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Roger Steinman / Associated Press
While the national championship will soon draw our full attention, the 2020 season has come to an end for every program except Alabama and the state of Ohio.
They will compete in the title fight to fight number 1, but the rest of B / R’s Top 25 have been locked up.
B / R’s five-man panel of experts – David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Kerry Miller, Joel Reuter and Brad Shepard – each submitted a Top 25 ballot. A vote in the first place counted 25 points, followed by 24 points for the second, 23 for the third, and so on.
B / R na-bak top 25
Alabama (Last week: 1)
2. Clemson (4)
State of Ohio (3)
Notre Dame (2)
T-5. Texas A&M (6)
T-5. Oklahoma (7)
Georgia (11)
8. Cincinnati (5)
9. Northwest (14)
10. Iowa State (16)
T-11. Indiana (9)
T-11. BYU (12)
13. Florida (10)
14. Coastal Carolina (8)
15. Louisiana (15)
16. North Carolina (13)
17. Freedom (20)
18. Oklahoma State (24)
19. Ball State (21)
20. Miami (18)
Iowa (19)
22. Texas (23)
23. USC (NR)
24. State of San Jose (17)
North Carolina State (25)
Others receiving votes: Buffalo, Wisconsin
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Michael Ainsworth / Associated Press
The Oklahoma Sooners earned three consecutive spots in the College Football Series in 2020. Early losses to the state of Kansas and the state of Iowa condemned Lincoln Riley’s team.
However, get ready for an off-season, loaded with hype.
The Sooners had a 55-20 demolition in the Cotton Bowl series and ended the season on a winning streak of eight games. They finished 9-2, won a sixth consecutive Big 12 title, and finally linked a legitimate strong defense to an effective offense.
The extinction of the shortened Florida was impressive, but the most important remark is what Oklahoma will bring back in 2021.
Even without including his 287 yards and four touchdowns in the Cotton Bowl, quarterback Spencer Rattler scored 3,191 yards and 34 points in his first season as a starter. The Sooners are likely to return every attacking skill player as Rhamondre Stevenson, but leading rusher Kennedy Brooks of 2019 is set to return after being ruled out this season. It is also expected that the Sooners will lose only a handful of important contributors to the defense.
Oklahoma will be the Big 12 favorite and a popular choice to reach the College Football Playoff in 2021.
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Michael Ainsworth / Associated Press
Let it be clear: Bowl plates are somewhere between meaningless and of little value. This is not a lasting ruling on the ACC.
But 2020 was not a good post-season for the 0-6 league.
Alabama had few problems with Notre Dame, and the state of Ohio selected Clemson. The ACC has had two of the four College Football Playoff teams, but has yet to stand a chance of winning a national title.
Wake Forest fullback Sam Hartman–which threw one intercepted in 236 passengers of the regular season–throws a pick on four straight slides in a loss to Wisconsin at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Miami trailed 21-0 behind Oklahoma State, D’Eriq King, the fullback, lost by a torn ACL and had a return to 37-34.
The North Carolina state committed three turnovers during a 23-21 loss to Kentucky in the Gator Bowl, and the shortened North Carolina fell 41-27 in the Orange Bowl with Texas A&M.
Hey, Conference USA at least ended 0-6 too?
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Gerald Herbert / Associated Press
Rose Bowl Game: Alabama 31, Notre Dame 14
Although the game only hit the blowout area in the third quarter, Alabama controlled the Rose Bowl. Quarterback Mac Jones and receiver DeVonta Smith linked two of the Tide’s first three possessions, the second of which immediately answered Notre Dame’s lone point of the first half.
“It was not a matter of hitting the ball or not having enough players to compete against Alabama,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly told reporters. “It was about making plays.”
And the Irish struggled badly in the department.
Ian Book scored just 5.9 yards per pass attempt, and Notre Dame rushed for 3.7 yards per run. It’s simply not good enough to keep up with a violation of Alabama’s caliber.
Jones completed 25 of 30 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns, hitting Smith seven times for 130 yards and three touchdowns. In all likelihood, Jones of Smith will be named the Heisman Trophy winner Tuesday night. Running back Najee Harris also jumped 125 yards and added 30 receiving yards.
Sugar Pot: Ohio State 49, Clemson 28
While the Buckeyes and Tigers played to a 14-14 deadlock in the first quarter, a shootout seemed to be in full swing. But the next 15 minutes formed the result.
Quarterback Justin Fields–which played through some massive hits, including one by James Skalski, which led to a directed call and consequent ejection–throw three more counts before halftime. The Buckeyes led 35-14 at halftime, leaving no doubt as to which side line it deserved to celebrate.
“They were the better team and deserved it,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Elf Krygers.
The state of Ohio suffered 639 yards of offense (averaging 8.9 yards per game), which cut a good Clemson defense over and over. Fields threw for 385 yards and six touchdowns while running for 42, and Trey Sermon, who ran back, piled up 254 yards from the scrum.
Clemson’s fullback, Trevor Lawrence, threw for 400 yards and two touchdowns in the most likely collegiate game.
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Ron Jenkins / Associated Press
2020 CFP Championship
Records: Ohio State (7-0) vs. Alabama (12-0)
When: Monday 11 January
Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
Time: 20:00 pm
TV: ESPN
The state of Ohio beat Alabama 42-35 in a semi-final of the GVP six years ago. This time there is a national championship at stake.
According to DraftKings, Alabama is listed as an eight-point favorite.
On the Buckeyes side, most of the upsets that led to the game will focus on Fields health. For Alabama, they will revolve around Jones, Smith and the Heisman race, as well as Steve Sarkisian. The offensive coordinator has accepted the head coach position in Texas, but still plans to present plays in the title game, according to Matt Zenitz from AL.com.
Perhaps this is an appropriate way for Alabama to move on from Sarkisian’s time as coordinator. Four years ago, Sark Lane replaced Kiffin–who was named the coach at Florida Atlantic–between a CFP semi-final and the national championship.
However, Clemson tackled the tide in that game. Sarkisian hopes to leave the program on a better note.