College Football Live - Powering through the Playoffs

Episode Date: January 2, 2025

Victoria Arlen, Rod Gilmore and Trevor Matich are here for out first Playoff episode of College Football Live! The crew discusses the aftermath of the Peach and Rose Bowl including the controversial targeting pickup that helped lead Texas to a win over ASU. Also, with the Rose Bowl getting set to kickoff in a matter of minutes, we discuss who has the upper hand between Georgia and Notre Dame. All that and more here on CFB Live! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

sugar bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame, a game that had to be postponed from New Year's Day and will be played today at 4 p.m. Eastern. Welcome into college football live. I'm Victoria Arlen alongside Rod Gilmore and Trevor Madage. And while we have several quarterfinal matchups to get to, we are going to first start things off in New Orleans. The city is on high alert today after at least 15 people were killed and dozens were injured when a truck drove into a crowd on Bourbon Street. attack was just hours before Georgia and Notre Dame were scheduled to play in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day, forcing officials to postpone the game out of respect for those killed and hurt and to investigate what has been determined to be a terrorist attack. The game now kicks off at 4 p.m. today. We've got reports from both teams in New Orleans, starting with Laura Rutledge, with Georgia. Victoria, the last 24 hours for Georgia has been a lot of uncertainty, but also trying to maintain as normal a schedule and as normal an environment as, possible. Kirby Smart ended up deciding to have this team come over around 6 p.m. local last night to do

a quick practice. They wanted to just get out of the hotel as they had been in a shelter in place at their hotel for most of the day in Hatton left. So they did come over to do a quick practice and then went back to the hotel. Otherwise, players and team personnel have not been leaving their team hotel. And then as for today, it's a normal game day schedule for what's now a 3 p.m. local kick. So coming over here around 1245 local and they will go about their business as normal as possible. But certainly many of these Georgia personnel as well as Kirby Smart sending so many thoughts, so many prayers to everyone that's been affected by the attacks here in New Orleans. Let's go to Molly McGrath with more on Notre Dame.

Well, Laura, as soon as they learned about the tragedy on Bourbon Street, Notre Dame players and staff were instructed to stay inside of their hotel and not leave. And they have not left since. So the first time the players will step outside. will be to board buses for the game today. Now, they were offered an opportunity to have a walk through and a practice at Tulane or at the Super dome yesterday on Wednesday, but they declined for safety and security reasons. So their strength and conditioning staff had to get creative, taping off yardage markers and players going through a team run in a ballroom and in hotel hallways.

They had the players wearing GPS devices so they could track their explosive burst and speed. And in their first team meeting after the attacks head coach Marcus, Freeman answered questions. I'm told it was very emotional and players all prayed together. And Freeman's main message was in the toughest moments, the resilience and the standard of a program and a country are really tested. And he thinks that his team will show resilience and focus here today, Victoria. Thank you, Laura and Molly.

Our thoughts and prayers are, of course, with all of those affected. And we will take a deeper dive into the Notre Dame Georgia matchup a little later on in show. Now the Georgia Notre Dame matchup will be the last game of the quarter finals played tonight at 4 p.m. 4 p.m. on ESPN. And then all eyes will be on the semifinal matchups. Now it took double

over time for Texas to advance to the semifinals and they will face Ohio State for the first time since the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. But let's take a look back at the improbable finish at the Peach Bowl. A 16 point fourth quarter lead.

the magic from Gans Scataboo. Into the end zone goes Malik McLean. He is in. And we're going to OT. When our backs are against the wall, and when our best is needed, our best shows up, time and time again. Second over time, and Gunther Helm opens it up that way.

Third and eight, Levin. That ball's intercepted. Texas advances. Hook them horns. They're headed home to Texas. The long horns led by as many as 16 points in the 4th, quarter before the sun devils stormed back to force a double overtime. Now at one point in the fourth quarter Texas had a 99.9% chance to win per ESPN

analytics. But here's what was said after the game. What a game and first of all ton of credit to Arizona State coach Deweyham. They came to fight. They showed fight all for four quarters and we knew that coming in and boy they exuded it. As far as this team goes that we have you know, I never questioned their resiliency. When adversity strikes, we always respond. And it struck a few times tonight. And one thing I know is our guys will be at their best when their best is needed. And we needed it there in the overtime phase. And it sure was amazing. I felt like I was watching March Madness, like an NCAA tournament with all the swings going both ways. When you look at it,

