School Soccer Playoff quarterfinals first look: Oregon-Ohio State has nationwide title vibes

The second spherical of the primary 12-team School Soccer Playoff can be a mix of turn-back-the-clock conventional bowl video games and odd matchups in unusual websites. Hopefully, the video games can be extra aggressive after the primary spherical produced 4 residence group victories by a mixed 77 factors.

The place: Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.)
When: Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Historical past lesson

The Nittany Lions and Broncos have by no means performed, however they each have historical past in Arizona. A case could possibly be made that every program’s biggest victory occurred on the Fiesta Bowl.

For Boise State, it was on Jan. 1, 2007, when Chris Petersen’s trickster Broncos pulled out all of the stops to beat Adrian Peterson and Oklahoma 43-42 in additional time. A Statue of Liberty 2-point conversion ended it and Boise State star Ian Johnson proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend on the sector after the sport in one of the crucial memorable bowl video games ever performed.

The Fiesta Bowl was performed in Tempe, Ariz., (as an alternative of Glendale) when Penn State gained its second and most up-to-date nationwide title on Jan. 2, 1987. Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions intercepted Miami’s Heisman Trophy profitable quarterback Vinny Testaverde 5 occasions to win a No. 1 vs. 2 matchup again when each packages have been independents. (That was a factor, people.)

First look

With Boise State, all the things begins with operating again Ashton Jeanty. The Heisman runner-up and the nation’s main rusher has 2,497 yards (131 behind Barry Sanders’ official NCAA report) and 30 whole touchdowns.

Penn State’s protection tormented SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings (three sacks, three interceptions), placing the Mustangs right into a deep gap that compelled them to desert the run. However the very best offenses Penn State confronted this season — USC, Ohio State, Oregon — all ran for a minimum of 170 yards and 4.2 yards per carry towards the Nittany Lions, who’re energetic up entrance (led by edge rusher Abdul Carter, who has 21.5 tackles for loss) however don’t have the most important our bodies.

After all, these offenses have a degree of stability that Boise State doesn’t constantly. Jeanty went for 192 and three touchdowns on 25 carries towards Massive Ten champion Oregon, a 3-point loss for the Broncos. He’ll want an analogous efficiency for the Mountain West champions to have one other memorable evening in Glendale.

Line: Penn State -9.5.

Why we must be excited: It’s the following Playoff recreation. Pay attention, I get it. The primary-round video games of the 12-team Playoff went very very similar to the semifinals of the four-team Playoff. That’s to say, plenty of lopsided video games. However don’t quit on the Playoff. Apart from, going out on New Yr’s Eve is overpriced and overrated.

The place: Peach Bowl (Atlanta)
When: Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET on ESPN

Historical past lesson

Unfamiliar foes in a wierd setting. The Longhorns and Solar Devils have performed simply as soon as. Texas gained the 2007 Vacation Bowl 52-34 in a Massive 12 vs. Pac-12 matchup behind Jamaal Charles and Colt McCoy.

That Texas victory launched a run at a nationwide title subsequent season for Mack Brown’s Longhorns.

The Peach Bowl is unfamiliar territory for each groups. Solely Arizona State has ever performed within the Atlanta-based bowl; that was again in 1970 when Frank Kush’s Solar Devils out of the WAC accomplished an unbeaten season 11-0 with a 48-26 victory towards North Carolina at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.

As a brand new member of the SEC, Texas is rising extra acquainted with Atlanta. The Longhorns misplaced the convention title recreation to Georgia within the Mercedes-Benz Stadium two weeks in the past. Oh, they usually might make it a hat trick if they will attain the nationwide championship, additionally being performed on the residence of the Falcons on Jan. 20.

First look

The Solar Devils roll into the Playoff on a six-game profitable streak, profitable the Massive 12 title of their first season within the convention. You may argue second-year coach Kenny Dillingham’s turnaround was each bit as spectacular as what Curt Cignetti did at Indiana. The Solar Devils don’t do anyone factor nice, however they’re fairly good all over the place. Cam Skattebo is the center and soul, a bowling ball of a operating again who’s second solely to Jeanty in yards from scrimmage (1,568).

Texas counters with the very best protection within the nation, led by Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron at cornerback. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik had himself a day towards that Longhorns’ protection, however the Tigers have been in chase mode more often than not. To copy that, Arizona State will want a wholesome Jordyn Tyson. The star receiver missed the Massive 12 Championship Sport with a shoulder damage.

What may be extra related to the Peach Bowl is what Texas did to Clemson on the bottom. The Longhorns ran for a season-high 292 yards behind an offensive line with a excessive ceiling when it’s wholesome. The Solar Devils higher buckle up.

