The New Year in the USA traditionally begins with college football. The semifinals of the College Football Playoff take place right on New Year’s Day. Sport.de tells you what you should pay attention to.
Rose Bowl
#4 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #1 Michigan Wolverines
- Monday, January 1, 2024
- Kickoff: 11 p.m
- Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California
Since the introduction of the new four-team format in the College Playoffs, the Alabama Crimson Tide have secured eight out of ten possible semifinal appearances. They also ended up winning the National Championship three times during this time. Michigan, on the other hand, reached the playoffs in the last two years but was eliminated in the semifinals each time.
Alabama’s offense has been anything but consistent this season and will now face probably the best defense they have played against this season. Quarterback Jalen Milroe has stabilized his game recently, but the defense of the Wolverines, led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, is of a very tough caliber. The unit only allowed 9.5 points per game in 2023.
That’s why Alabama will also focus on its own defense. If they don’t stop Michigan’s attack, they can’t expect to put up 30 or more points themselves. Dallas Turner could become a guarantee of victory if he plays brilliantly against one of the best offensive lines in the country.
The edge defender impresses with his high mobility and since he gained strength and mass again last offseason, he has brilliantly replaced Will Anderson, who left for the NFL. If he continues to refine his technique, he can become one of the best pass rushers in the pros, which is why he is expected to be a top ten pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
Maybe the Wolverines won’t let him develop his pass rush at all and Turner will almost exclusively face the opposing running game. Because Coach Harbaugh has no problem with just running the ball throughout the entire game if the opponent can’t stop his team’s physical play.
There is a showdown between two real powerhouses. From Michigan’s point of view, things can then be high in points. Given the quality of their defense, that would significantly increase their chances of success. Alabama, on the other hand, wants to keep the Wolverines on a short leash and ensure one or two big plays with its playmakers on defense. It will be exciting and many crazy events have already happened in the venerable Rose Bowl in the over 120-year history of the Rose Bowl Game, which is also called the “Granddaddy of them all”.
Sugar bowl
#2 Texas Longhorns vs. #2 Washington Huskies
- Tuesday, January 2, 2024
- Kickoff: 2:45 p.m
- Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
The Texas Longhorns are finally back and in the College Playoffs for the first time since their last National Championship win in 2005. They now face the undefeated Washington Huskies and their head coach Kalen DeBoer, who led his Seattle team to the semifinals in his second season.
This is Washington’s second appearance in the college playoffs since the new format was introduced. But both the Huskies, who last won the championship in 1991, and the Longhorns now have the chance to advance to the National Championship Game. The college championship final will be played at the Houston Texans’ NRG Stadium on the night of January 8th to 9th, Central European Time.
Both teams have excellent wide receivers and good quarterbacks in their ranks. Texans playmaker Quinn Ewers can rely on Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy. Almost half of the passes from “Husky” Michael Penix Jr. ended up in the hands of Ja’Lynn Polk and star receiver Rome Odunze.
With a height of 1.91 meters and a weight of 91 kilograms, Odunze developed into the linchpin of Washington’s passing offense from 2022. He is considered incredibly fast and extremely athletic. This means he doesn’t only win vertically, but also likes to sit in the interfaces of the defense, where he can also act physically at the catch point if necessary.
Everyone is rightly talking about the great talent of Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Ohio State Buckeyes. But no one should ignore the class behind it. Odunze also has what it takes to be drafted in the top 10 and confirm his early selection in the NFL Sunday game.
More excellent receivers will present themselves to the public in the Sugar Bowl. Both teams aren’t known for their strong pass defense, so they’ll also have the chance to play big. Because in the running game there will be less convergence for both teams.
With Texas, one of the best defensive lines in college football meets the Washington Huskies, who recently won the Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in the country. It is practically impossible to identify a favorite in advance. Maybe a special receiver like Odunze can do something special in such a close game. It wouldn’t be the first time that fans in the New Orleans Saints Superdome have seen a special performance from a pass receiver.
Philip Forstner