Finally a College Football Playoff to Remember

By: Chris Freeman

In the tumultuous landscape of college football, the 2023-2024 Playoff emerged as a much-needed excitement, injecting a sense of urgency into a sport grappling with a future that unsettles most. It was a moment of clarity, a candle of light in the dark looking to lead the way forward when the historical pieces that built college football seemed on the verge of its end. The importance of winning a New Years 6 bowl, which in the BCS era was the most important piece to the season, had lost most of its luster as player opt-outs and transfer portal entries made these historic games field teams who were a shell of what they were the previous 12 games.

In a moment in time when the feeling of college football seemed to be lost and headed into a dark place where bowl games held no meaning, we had the two most important games of the year on our doorstep, and the importance of them needing to deliver a classic was at an all-time high. Against this backdrop, the two playoff games unfolded as a pivotal chapter, not just in terms of competition, but as a narrative that transcended the confines of the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl.

In the evolving landscape of college football, representation is key—a confusing dance of diverse brands and regional influences that keeps the sport dynamic and gives the sport a differentiating factor from the NFL. The gravity of the games was magnified by the backdrop of a season where the NFL, seen as the pinnacle of football, struggled with mediocrity. College football, in contrast, became a stage for unpredictable narratives and pure entertainment.

The 2024 Playoff was a testament to this diversity, showcasing the distinct footballing identities of each conference. From the thunderous roars of the Southeastern Conference, to the finesse of the PAC-12, the ‘punch you in the mouth’ attitude of the BIG-10, to one of the blue-blood programs who had not reached the mountain top in many years, each game painted a vivid portrait of the unique footballing philosophies ingrained in different corners of the nation. The storylines that followed each of these teams promised a spectacle that all college football fans would be glued to their televisions for. 

Yet, what makes college football truly special is the juxtaposition between the two playoff games. It is a reflection of the diversity that defines the sport—distinct brands of football converging on the same stage, impacting the game in myriad ways. The clash of styles, the strategic chess matches, and the sheer unpredictability are the pieces that make college football a spectacle unlike anything else.

As we witnessed the collision of these football identities, we were reminded why, even in a time of change, college football will continue to find a way to thrive in the hands of greedy businessmen, showcasing a narrative that goes beyond the scores and money hungry suits—a narrative that captures the sport's timeless appeal.

Resting under the Californian sun, the Rose Bowl stands as more than just a stadium; it is a living testament to the history of college football. Its grounds have watched a century's worth of history, cradled the weight of tradition and glory. They call it the "Granddaddy of them all," and rightfully so. It's a shrine of class, a place where the heart of college football beats loudest. Every fan, every player, and every coach understands the weight of the Rose Bowl, an iconic stage that demands respect. In a departure from its classic BIG-10 and PAC-12 matchups, the Rose Bowl hosted a clash of blue-blood programs, a collision of football royalty that added a new chapter to its storied legacy.

Michigan, with its proud claim to being a cornerstone of college football history, stood face to face with Alabama, a modern-day dynasty that has etched its name as the champion of the sport more than anyone else. The contrast was effervescent, the stakes were high, and as the drama unfolded, it felt like a narrative tailor-made for fans of football across the nation.

Alabama's presence in the playoff bracket had created heated debates across the college football landscape. The struggle with leaving out FSU, the first ever undefeated Power-5 school left out of the 4-team bracket, fueled discussions about whether the Crimson Tide truly deserved a spot in the coveted postseason. The narrative surrounding Alabama was one of both triumph and skepticism, a team seeking to prove its worthiness.

On the other side of the field, the Michigan Wolverines weren't just playing for a championship; they were playing to redefine their narrative. Caught in the storm of controversy over the prior two and a half years of sign stealing, Michigan sought redemption on the biggest of stages. The "Michigan vs Everybody" mantra became a very controversial, but meaningful slogan, as fans thought that they were playing victim to their wrongdoings, bringing their players and fans into a brotherhood.