Line: Texas -13.5.

Why we must be excited: Dillingham’s group is a whirlwind of enthusiasm and constructive vitality proper now. That may be sufficient towards a proficient Texas group. However when you like storylines, how concerning the present Massive 12 champion making an attempt to take down the group that just about single-handedly killed the league a number of occasions?

The place: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
When: Jan. 1., 5 p.m. ET on ESPN

Historical past lesson

Oregon hasn’t been within the Massive Ten lengthy sufficient for this not to really feel like a traditional Pac 12 vs. Massive Ten Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes and Geese have met beneath these circumstances in Pasadena twice.

Most just lately, Terrelle Pryor led Ohio State to a 26-17 victory towards Oregon within the 2010 Rose Bowl recreation. Earlier than that, you must return to the 1958 Rose Bowl. The Massive Ten champion and No. 2 Buckeyes beat the Pacific Coast Convention co-champion Geese 10-7.

Ohio State leads the sequence 9-2, although the Geese have gained the final two. The Buckeyes are 9-7 in 16 Rose Bowl appearances. The Geese are 4-4.

First look

Technically, we already had that in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 12. The Geese gained a back-and-forth thriller, 32-31.

The sport had somewhat little bit of all the things, together with somewhat trickery on the finish when the Geese left an additional man on the sector defensively in an try to empty some treasured time from the clock whereas Ohio State tried to make a last-minute profitable drive.

Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel (341 yards, two TDs, 27-yard rush TD) and Ohio State’s Will Howard (326 yards, two TDs, rush TD) have been each good.

The Geese are the one group this season to attain greater than 17 factors towards the Buckeyes. Each defenses might want to give you some solutions, however the actually attention-grabbing chess match can be between Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein.

The Geese have been hyper-aggressive, taking photographs down the sector towards the Ohio State secondary and have been the one group to succeed in 5.0 yards per carry towards the Buckeyes. What’s the counter for Knowles, who didn’t ship a ton of stress at Gabriel early within the recreation?

Ohio State’s offensive line, beset by accidents within the common season to its two finest gamers, was superior towards a great Tennessee defensive entrance. Whether or not that carries over towards All-American Derrick Harmon and the Geese’ proficient line can be one of many keys to the sport.

Line: Ohio State -1.5

Why we must be excited: This may be the nationwide championship recreation within the quarterfinals.

The place: Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
When: Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET on ESPN

Historical past lesson

The final time the Combating Irish and Bulldogs performed within the Sugar Bowl a freshman operating again named Herschel Walker led Georgia to its first nationwide title. Shout out to Buck Belue, the Bulldogs’ first championship quarterback.

The storied packages didn’t play once more till 2017 when Georgia and its followers invaded South Bend and got here away with a 1-point victory in September. It was an indication of issues to return for then-second-year coach Kirby Good. Georgia would win the SEC and lose an additional time School Soccer Playoff Championship Sport to Alabama.

Two years later, Notre Dame took the journey to Athens and misplaced, 23-17.

Developing quick towards the easiest groups within the nation was one of many defining traits of Kelly’s 11 seasons with the Irish. The postseason losses have been particularly lopsided.

Now Notre Dame is Marcus Freeman’s program. It’s not simply chasing a nationwide championship, it’s making an attempt to alter its standing within the sport. The final time the Irish gained a recreation like this, a serious New Yr’s Day-type bowl recreation and towards a high-level opponent, was the 1993 Cotton Bowl towards Texas A&M.

First look

Georgia might need the top-to-bottom most proficient roster within the nation, however this has been a group that solely not often has flashed dominance — and now could be prone to be taking part in with its No. 2 quarterback. Gunner Stockton was ok in aid of the injured Carson Beck to assist Georgia beat Texas in additional time within the SEC Championship Sport.

Now he faces one other proficient protection, however with time to organize. Conversely, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden additionally has time to organize for Stockton, who is much extra of a risk along with his legs than Beck.

Will Georgia attempt to morph into Notre Dame? The Irish are restricted within the downfield passing recreation with Riley Leonard, however he’s a harmful and rugged runner who gives a pleasant complement to the explosive Jeremiyah Love.

This appears to be like like a defensive battle, however not so quick. This hasn’t been classic Georgia D. The Bulldogs rank thirty first within the nation in rush protection at 3.69 yards per carry and had every kind of points stopping the quarterback run recreation towards Georgia Tech.

Line: Georgia -1.5.

Why we must be excited: It’s probably the most competitively-balanced huge postseason recreation Notre Dame has performed for the reason that mid-Nineties.

(Picture from the Oregon-Ohio State recreation on Oct. 12 in Eugene, Ore.: Ali Gradischer / Getty Photographs)