did we belong on the field? I think a lot of people were questioning that. And I don't think any person questions if we belonged on the field. Now there are no moral victories when the season ends. There's no such thing. This should hurt. This should be painful. The locker room is dreadful right now, and it should be. If it wasn't, something would be wrong. We fought through everything all season. I mean, we let him hang the whole year. We gave everything we had, and he's seen it in that game. We never stopped. I bet you nobody in this room thought we were going to even be close, and we went down 17 to 3 in that first quarter. So we believe in ourselves. We believed in what we had

going and yeah, undeniable is what this team's about because, you know, like you said, heroic too, heroic. Everybody on this team believes in each other and, you know, that's what kept us close. They made us all believe, but on the Longhorn side, they survived

this one. They had a banged up offensive line, misplaced run game, but it only gets tougher from here. So they gave up that 16 point lead and then ASU challenged them to that double OT So what stood out to you the most in this one, Trevor? It was how Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers

threw the ball deep down the field early and often and successfully. Now, for most of the year, his passes were largely short and relied on yards after the catch for big plays. But in this game, he went downfield. Air yards per attempt, most of the year, he was one of the lowest in the SEC,

which is how far the ball travels down the field before it reaches a receiver. But he was, 10.7 air yards per attempt against Arizona State. That would have made him number one in the nation if he carried that through the entire season. And that was the big difference for the longhorns. I think that's a great point. The thing that stood out for me, though, was that Texas could not put this game away.

16 point lead in the fourth quarter. All they needed was a defensive stop. They couldn't get that. And then offensively finish the game. You know, they had a chance to end the game, yet they could not final drive. If they get a chance to get down the field, get in position for a game-winning field go, special teams failed them late in the game. Again, 16-point lead, the defense couldn't get a stop. The offense could not finish a drive.

The special teams could not come up with a field go to win the game. Listen, all due respect to Arizona State, they played like they have all season. They fought and they got back in it. But Texas had a chance to close it out. They couldn't. It wasn't the peachy win that they wanted to get. I see what you did that. Very good.

Now, another key moment in the first. this game that everyone is still talking about is when Longhorn Safety, Michael Taff, made a helmet-to-helmet hit on ASU wideout Melquan Stovall and no targeting call was made. But this is the official rule when it comes to targeting. Now, according to Rule 9, Section 1, Article 4, quote, no player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown of their helmet. Now, the rule also indicates that when in question, it is a foul. But despite a review, the ruling on the field stood and no call was made.

made. So Rod, can you please explain the call made on the field? Yeah, this could be very confusing for viewers, and I get it. Now, you mentioned the rule, the call on the field in doubt. The officials on the field did what they were supposed to, as did the replay officials, because they are charged with looking at every element of the rule. And remember, there are three elements to the rule. There is defenseless player. There is forcible contact to the head of neck area. And then there is an indicator. An indicator is evidence of bad intent. So you need a crouch or a launch or lowering of the helmet, something like that to show that the defender is really trying to do something bad to the ball carrier.

We didn't have that here. This is a bang, bang, bang play. Taff really had no opportunity to really kind of, you know, crouch or launch. It's just a bang, bang, bang play. And the other thing for me, he tries to wrap up with both arms. He is trying to make a tackle the way we want tackles to be made. So there is no corrective behavior to be administered here. His head is up, his eyes are up, he's wrapping up. We don't have the indicator. And I believe that's what the replay officials decided when they looked at this. And right, I think where a lot of people get hung up is that there was still forcible contact

to the head of the defenseless receiver by the face mask of the defender. Can you talk about the difference between the way defenseless players are treated in the targeting rule and runners who are not defenseless. Well, when you are a defenseless player, you're given that protection. You're looking for that protection. When you are not defenseless, you're just a football player.

You're just a runner. You do not get that kind of protection. So if you are hit while you're running and it's up around the head or neck area and there's nothing else to it, it's a football play. And so when is it targeting for him? The only targeting for a runner

is when there is the crown of the helmet, when you lead with the helmet. Otherwise, you're not defenseless. You are on the field. You're a football player. Collisions happen. And that was a collision. That was a collision.

Bang, bang play. Bang, bang. All right. Thank you, Rod, for that clarity. We appreciate that. All right, we're going to take a break coming up. It was a dominant win and some rosy redemption for Ohio State over Oregon in last night's Rose Bowl. And we're going to discuss the lasting impact on both Big Ten squads when we return.

