Admit it, you didn’t think they would do that.
I predict teams that look like teams outside of Fort Worth, Texas, not TCU, will lose every week. Sure, the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl should have been a good game, but how does TCU actually win?! Michigan was going to roll.
I fell instead.
Few gave the No. 3 TCU a chance to come here. That might have been enough motivation for the frogs to advance to the CFP National Championship Game against the defending national champion and No. 1 Georgia on Jan. 9. at Sofi Stadium. Following a notable comeback against No. 4 Ohio State in his CFP semifinals at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Georgia is the first to win back-to-back national titles since Alabama in 2011-2012. program. Nebraska (1994-95) and USC (2003-04) are the only other schools to win back-to-back national titles since 1990. Georgia’s victory on Saturday put the program on par with his 2015-16 Alabama for the most wins in two seasons in SEC history.
It will undoubtedly be a monumental challenge for TCU, who won 5-7 a year ago and failed to win the conference title game this year, but can they overcome it? The underdog finished 7th in the Big 12. The team is used to doubt.
TCU exceeded expectations all season until the clock ran out at the Fiesta Bowl. Indeed, the beloved frog caught the nation’s attention by riding a psychedelic wave of something called the Hypnotoad. It won’t do us any good if we don’t win back-to-back against Michigan and Georgia.
While Georgia is on the cusp of building the sport’s next dynasty, TCU is looking to win the program’s first national title in 83 years. TCU has a chance to become the first team since Georgia Tech in 1990 to win a national title without ranking in his preseason AP polls.
Not that anyone outside of Fort Worth gives them the chance to actually do it.
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 3 TCU
CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T
when: Monday, January 9 at 7:30 PM ET
where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
How to watch: ESPN and the ESPN app
Opening lines from Caesars Sportsbook: Georgia (-13)
Jump to:
COACH | ROAD TO CHAMPIONSHIP
Key Players | The X Factor
coach
1:26
Sonny Dykes says TCU’s 51-45 victory over Michigan was due to players believing in each other.
Sonny Dykes of TCU: Known for his down-to-earth, low-key personality, Dykes has catapulted TCU into the brightest light, elevating an unranked team to the national championship game this preseason. He worked like a charm, navigating the Horned his Frogs all season with pegs and comebacks, but most importantly Saturday night, TCU dominated all four quarters. Head of football for the first time in TCU and Big 12 history as his coach and in his first season he started 12–0, Dykes amassed a staff that outstripped the Michigan sidelines for most games. Dykes was his offensive analyst on his TCU team in 2017, winning the Big 12 title with 11 wins and three losses. Texas Tech’s legendary coach Spike, son of Dykes, was hired by TCU after his four seasons at SMU. There he led the Mustangs to his third straight winning season for the first time since the mid-’80s, and the first straight win since then against TCU. 1992-93. If you can’t beat him, hire him.
Kirby Smart in Georgia: In seven seasons, Smart positioned Georgia as the next Alabama. Smart, with his 3-0 record in the CFP semifinals, won his 80th game on Saturday, highlighting a resume that includes five SEC East titles and his two SEC championships. No win was as big as last year’s game against Alabama. Winning the national title in the program for the first time in 41 years and truly beginning to tip the balance of power in the SEC. Smart, who spent nine seasons as Alabama’s defensive coordinator under Nick Saban before being hired by Georgia, took Saban’s championship blueprint to Athens. He developed a culture that lured him into his seventh Top 3 signing class of the program, putting the program in an all-win position again.
how they came here
TCUs: Horned Frogs was voted 7th — 7th! — in the Big 12. Instead, the Frogs became the first Big 12 team since his 2009 to complete the regular season with a 12-0 record, which has rarely been easy. The Horned Frogs have had many mishaps this season, trailing after halftime as he took five wins, but finished the regular season perfectly. Despite quarterback Max Duggan’s heroic efforts, TCU lost his 31-28 victory to Kansas State after overtime in the Big 12 championship game. But the Frogs couldn’t have picked a better losing streak against the ranked opponents they defeated during the regular season. TCU still managed to win against the Big 12 Champions. This was an important claim to impress the selection committee and maintain its No. 3 ranking without a conference title. Dykes took the Frogs’ offense to one of the best in the nation, and Duggan led his FBS with at least 50 yards in his 13 completions and the most prolific deep his ball. emerged as one of his passers.
