After a common season that had some surprises, the primary spherical of the Faculty Soccer Playoffs was performed this weekend. With the highest 4 groups on a bye, and two groups not from the Energy 4 conferences, would we be getting thrilling, shut soccer, or one-sided squashings?
Let’s look again on the first spherical of the playoffs.
#9 Alabama vs #8 Oklahoma
The playoffs started on Friday night time when the quantity nine-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide traveled to Norman to face the quantity eight-seeded Oklahoma Sooners. Each groups had robust SEC campaigns, with the Crimson Tide advancing to the convention championship sport however shedding simply to Georgia. This sport is a rematch of an early-season conflict, a sport the Sooners gained by two factors. Might the identical occur right here?
The Sooners had the primary possession of the sport however had been unable to do something with it. Their second possession was much more profitable. Ranging from their 41-yard line, the offense led by John Mateer made their means all the way down to the Crimson Tide’s eight-yard line. Right here, Mateer discovered the endzone for the dashing landing to take the early lead.
This lead was prolonged on the following two drives from Oklahoma. First, a 29-yard discipline purpose from kicker Tate Sandell made it a 10-point lead. This was rapidly adopted by a seven-yard landing go from Mateer to Isaiah Sategna III to make their lead 17 factors halfway by the second quarter.
Then, the Alabama offense lastly wakened. Led by quarterback Ty Simpson, the Crimson Tide made its means all the way down to the Sooners’ 10-yard line. Right here, on a fourth-down try, Simpson discovered Lotzeir Brooks for the landing go to get themselves again into the sport. Alabama was nicely and actually again after their subsequent drive, which led to a profitable 35-yard discipline purpose try from Conor Talty.
Close to the top of the primary half, the Sooners would make a large mistake. Mateer’s go was intercepted on the 50-yard line after which returned to the endzone for a pick-six landing to degree the scores simply earlier than halftime.
This meant that because the groups returned to the locker rooms, the scores had been degree at 17 apiece.
Alabama would have the ability to take the lead early within the second half when Simpson discovered Brooks for a 30-yard landing go. In response to this, the Sooners had been unable to maneuver the ball a single yard on their subsequent drive. The Crimson Tide didn’t have this drawback and added to their lead through a 40-yard discipline purpose from Talty to make it a 10-point lead going into the ultimate quarter.
Oklahoma wanted to search out the endzone on its subsequent drive if it wished to remain within the playoffs. Fortunately, that is what they had been in a position to do. Mateer discovered Deion Burks for a 37-yard landing go to make it a three-point sport. This deficit lasted just a few drives, however with seven minutes to play, Daniel Hill discovered the endzone to attain a six-yard dashing landing from Alabama to make it a 10-point lead and put the workforce one step nearer to victory.
The Sooners tried to search out the top zone on their remaining drives, however failed. One of the best they might do was two discipline purpose makes an attempt, each of which missed.
This meant that the quantity nine-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide had defeated the quantity eight-seeded Oklahoma Sooners 34-24.
This win had vindicated the poor begin to Kalen DeBoer’s tenure as Alabama’s coach and now appears to be like like a severe contender for the nationwide championship. As for Oklahoma, they’re nonetheless winless within the CFP, regardless of making quite a few appearances over the previous few years.
With their win, Alabama will face the quantity one-seeded Indiana Hoosiers within the Rose Bowl.
#10 Miami vs #7 Texas A&M Aggies
The seventh-seeded Texas A&M Aggies confronted the Tenth-seeded Miami Hurricanes, with the Hurricanes the lone ACC consultant within the playoffs. On paper, this might have been an ideal sport. Sadly, the wind performed a large function on this sport. In what turned a defensive masterclass from each groups, with discipline targets being missed all through, a late landing from Malachi Toney gave the Hurricanes a 10-3 win over the Aggies.
This eliminates the Aggies (which, as a Longhorns fan, I’m completely happy about) and retains the Carson Beck Redemption arc alive. The ‘Canes will face the quantity two-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes within the Cotton Bowl within the subsequent spherical.
#11 Tulane vs #6 Ole Miss
This yr, two of the 12 groups that made the playoffs had been non-power-conference groups. Whereas this exhibits us that groups outdoors the highest 4 conferences are being recognised for his or her skills, it could possibly result in one-sided affairs on the sector. This was seen when the Eleventh-ranked Tulane Inexperienced Wave (the most effective Group of 5 workforce) confronted the Sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels of their first sport with out Lane Kiffin.
These two groups met earlier within the season in a one-sided win for the Rebels. The identical factor occurred right here. Ole Miss dominated the Inexperienced Wave to file a 41-10 victory. This places them into the quarterfinals, the place they may face the quantity three-seeded Georgia Bulldogs from the SEC within the Sugar Bowl.
#12 James Madison vs #5 Oregon
The largest shock of the playoffs was the inclusion of the quantity 12-seeded James Madison Dukes. That they had a robust season and gained the Solar Belt Convention. However, they by no means aced any ranked workforce this yr, and their solely Energy 4 expertise was an early-season defeat to Louisville (their solely defeat of the season).
The Dukes had been by no means going to defeat the quantity five-seeded Oregon Geese, however they weren’t embarrassed by them. A high-scoring sport occurred, with Geese QB Dante Moore throwing for 4 touchdowns of their 51-34 win. This win means the Geese advance to face the quantity four-seeded Texas Tech Purple Raiders within the Orange Bowl for his or her subsequent sport.
So, that was the short lookback on the first spherical of the playoffs. Apart from the Oklahoma/Alabama sport, these video games had been both squash matches or closely affected by the climate. Fortunately, the quarter finals must be stronger. They’ll be performed on New 12 months’s Day.