The game started in typical college football fashion with Michigan seemingly very out of sorts by not being able to get going and compounding those mistakes with a muffed punt. When a dynasty like Alabama is across the scrimmage line from the other team, those unforced errors and turnovers will end up costing you the game unless you can rewrite your mistakes very quickly. That is exactly what Michigan did as they won the battle in the trenches getting continuous pressure on the Alabama quarterback, Jalen Milroe, and ended the first half with 5 sacks. Though Michigan was not done making mistakes with a missed PAT, missed FG, and another muffed punt, it was impressive to see the Wolverines make plays when they needed it most.

JJ McCarthy, who did not have the best of games, was able to do what many teams have tried and failed to do against Alabama during their dynasty. That is to make plays at the end of the game to give your team every chance to win, and he did exactly that. Going into overtime and becoming an all-time classic Rose Bowl it felt as if the inevitable Alabama win was still going to take place. But after riding Blake Corum and their stellar offensive line, Michigan scored very easily and came up with a much-needed goal line stand to advance to the National Championship game. Michigan finally got over the hump with Harbaugh leading the Wolverines and killed any chance of there being another SEC team fighting for a national championship yet again.

Fifteen minutes later the television coverage picked up down south in New Orleans to cover the Sugar Bowl where the Washington Huskies would be fighting for a chance to play in their first National Championship game since 1991, facing a blue-blood in the Texas Longhorns who has been waiting for more than a decade to reach the mountaintop once again. The storylines heading into this showdown were just as intriguing as the aforementioned Rose Bowl, but following up a classic would be very hard to do.

Washington, who fell victim to the East Coast media bias monster, was heavily overlooked all year long after going undefeated in the strongest conference this year. If anyone had been paying attention they would have seen a quarterback in Michael Penix Jr. who rightfully deserved the Heisman trophy. They would have seen a team that had the ‘team of destiny’ tag dubbed to them, a team that always found a way to get the job done.

On the other side of the ball were the Texas Longhorns, who had a great season themselves. The Longhorns had found their proud program in the College Football Playoff for the first time since its beginning in 2014. The feeling surrounding their fanbase was that they were actually ‘back’ and this would be the beginning of their new era as a constant king in the sport once again.

If the Huskies were put in the spotlight throughout the season, like they rightfully deserved, the outcome of this game would not have been surprising to most. Washington showed the nation exactly what they had missed out on all year, an extremely explosive offense that is accompanied by an opportunistic defense.

Michael Penix Jr. put on one of the more dominant performances by a college quarterback in recent memory and his three wide receivers who will be playing on Sundays proved to be too much for Texas. While Texas strung together a comeback, Penix Jr. continued to make plays when his team needed it most. Late in the 4th quarter, Washington was going to punt the ball back to Texas who was down 37-31 with about 15 seconds left. On 3rd down, Dillon Johnson went down injured after the play, thus stopping the clock until the ball was snapped, giving Texas a real chance to string together a 47-second game-winning drive. Quinn Ewers led his Longhorns on a drive down the field and had four chances from the 15-yard line to win the game, but Washington stood strong. 

Today, we look forward to the last two undefeated teams vying for a chance to lift the biggest trophy in collegiate athletics on January 8th. ​​It's a clash of two passionate fan bases, both hungry to claim the ultimate prize in college football. Two teams who have not won a National Championship since the 1990s. An extreme difference in styles will be the headlining factor going into the game. 

Michigan will want to ground and pound with Blake Corum, while Washington will want to use their talent through the air trying to stretch out the stout Michigan defense. It will be the last game for both of these two teams before they are conference rivals in the BIG-10 for the foreseeable future. This fresh pairing of teams fighting for a title will create added intrigue for football fans everywhere and after 60 minutes we will wave goodbye to the college football of old, and those who feel left behind in the process, like me, will be welcoming the new era with a reluctant greeting.