The New Year’s Day saw college football games open with the first round bye, Texas Tech Red Raiders taking on the Oregon Ducks following the Ducks’ big win over the JMU Dukes.
The game took place at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, where the Ducks, again, won convincingly.
The final score, 23-0, was the Red Raiders’ only shutout loss of the season and was the Ducks’ 6th victory of 21+ points. True freshman Brandon Finney Jr. (DB), who finished the game with 3 takeaways, including 1 fumble recovery as well as 2 interceptions, walked away with player of the game honors. Ultimately, the Ducks proved that a championship cannot be bought, as they sent home the Big 12 Champs and moved on to the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs.
The second game of the day was Alabama vs. Indiana at the legendary Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Indiana, again, proved that the school is on an upswing with its dominant 38-3 win over Alabama under the poise of coach Cignetti. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza led the offensive charge with 3 touchdowns and 192 passing yards on 87.5% completion percentage. With Alabama taking its biggest loss of the season, questions may soon arise about the winning capabilities of head coach Kalen DeBoer. The lone bright spot for Bama fans may be the look into the future of the football program, as fans got to take a look at Freshman QB Austin Mack as Ty Simpson got benched early in the third quarter. With this win, Indiana continues to prove itself as one of the best stories in college football, but coach Cignetti urges his team that the job is not done. With their eyes on the finish line, the Indiana Hoosiers are continuing their fight to cement their name in college football playoff history.
Electric would be one word to describe this year’s Sugar Bowl; deserving would be another.
The Ole Miss Rebels went into this year’s playoffs with the most drama of any other playoff team, with the Lane Kiffin drama. But with the guidance of new head coach Pete Golding, Ole Miss seems ready to put that name behind them. As Ole Miss beat Georgia with a final score of 39-34, this SEC bout was one of the most exciting Sugar Bowls in recent memory. Both teams had their own respective double-digit leads, but it was ultimately the sensational QB play of Ole Miss’s Trinidad Chambliss that gave the Rebels their victory. With 362 Yards and 2 touchdowns, the once-overlooked prospect is now the rave of college football. Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs played as well as ever, and their QB Gunner Stockton fought hard with his body and arm, but it was not enough to beat Ole Miss, who arguably have more to fight for. The Red Rebels will face the Miami Hurricanes on January 8th, with both teams going into the game in upset fashion. While Indiana is still the favorite, Ole Miss proved their worth in taking down a longtime big brother in Georgia, leaving many wondering if this team has surpassed their once believed ceiling.
Delivered by Diego Belmares
