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This College Football Playoff quarterfinal recap begins with tragic news.
Michael DeMocker / Getty Images
Sugar Bowl Postponed
Attack in New Orleans
In the early hours of Jan. 1, horrific events broke out in New Orleans, where a man sped a truck into a Bourbon Street crowd, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 30. Authorities are investigating the attack as an act of terrorism.
As a result, the Georgia–Notre Dame Sugar Bowl was delayed to today. The attack occurred a few blocks from Georgia’s team hotel and less than a mile from the game site, the Superdome. The Sugar Bowl will now be played at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN (stream on Fubo), before the Duke-Ole Miss Gator Bowl at 8. The Athletic’s news story has more details on the stadium’s heightened security measures.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy, including the family of former Princeton wide receiver Tiger Bech, who was one of the fatalities. He was 28. One Georgia student was also critically injured and is receiving medical treatment, school president Jere W. Morehead said in a statement.
Quarterfinals
The Sun Devils delivered
In case you missed any of the three CFP games over the last two days:
No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14
- What happened: Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty rushed for a season-low 104 yards, leaving him 27 shy of Barry Sanders’ single-season record. The Nittany Lions stuffed the Broncos’ star while getting big plays from All-American tight end Tyler Warren, who caught a pair of TDs, and RB tandem Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who combined for 221 yards on the ground. More than anything, Boise State hurt itself with 13 penalties for 90 yards and lost four turnovers.
- Required reading: Boise State deserved its spot in the Playoff, but as Justin Williams argued, the result demonstrated the current Playoff seeding is flawed. Elsewhere, Audrey Snyder details the postgame scene from the Penn State locker room, where the Playoff surge is in full effect.
- Highlight play: Singleton iced the win with a 58-yard rushing touchdown:
- What’s next? Penn State will play the winner of today’s Georgia-Notre Dame quarterfinal in the Orange Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m. ET in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (2OT)
- What happened: If you didn’t learn Cam Skattebo’s name by the Big 12 championship, you sure know it now. The Arizona State running back did it all against Texas — 29 carries for 141 yards, seven receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown pass — and was the MVP of the Peach Bowl despite the Sun Devils coming up short. In the most dramatic game of this CFP so far, Arizona State trailed 17-3 at halftime before rallying as Longhorns kicker Bert Auburn missed two field goals in the fourth quarter. Texas had to convert on fourth-and-13 in OT to stay alive, and QB Quinn Ewers found Matthew Golden for the season-saving touchdown. Texas scored on its first play of the second overtime, and an INT ended it. Still, let’s thank the two-touchdown underdogs for providing the drama we’d been waiting for in this Playoff.
- Required reading: Ewers isn’t the perfect quarterback, but Sam Khan Jr. explained last night why Steve Sarkisian has never lost faith in his leader. As for Arizona State, this season will be remembered for the journey instead of the finish line. But, as Doug Haller wrote, it might not be over yet.
- Highlight play: Skattebo’s 42-yard pass on fourth-and-2 in the fourth quarter kickstarted Arizona State’s comeback:
- What’s next? Texas will play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET, and Dallas’ AT&T Stadium should feel like a bit of a homecoming for the Longhorns.
No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21
- What happened: The Buckeyes dominated in their quarterfinal rematch against the Ducks, outgaining Oregon 500 yards to 276. Ohio State jumped out to a shocking 34-0 lead in the first half, dumping Oregon into a hole it never looked like it would climb out of. Ohio State freshman WR Jeremiah Smith shined, finishing with seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. On the “Until Saturday” podcast, Damien Harris said if given the chance, he’d draft Smith first overall in this year’s NFL Draft. (Bad news, Buckeye opponents: You’re stuck with Smith for two more years.)
- Required reading: The Ducks have long knocked on the door of greatness, and this year looked like their best chance to enter. But as Chris Kamrani wrote, Oregon is now left wondering: If not now, when? In Columbus, it’s always been natty-or-bust, and now, as Cameron Teague Robinson details, these Buckeyes finally look the part.
- Highlight play: *Insert any Jeremiah Smith highlight here.*
Quick Snaps
Alabama lost to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. South Carolina lost to Illinois in the Citrus Bowl (while tempers flared between the head coaches). Which means it’s probably time to apologize to Indiana and SMU for declaring second-tier SEC teams more deserving of the CFP.
Could Ohio State and Penn State be the makings of an all-Big Ten national championship?
Akron-bound Kenneth McManus IV is the lone Group of 5 signee playing in today’s Under Armour All-America Game (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Here’s why you should root for him.
You can buy tickets to every college football game here.
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(Top photo: Dale Zanine / Imagn Images)
