Yea...remember when Oklahoma and Notre Dame were in the playoff talk, when there was talk of three SEC-West teams in the playoff, when Todd Gurley was already granted the Heisman, when "What about BYU?" was a concern, when FSU's close calls and controversies would cause them to lose soon, and the talk that the worst SEC-West team could beat the best SEC-East? Seems so long ago.
But here are at season-end and all the controversial, smack-talking, unpredictable four months of college football draw to a close. There is still plenty to talk about and look forward to in the new playoff schedule but here are a few facts that now displace the thinking a few months ago:
- Todd Gurley will not win the Heisman (but he will likely have a nice NFL career).
- FSU did not lose a regular season game (but I think GaTech might take them in next weeks conference championship game).
- The SEC_West did indeed beat up on one another leaving sole Bama to carry the SEC flag to the playoff (if they get past unpredictable Mizzou).
- The SEC-West was not always outplayed by the SEC-East (Georgia over Arkansas, Georgia over Auburn bad, Mizzou over Arkansas).
- Oklahoma and Notre Dame and USC are back to the drawing board.
- BYU will have to wait another year as well (but their 2015 schedule holds way more water if they are up to the task).
Georgia lost a great nail-biter in OT. Once again it was down to play calling...on just a couple of plays. A different call likely would have been a different outcome. But hindsight is 20/20 and I know the coaches are thinking the same thing. Don't call for their heads just yet...they're growing from each miscue.
BYU looked well prepared and pulled it off down the stretch like prepared teams should. Pull ahead and stay ahead by playing both sides of the ball equally well.