Over the past five days, a case has been made for a particular team to win its power conference and then go on to win the College Football Playoff. It is time for some discernment among these five contenders, representing fine universities from coast-to-coast. First, let’s review the candidates, and talk about what must be overcome simply for each to raise its conference championship trophy.
SEC
The Auburn Tigers prevail in the SEC West over arch-rival Alabama. Again. This time, the margin isn’t a last-second missed field goal return, nor is it a surprise. The team from the plains is dominant all season long during Coach Gus Malzahn’s sophomore season, getting it done consistently behind returning starting QB Nick Marshall and a retooled offensive line. Auburn’s biggest challenge comes in Atlanta in the SECCG against a tough South Carolina team, but the Tigers prevail in the Georgia Dome again.
PAC-12
The road is difficult and confusing, as the PAC may be the most stacked conference in the country. Oregon loses on the road in Pasadena to a strong UCLA team led by Heisman Trophy winner Brett Hundley, but exacts revenge against the Bruins in Levi’s Stadium in early December to win the PAC-12 and claim one of the four playoff spots.
B1G
Sparty pulls the upset and defends its Big Ten title, overcoming a stern challenge in the new B1G East division from Urban Meyer’s Ohio State Buckeyes. Michigan State bests Wisconsin in the B1GCG to win the conference championship, but a week 2 loss at Oregon proves costly, and keeps the team out of the first College Football Playoff tournament.
Big-12
The only power conference without a championship game has a highly unusual season with a very familiar result. Baylor edges out Oklahoma for the conference title due to a late-season slip up by Big Game Bob’s Sooners in a neutral site tilt at Jerry World in Arlington against Texas Tech. One-loss Baylor slips into the playoff bracket as the #4 seed, matched against…
ACC
…#1 seed and defending national champion Florida State. Famous Jameis is nearly as brilliant as he was during his 2013 Heisman-winning campaign, and the Seminoles manage to complete another undefeated regular season prior to knocking off rival Miami for the second time in just four weeks in the ACCCG.
Now, on to what so many of us have been hoping and dreaming for: the College Football Playoff to determine the best team in college football’s premier division.
Inaugural College Football Playoff
Semi-Final Games
Rose Bowl: #1 Florida State vs #4 Baylor
David vs Goliath. Rocky vs Ivan Drago. Take your pick, as this appears on paper to be a mismatch of epic proportions. As they say, though, the games aren’t played on paper. Baylor catches FSU a bit tight, as the weight of its 27 game winning streak starts to wear on the team, and the defending champs miss those 10 players who graduated from the 2013 squad, 7 of whom were drafted into the NFL. Baylor plays loose, and Bryce Petty plays the game of his life while leading the Bears to a 45-35 upset win in Pasadena.
Sugar Bowl: #2 Auburn vs #3 Oregon
This rematch of the 2011 National Championship game isn’t the contrast in styles that its predecessor was, but it turns out to be every bit as compelling. This edition is a more wide open, high-scoring affair, as two of the best offensive coaches in the country have their way with the opposing defenses all evening. Auburn wins this game on the last possession, 38-32.
National Championship Game
AT&T Stadium: #2 Auburn vs #4 Baylor
This game takes on a very surprising complexion, right from the beginning. These two high-powered offenses both find themselves making uncharacteristic mistakes. Baylor’s stalwart defensive line is also able to slow Auburn’s prolific rushing attack like no other team during the 2014 campaign. On the other side of the ball, Auburn’s defense has the speed and depth in its back end to slow Baylor’s fast-break passing attack. This proves to be the difference, as a late pick seals the game for the team from the plains of eastern Alabama. Auburn wins, 24-14. War Eagle!
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