Shelbee’s Sunday Morning Quarterback #13: Championship Weekend Recap

Welcome to the thirteenth episode of Shelbee’s Sunday Morning Quarterback!  Turning it over now to my husband, the Sunday Morning Quarterback.

Championship Weekend Recap and Selection Sunday

With my Nittany Lions sitting out this Championship Weekend, I’ve decided this edition of the Sunday Morning Quarterback will cover all of the games played yesterday.  Today at noon also marks Selection Sunday for the final season rankings and bowl game selections.  As much as I’d love to see Penn State head to a New Years Six game, I’m thinking the Citrus Bowl (a.k.a the best of the rest) will be our most likely destination.

MAC Championship Game

Northern Illinois 30 – Buffalo 29

I thought for sure Buffalo was going to roll in this game, sporting a 10-2 record, the Bulls were clear favorites over the 7-5 Huskies. Buffalo seemed in control for most of the game including carrying a 19 point lead deep into the 3rd quarter but Northern Illinois wasn’t finished. Marcus Childers would throw two touchdown passes to D.J. Brown, the last one coming with 1:09 to go in the game and giving the Huskies the victory. The Bulls have never beaten NIU in a conference game going 0-12 against the Huskies.

PAC-12 Championship Game

#11 Washington 10 – #17 Utah 3

The top two defenses in the conference brought you the kind of game you would expect and the play of the game was fittingly made by the defense. With 1:05 to go in the 3rd quarter, Utah quarterback Jason Shelley’s pass to Siaosi Mariner went off his hands then bounced into the air off of his leg where Huskies defender Byron Murphy snagged it and returned it 66 yards for the game’s only touchdown. This was a tough loss for Utah who played without their starting quarterback and running back. Washington is off to their first Rose Bowl since 2000 and awaiting the announcement of their BIG TEN opponent.

BIG 12 Championship Game

#5 Oklahoma 39 – #14 Texas 27

In the first in-season rematch between these two teams since 1903, Oklahoma was looking to avenge their only loss of the season. The game started out in the Longhorns’ favor managing to keep Kyler Murray and the Sooner offense out of the end zone until the final 5 minutes of the first half but with :18 to go, Murray would find Grant Calcaterra for a 6 yard touchdown and a lead they would never relinquish. Texas would tie it in the 3rd but Oklahoma would score the game’s final 12 points on the way to their fourth straight conference title. The Sooners now wait and see if their victory coupled by a #4 Georgia loss will get them the final spot in the playoffs.

Sun Belt Championship Game

Appalachian State 30 – Louisiana 19

After watching Appalachian State upset Michigan eleven years ago, I’ve always felt the urge to cheer for them except for this year when they almost upset Penn State in the season opener. The Ragin’ Cajuns opened the scoring with a field goal on their first drive but it would be the last time they led all day. Following the field goal, Appalachian State returned the kickoff 97 yards to the 1 yard line and would score on the next play giving them the lead they carried for the rest of the game. Appalachian State will play in the New Orleans Bowl as the conference champion as Louisiana awaits their destination today.

Conference USA Championship Game

University of Alabama-Birmingham 27 – Middle Tennessee State University 25

UAB in just its second year back as a football program and looking to avenge a loss last week to MTSU in the regular season finale used a 21 point 2nd quarter to take the lead but needed a field goal with 3:23 to go in order to win it.  MTSU had one final chance with 1:05 to go. UAB was set to punt but a penalty by MTSU gave them the first down and UAB would run out the clock. The victory gave UAB their first ever 10 win season.

American Athletic Conference Championship Game

#8 University of Central Florida 56 – Memphis 41

Carrying a 24 game win streak into the game, UCF found themselves down by 17 points at halftime. Playing with a backup quarterback, UCF came out at half and outscored Memphis 35-3 on their way to a consecutive conference championship and a date with a New Years Six bowl game. The debate will be if the Knights will be deserving of a spot in the top four teams today or not. We will find out in a few short hours.

SEC Championship Game

#1 Alabama 35 – #4 Georgia 28

How does Georgia do it? Last year they squandered two 13 point leads against ‘Bama in the National Championship Game and this year they lead by 14 with 3:02 left to go in the 3rd quarter.  In both games, it looked like they were putting on a clinic for Alabama, dominating them like no team has during the Tides current dominance of college football. It’s comparable to the feeling I get watching Penn State take a lead against a ranked opponent going into the 4th quarter. You should feel good about it but deep down you’ve seen this movie before and you don’t like the ending. Alabama will certainly be #1 when the final rankings are revealed today. Georgia will await the committee’s determination of their fate. I don’t understand how you could keep them in the top 4 as a two loss non-conference champion over a one loss conference champion such as Oklahoma or Ohio State but we will see soon enough.

Mountain West Championship Game

#25 Fresno State 19 – #22 Boise State 16

This game was an example of another championship game that involved beating a team that you previously lost to earlier in the season. The winner of this game was hoping for a New Years Six bowl game until UCF’s comeback win dashed those hopes. Boise State, who had won all nine previous games against the Bulldogs on their home field, would be undone by special teams on this night. A missed 42 yard field goal and a blocked extra point in the 2nd half would lead this game to overtime where the Broncos would score first on a field goal but on 3rd and goal from the 1, Ronnie Rivers would take it in for the touchdown and a Fresno State win. The Bulldogs will head to the Las Vegas Bowl as the conference champion while Boise State will await their destination later today.

ACC Championship Game

#2 Clemson 42 – Pittsburgh 10

I can’t say I’m sorry that I watched my bitter cross state rival get blown out in this one. In reality, the Panthers never stood a chance in this game, living on the dreams of their upset of Clemson in the past wasn’t enough last night. The Tigers piled up 301 yards rushing and were in control of this one from the beginning. Pittsburgh did rush for over 200 yards against the vaunted front four of Clemson but with no balance in their offense it wasn’t enough. Pittsburgh’s running back tandem though both surpassed 1,000 yards for the season for the first time in school history. Pittsburgh will await their bowl game fate today, while Clemson will remain #2 and should face Notre Dame in the playoffs.

BIG TEN Championship Game

#6 Ohio State 45 – #21 Northwestern 24

I was pulling for Northwestern on this one.  I admire what Pat Fitzgerald has done with that program, turning a basement dweller for years into a relevant team in the conference. However, wanting them to win and an actual upset of the Buckeyes on the field are two entirely different things. The Buckeyes are an offensive juggernaut with Dwayne Haskins at the helm. The Wildcats were in this one until the mid 3rd quarter when a touchdown brought them within three points but Ohio State would score 21 of the next 24 points to put this one away. If left out of the top 4, Ohio State will meet Washington in the Rose Bowl as Northwestern awaits their fate today.

Until Selection Sunday picks the Nittany Lions destinaiton

We Are…

Keeping it on the edge,

Jeff (and Shelbee)

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