arizona Bowl. Such are the seasons with six wins that since 1968 Aggie has had solely six occasions.
Losers
LSU
All intrigue surrounding the SEC championship sport was erased by the Tigers’ loss final Saturday to Texas A&M, leaving No. 1 Georgia in a playoff win or loss and LSU vying for the New 12 months’s Six, not the highest 4. . Enjoying for the seed and an opportunity to keep away from one other loss within the championship sport, the Bulldogs took a 35-7 lead within the second quarter to go 50-30 to win. The second crown of the SEC program below Kirby Sensible would go away Georgia as the highest seed within the playoffs and hold LSU out of one of many main bowls, doubtless sending the Tigers to the Citrus Bowl.
North Carolina
Caught on the sting of a 9-1 playoff race, North Carolina will stumble into the playoffs on a three-game dropping streak, most just lately a 39-10 choice in opposition to No. 11 Clemson within the ACC Championship sport. Again within the sport for the primary time since 2015, one other loss to the Tigers, the Tar Heels haven’t received the ACC since 1980. wrestling DJ Uiagalelei with actual newcomer Cade Klubnik. Popping out for the Wiagaleles after solely 5 move makes an attempt, Strawberry accomplished 20 of 24 makes an attempt for 279 yards and touched down twice, one on the bottom. Redshirted UNC freshman Drake Could threw two interceptions, giving him a four-to-one landing throughout that three-game dropping streak.
Clemson
In reality, Strawberry was so in charge of the state of affairs that it begs the query if Sweeney was every week late to alter quarterback. If he was below middle in opposition to South Carolina, does Strawnik imply a one-point distinction? And if the Tigers beat the Gamecox, would they make the playoffs as a substitute of Ohio State? The transfer to the Strawberries hastened Clemson’s ACC championship and set the stage for a return to extra constant quarterback play subsequent season. However the Tigers may use Strawberry till Saturday.
Boise State
The Broncos’ convention championship drought got here three years after a 28-16 loss to Fresno State within the Mountain West championship sport. It marks a really disappointing finish to an everyday season saved by seven wins in eight video games after a rocky begin in September. Following a robust run as a Broncos starter after taking up in October, quarterback Tylen Inexperienced accomplished simply 17 of 38 throws for 175 yards and two interceptions as Boise State ignored a working sport that averaged 4.9 yards per switch. Fresno State was no higher for 245 yards offensively, however the Bulldogs scored on a return kick within the first quarter and threw an 87-yard landing within the fourth to finish the sport.
Ohio
The very best MAC staff for the reason that begin of convention play in October, the Bobcats could not survive the absence of quarterback Curtis Rourke and misplaced 17-7 to Toledo within the convention championship sport. Out for the reason that finish of November with a season-ending damage, Rourke led the MAC in each necessary class: completion share, yards, yards per try, touchdowns, and effectivity score. His alternative, CJ Harris, rushed for 163 yards and had an interception because the Rockets clinched their second convention championship below coach Jason Candle. The lengthy drought continues for Ohio, which has received 5 division crowns since 2006 however hasn’t received the MAC since 1968.