Welcome back to college football live. we got Kirby Smart arriving ahead of today's Sugar Bowl matchup, his fourth CFP appearance as Georgia's head coach. And Marcus Freeman arriving. He is looking to snap Notre Dame's 0 and 3 streak against Georgia. But first, let's get to yesterday's Rose Bowl. We had Ohio State taking on Oregon, and it was one to remember. Look at the scenics. Look at those coaches.

Let's get to a minute, less than a minute in the first, no score until Will Howard finds Jeremiah Smith. He breaks through the defense, goes all the way for a 45-yard touchdown. That was his 13th receiving touchdown this season, most in a season by a freshman in Big Ten history. Later in the first, Howard, again, going deep to a Mecca and Bucca for the 42-yard touchdown. Look at those hands, fellas. Buckeyes are going to go up double digits. This is going to be the Ducks' largest deficit of the season, and it would only increase from there. just under 11 minutes to play in the second.

It's the Will Howard Show. Find Smith again for the 43-yard touchdown, just adding to the record, getting Coach Day fired up. The Buckeyes go up 24 to nothing. And later in the second quarter, Trevion Henderson just having himself a day. Takes off down the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown.

He had two rushing touchdowns. Buckeyes going to win the Rose Bowl. 41 to 21, Oregon's undefeated streak, snapped, they will play Texas in the CFP semifinals. You know, sometimes it's not your day. And I think that was us today, right? It wasn't our day today, and it wasn't their day, you know, against Michigan. But, you know, what's unique about college football right now and this dynamic is you've got to be playing your best ball at the end.

And I think anybody that's watching Ohio State recognizes they're playing really good football. Every game here is important. And so when you lose, you've got to figure out how to move forward. But when you recruit great people with high kids. character who care about each other. When you go through difficult times, you stick together. You don't splinter. And again, that's why whenever we're in these situations, I just fall back on these guys right here. We're fighting to keep this team together because we have a great group of guys together. And I think that we believe that when we're executing at a high level,

that we can play with anybody in the country. Ohio State dominated the ducks last night and improved to 4-0 versus Oregon in bowl games. That is tied for the most wins without a loss. versus a single team in FBS history. And this game was a wild ending for an undefeated Oregon and a huge step for Ryan Day squad showcasing their dominance. So Rod, what did this game show you about Ohio State? Ohio State found its identity on offense.

Finally. Yeah, you know, all season long, we heard them talk about balance, you know, and trying to run the football and be physical like Michigan. That's not who they are. They are a team that has two steadily receivers, and they are leaning into it now, and they have a reason to it, because you've got a guy like Jeremiah Smith, who is all world.

There may not be a better receiver on the planet right now, and they're leaning into getting him the football. And then when they aren't throwing the ball to him, they come back and they go to Emeka, Ebukukukuk. He's got me so tied up now with his feed and his hands that I'm messing up his name. But those two guys are phenomenal, and they have really leaned into using them. And that's what they are in this postseason.

They will just throw it over the top of you. Now, Trevor, we have not seen an Ohio state like this. They absolutely dominated Oregon. How were they able to do that? It was a combination of creative scheming by the coaches and individual dominance by the players. Let's take a look at one of those Jeremiah Smith touchdowns that you're talking about, Rod, because here's Jeremiah Smith over here. But Amika Buka is going to motion before the snap over here,

and that's going to become a huge part of this play. And we'll talk about what part it plays in just a minute. But what we'll notice when we just watch the game is how wide open Smith gets. But Rod, there's a reason why he's so wide open. Yeah, Chip Kelly does a great job of creating matchup. You see that first you've got a couple of defensive backs, a corner and a safety, who ordinarily would be looking at Smith. But because of the motion with Ibuka, now you have that corner playing Abuka one-on-one,

which gives you the matchup with the safety inside one-on-one. That's the matchup that Chip Kelly won it. He used motion to create it. And right off the bat, that safety is just done. Yeah, that guy's got no chance. He's got no chance. That was a vicious move. It was over, over right off the back.

Oh, over. As a defensive back, are you okay watching that? I mean, does that hurt? Yeah, well, it does. But, you know, he's a safety for a reason, not a corner. Yeah, I got you. But there's also, like, what's crazy, too, is, you know, the Buckeyes, they won by 20 points, which is their long.

largest win by an AP number one team in school history. So they are peaking at just the right time. They found themselves. They found themselves. And look, I think it was Sam a couple of weeks ago that said they're his number one team. And I don't know, Trevor, do you think? Well, here's what they found. What they found was of viciousness. And I think it's because of the loss to their rival Michigan in the last game of the regular season where Michigan planted their flag on Ohio State's home field after they beat the Buckeyes in the rivalry game. So while the other playoff teams were running towards a national championship, Ohio State was also running away from that horrible feeling. And they have been playing angry. They've been playing just, it's just aggressive.

