Forde's Fab Four: Michigan State bullies way into projected CFP field
Every week, I will play Selection Committee member, take a look at the College Football Playoff picture and offer my bracket: Forde’s Fab Four. Feel free to disagree.
Much will change in the coming weeks, and already there is some turnover after week one – Michigan State is in, Notre Dame is out:
COTTON BOWL: No. 1 seed Ohio State vs. No. 4 seed TCU
Playing just five days after the opening road victory over Virginia Tech, the Buckeyes had a predictably flat start against major underdog Hawaii. They led just 14-0 at halftime and 17-0 after three quarters before piling on three touchdowns in the fourth. Ohio State’s explosive plays that ripped the Hokies were nowhere to be found against the Warriors – the Buckeyes had no plays from scrimmage longer than 24 yards, and averaged just 4.4 yards per play. But the defense pitched a shutout, produced four turnovers and held Hawaii to just 165 total yards. This was just another step in Ohio State’s cakewalk ‘til November, and there will be sharper performances to come. Next up: respectable MAC opponent Northern Illinois (2-0) in Columbus.
TCU hung 70 on Stephen F. Austin in a game that means nothing in terms of playoff résumé – if anything, playing an FCS opponent only hurts the Horned Frogs’ strength of schedule. But it may have been a useful game to get Heisman Trophy candidate Trevone Boykin untracked after an uneven first game at Minnesota. Boykin threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns while playing barely more than a half. TCU’s presence in the bracket still is owed to the opening victory on the road against a Power 5 opponent. Next up: SMU (1-1) in Fort Worth.
ORANGE BOWL: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Michigan State
Alabama followed its 18-point, neutral-site victory over Wisconsin with a methodical, 27-point win against Middle Tennessee. The Crimson Tide defense remains nasty, especially against the run: They’re giving up just 2.4 yards per carry and 63 yards per game, while allowing zero rushing touchdowns to two teams that have run the ball well when not facing the Tide. Offense remains a work in progress: Quarterbacks Jake Coker and Cooper Bateman each had an interception against Middle Tennessee, and star running back Derrick Henry didn’t have big numbers against the Blue Raiders. But Nick Saban had to know this was something of a letdown game between a big season opener and a big SEC opener. Next up: No. 15 Mississippi (2-0) in Tuscaloosa.
Michigan State crashes the bracket after picking up the first victory in a matchup of top 10 teams this season, beating Oregon 31-28 at home. The Spartans were a well-balanced team in avenging one of their two losses from last year – moving the ball on the ground and in the air, and limiting the Ducks’ offense to its fewest points in a regular-season game since losing to Arizona last year, 31-24. Michigan State’s defense stopped Oregon four times on fourth down, including a goal-line stand, and produced its third and fourth interceptions of the season. Their victory gives the Big Ten two teams in the Fab Four bracket, while keeping the ACC and Pac-12 on the outside looking in. The question is whether a weak Big Ten outside its Big Two could drag down the Buckeyes’ and Spartans’ strength of schedule. Which is why beating the Ducks was so important. Next up: Air Force (2-0) in East Lansing.
Dropped out: Notre Dame.
Also considered (teams must have Power 5 win): Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU, UCLA, BYU, Georgia, Temple, Texas A&M, Utah, Northwestern.
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