Forde's Fab Four: Contenders make their mark with big performances
Each week of the season, I will be a one-man College Football Playoff selection committee, picking the four teams that should be in the bracket if Selection Sunday were today. Call it Forde’s Fab Four, and call it an invitation to debate and discuss.
Things got a bit more real this weekend, with virtually everyone having played at least one quality opponent by now. (The exception to that is, as usual, Baylor. The Bears have played Northwestern State, SMU and Rice. That won’t get you into the Fab Four.) And there were some sensational performances.
PEACH BOWL: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Houston
Bizarre things happen to the Crimson Tide when they play Mississippi – things like a three-touchdown deficit and an 18-point lead in the same game, not to mention three defensive touchdowns and a successful onside kick. But here was the new twist: Alabama won, after consecutive upset losses to the Rebels. Give the Tide credit for rallying from 21 down on the road, cranking out 334 rushing yards and scoring 45 points in a span of less than 27 minutes of game action. But Ole Miss also found some holes in the vaunted ‘Bama defense to pile up 527 yards and 43 points. If Chad Kelly hadn’t made two touchdown-producing turnovers, this could have been a third straight Ole Miss shocker over Alabama. Next for the Tide: Kent State Saturday, a complete mismatch.
The Cougars hung onto a spot in the Fab Four bracket by virtue of a 40-16 road win at Cincinnati. The problem is that their signature victory to start the season over Oklahoma in Houston was trumped by Ohio State’s beatdown of the same Sooners team in Norman. Still: Give Houston credit for a dominant fourth quarter against the Bearcats, outscoring them 28-0 after falling behind 16-12. There will be lingering concerns about the Cougars for two reasons: Greg Ward Jr.’s ailing throwing shoulder, and a seven-game stretch that could sink their strength of schedule. However, the Nov. 17 home game against Louisville now looms even larger after the Cardinals’ ascendance. Next for Houston: At Texas State Saturday.
FIESTA BOWL: No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 3 Ohio State
After their utter dismantling of Florida State – which, like Alabama, beat Ole Miss – I gave long consideration to ranking the Cardinals No. 1. Ultimately I gave the Crimson Tide the slight edge based on playing two Power 5 opponents away from home (USC and Mississippi) to Louisville’s one (Syracuse) – but there literally is not a blemish on Louisville’s résumé to date. Bobby Petrino’s team leads the nation in scoring offense (65 points per game), total offense (679 yards per game) and yards per play (9.39). And the Cards are no slouch defensively, ranking in the top 25 nationally in fewest yards allowed per game. Having the best player in the country through three games in Lamar Jackson doesn’t hurt, either. Next for Louisville: at Marshall Saturday, in what could be a trap game if the Thundering Herd were good enough to spring it, because the following week is Louisville at Clemson.
The Buckeyes soared into the Fab Four with a thorough beating of Oklahoma, 45-24, establishing their credentials after cremating Bowling Green and Tulsa in Weeks 1 and 2. Ohio State got another defensive score – its fourth of the season from that ball-hawking unit – and four touchdown passes from J.T. Barrett to Noah Brown. (One of which might well end up being the Catch of the Year.) Oklahoma became the third straight Ohio State opponent to trail by double digits for the entire second half. The Buckeyes might be young, but they’re also wildly talented. Next for Ohio State: off Saturday, then hosting Rutgers and former assistant Chris Ash Oct. 1.
Also considered: Stanford, Michigan State, Texas A&M, Michigan.
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