When they hit the ducks receivers on those short paths, it looked like there was just a little puff of green mist that was left when Ohio State defensive backs came up and made those hits. It was just incredible. So it went beyond just playing hard for a championship. They know who they are now. I think it's there's something to be said when you have something to prove. We saw that with Notre Dame as well.

When you have something to prove, you have that chip on your shoulder. You go out fighting for something a little bit more. All right. Well, we got a little bit more. So coming up, we got the highly anticipated Sugar Bowl coming up very soon. And we're going to get our final thoughts in before Notre Dame and Georgia battle for the final semi-final spot. Don't go away. Tonight, it's the tax slayer Gator Bowl between Duke and Lane Kivens at number 14.

Old Miss Rebels. Coverage begins at 8 Eastern on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. You're taking a look at the college football playoff national championship trophy presented by Dr. Pepper. We've got one more quarterfinal game today, the Allstate Sugar Bowl. And speaking of that, we got Notre Dame QB arriving today ahead of the matchup against Georgia Riley Leonard. And speaking of Georgia, we got Georgia QB Gunner Stockton arriving as well. and his coach caught up earlier with Marty Smith. With the game moved back a day as a result of that tragedy, what impact does that have on your team?

Well, I think it just changes things. We do a lot of change and run our place a lot of times to try to prepare for things like this. So we've got a very resilient group, and I expect them to be resilient today. Gunner Stockton will be the first quarterback to make his first career start in a college football playoff game. What attributes about that man make him ready for this moment?

I think his resiliency, his competitiveness, his toughness, his buy-in and love for the program. You know, he's worked really hard for this moment. He's prepared for this moment, although he didn't know when it was coming. He knows us now. Of course, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy, and both teams will rally around the city of New Orleans today at 4 p.m. Eastern. And Georgia, as we just heard, will be without their starting quarterback Carson Beck, who had UCL surgery after injuring his elbow in the SEC championship.

Gunner Stockton making history, the first quarterback to make his first college football start in a playoff game. So what will be the key for Stockton, Rod? Well, you know, I like him on the move. I think he's really athletic. And we saw in the SEC championship game that he's comfortable on the move. You get him on the move. He throws well on the run.

And you like that about him. He has a good strong arm. I get him out of the pocket because, you know, When he's on the move outside, he can read a smaller part of the field. When you leave him in the pocket, he's got to read the middle of the field. You know what there is back there, Trevor, lion, tigers and bears. Oh, my. Those linebackers, those safeties, young quarterbacks struggle with that.

So give him some experience, get him outside, let him do what he does best, be athletic and throw the football. Now historically, Trevor, Notre Dame is 0 in 3 against Georgia. So what challenges does this Georgia's D present to Riley Leonard? Well, they are sneaky and devious with the way they use disguised before the snap to disguise their true intentions after the snap. And boy, they got inside Texas's head. Let's take a look at Quinn Ewer's. He'll get smashed by a blindside blitz.

So why in the world did he have no idea this guy was coming? Well, let's take another look at it. Pressed up inside leverage. Normally, if he blitzes, this safety has to sneak over. before the snap to cover that wide receiver. But the safety doesn't sneak over until after the snap. So the pre-snap read told Ewers that he was safe on his blind side. But that was only a disguise, Rod.

quarterback has to be aware of short side defender, always possible blitzer. And here in this situation, you'll see the disguise again. You're showing man-to-man coverage. Think, hey, same sort of thing as we saw before. He could blitz, but Texas has two receivers over there, so not likely to happen. and man coverage means, hey, I'm going to have this out route available to me, right? Wrong. The sneaky Georgia Bulldogs are actually playing zone.

And the corner over here, Everett, is really just playing the short area of a cover two. He reads it and jumps the route. Sneaky, great disguise by a really good defensive back. And so Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard had better not believe his lion eyes before the snap and confirm what he sees afterwards. Those sneaky, devious dogs. All right, quickly. Who's your pick for today?

Rod, start with you. I got three first round picks on that Georgia defense. I like Georgia. Georgia, massive offensive line. I'm going Notre Dame. All right, look at you. I'm going Notre Dame. Look at me.

We'll see what happens tomorrow. All right, for Trevor and Rod, I'm Victoria. Thank you for watching. Enjoy the game.