Last national title: 1938
Georgia: After winning the program’s first national title since the 1980 season, the question quickly emerged as to whether Georgia could do it again – this time with a five-man NFL first-round draft off the defense. No eye picks. Well, here they are again one step away. It completely dismantled Oregon in the season opener, winning 49-3 and continuing to resonate through Selection Day. When the Bulldogs are defeated – no. 1 Tennessee on November 5, they established themselves as his No. 1 team, clear in the eyes of the selection committee, and no one gave them reason to doubt it. With his 50-30 victory over LSU in the SEC Championship Game, Georgia once again cemented its place in the CFP thanks to one more excellent defense and the leadership of quarterback Stetson Bennett IV. . The defense went into the semi-finals and scored his second fewest points per game at FBS.
Last national title: 2021
key player
1:27
Stetson Bennett is at a loss for words after Georgia’s miraculous win over Ohio.
TCUs: QB Max Duggan. He started the season as his TCU backup quarterback and is heading into the national championship game as a Heisman runner-up. It was so hard to beat them that it’s an improbable story that mirrors that of the entire team.Duggan, who led the Big 12 in passing yards and passing touchdowns, showed his sheer willpower and his running Combined with his ability to throw the ball deep, he is one of the most difficult players to defend in the country. His 76-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnson on Saturday was the longest reception Michigan allowed since 2019.
Georgia: QB Stetson Bennett. His journey from walk-on in 2017 to last year’s National Championship MVP is well-documented, but his story isn’t over. A losing streak and an edge in postseason experience with TCU’s Duggan will lead him to his second consecutive national championship. Bennett’s calmness and confidence were essential to Georgia’s success. Throughout his career, Bennett has been driven by naysayers. He has set a school record for all-season completions and also has seven rushing touchdowns. With little left to prove, Bennett threw for 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions this year to enter the National Championship Game.
Matchups to watch: TCU’s offensive line vs Georgia’s defensive line
If TCU can get upset, they need to win this fight and give Duggan time to make plays and establish a running game. I found a way. TCU certainly has the ability to do that, but Frogs says he can’t be one-dimensional.
Georgia entered the game Saturday night with one of the nation’s leading rushing defenses, holding opponents to just 2.9 yards per carry and just five rushing touchdowns.
x factor
TCU WR Quentin JohnstonAt 6 feet 4 inches and 215 pounds, Johnston created matchup problems for the defense and emerged as Duggan’s top target with his ability to gain yards after catches. Johnston, who gained an additional 163 his yards receiving against Michigan, recorded his receptions for a team-high 1,066 yards, 59 catches and 6 touchdowns, earning him a National title in his game. To do. He enabled the frogs to expand the field, and some of his best performances came against the toughest competition.His clutches at Kansas, his touchdowns, his catches, he was the only one to play. gave the lead to the frogs in just under four minutes. The following week, he scored again in his double overtime win against Oklahoma State. Johnston is a first-round prospect in the NFL Draft and could be the first receiver off the board.
Georgia: DT Jalen Carter: Here’s a picture from the SEC Championship Game that sums up the havoc Carter can wreak on a quarterback. In the photo, the 6-foot-3-inch, 300-pound defensive with his tackle holding Daniels effortlessly in his left arm like a toy, raises his right hand to signal for his No. 1. As Mel, that’s exactly where he gets drafted. Kuiper Jr. expects Carter to be the No. 1 overall pick. In his six games leading up to Saturday night’s semifinals, Carter recorded 24 tackles, 6.5 TFL, three sacks and two forced fumbles.