CFB Playoff Recap: Ryan’s Big Day, Stockton Rising?
- Paul Anglade
- Feb 18
- 5 min read
The first round games of the new CFB Playoff format were largely lackluster. The first game was on Friday, December 20 where No. 10 Indiana, a team who had not played in a big game save for an embarrassing 38-15 loss at No. 8 Ohio State, took a bus ride to South Bend and got bounced by No. 7 Notre Dame, 27-17. Saturday’s games did not provide much excitement either as No. 11 SMU, another suspect team chosen by the CFP Committee, got trounced by No. 6 Penn State, 38-10, where Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin silenced some critics about his teams’ performance in big games during his tenure. That game was followed by what was considered the closest game of the day between No. 12 Clemson and No. 5 Texas. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s reluctance to use the transfer portal in the offseason showed early, and despite a promising comeback led by their quarterback Cade Klubnik, a key 4th down stop by Texas’ defense at the goal

line late in the second half propelled the Longhorns to victory at home, 38-24. The night game was the most hyped game of the week, with No. 8 Ohio State taking on No. 9 Tennessee at home. The Volunteers may have set themselves up by warming up shirtless before the game, a trend that has not gone well for teams past. The Vols offense could not get anything going for the majority of the game. Add that to their usually stout defense not having their best day, their star running back Dylan Sampson and wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. going down with injuries early, and Ohio State true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith Jr. continuing his sensational season with 2 touchdowns, the Vols folded to the Buckeyes, 42-17. Ryan Day silenced some of his critics who question his ability to win these big games, although he has lost “The Game” versus Michigan the last 4 years, the game that matters most to Ohio State fans and therefore had the fanbase restless after losing to a Michigan team that fell out of the rankings due to poor quarterback play.
Almost all concerns were put to rest when the Buckeyes faced No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl Quarterfinal in a regular season rematch which Oregon had previously won at home after poor clock management by Ohio State’s Will Howard. In a presser before the Rose Bowl, Smith Jr. said, “I’m just letting everybody know right now if you play man [coverage] Wednesday, we’re taking a shot.” Smith Jr. proceeded to have 5 catches for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half of a 41-21 rout of the Ducks.
Notre Dame took on No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl Quarterfinal. The Bulldogs’ starting quarterback Carson Beck, who has since transferred to Miami, previously had gone down with an elbow injury vs Texas in the SEC Championship. Backup quarterback Gunnar Stockton came in and gave the offense a much-needed consistent spark in the passing game that Beck lacked to win the conference. Against the Irish, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart turned to Stockton in their biggest game yet against a Notre Dame team that managed to silence the critics in a telling 23-10 win over Georgia, with Bulldogs wide receivers continuing their season trend of dropping passes in key moments. Nevertheless, Stockton proved to be a bright spot in Georgia’s offense for the next few years.
Texas defeated No. 4 Arizona State in the Peach Bowl Quarterfinal, 39-31 in 2 overtimes, where the Sun Devils gave the Longhorns everything they could handle on both the offensive and defensive lines. Even in a loss, running back Cam Skattebo stole the show for Arizona State, racking up 284 total yards and 3 total touchdowns rushing, receiving, and passing all on his own.
Penn State defeated No. 3 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl Quarterfinal. In a game that featured Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty going against a tough Penn State defense including star defensive end Abdul Carter, the Nittany Lions stacked 8 guys in the box and refused to let Jeanty beat them in a 31-14 win where Jeanty rushed for 104 yards on 30 carries.
In a game where a banged up Carter was still the best player on the field, Notre Dame managed to open up the semifinal round with a tight 27-24 victory over Carter and Penn State in the Orange Bowl Semifinal, where James Franklin’s group fell short yet again in a defensive battle. Nittany Lions safety Zakee Wheatley and Carter had great individual performances, but it was not enough as quarterback Drew Allar threw the game away in the 4th quarter. Led by head coach Marcus Freeman, the Irish have leaned heavy on faith during his tenure, due in part to Freeman reinstating the tradition of going to Mass before every game in his first season in 2022.
The Cotton Bowl Semifinal between Ohio State and Texas came down to Ohio State’s vaunted offense and Texas’ stout defense. The Longhorns gave the Buckeye offense all they could handle, neutralizing Smith Jr. by putting up to three guys on his side of the field. Their efforts were not validated as Ewers, who was streaky all season, failed to see linebacker Jack Sawyer, his former roommate, bull towards him on 4th and goal with 2 minutes left after a questionable call from Texas’ Steve Sarkisan on 2nd and goal set them back. Sawyer got the strip sack, picked up the fumble and ran all the way for a 86 yard touchdown to seal the game for Ohio State, 28-14.
The National Championship could not come soon enough for America, as Marucs Freeman’s group took on the “underdog” persona the week leading up to Monday, January 20th. Game day came around, and momentum seemed to be going the Irish’s way early after a 18 play, 10 minute drive that ended with Riley Leonard in the end zone. A few drives by the Buckeyes drastically shifted the game in their favor, going up 21-7 at half. They remained in control, even when Notre Dame made it a 31-23 game late. Ohio State’s Smith Jr. had given a warning to the Irish’s undermanned secondary about playing man coverage a few days before, and proceeded to exploit that weakness on a blitzing down on 3rd & 11 for 56 yards for the game-clinching play in the 4th quarter to win, 34-23. Ryan Day finally gets the weight off his back by winning the biggest game of his life, cementing himself as one of the better coaches in recent memory. Freeman on the other side showed resilience and what it means to have a foundation of faith in a team that never wavered down the stretch.
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