Oklahoma Football: Why do Sooners struggle in College Football Playoff?
Ranking the semifinal games
All throughout the BCS era, something like the College Football Playoff was asked for. Now that it is here, the semifinals have been somewhat of a snooze fest. There have been a couple of games that should be considered all-time classics, but beyond that, it has been horrific.
Ranking them from top to bottom was difficult as sitting there and thinking ‘Which game is worse?’ is more difficult than you think.
Here is every semifinal playoff game, ranked 1-12.
No. 1: Georgia defeats Oklahoma 54-48 (2OT) in 2017
Easily the best playoff game in the six-year history of the College Football Playoff. Not only were these two evenly matched, but it ended in walk-off fashion as Sony Michel “sent the Dawgs home.”
No. 2: Clemson defeats Ohio State 29-23 in 2019
Two elite quarterbacks, two elite coaches, two elite programs. After LSU’s thumping of Oklahoma, College Football needed a high-level, competitive game like that.
No 3: Ohio State defeats Alabama 42-35 in 2014
No. 4: Oregon defeats Florida State 59-20 in 2014
This is where the string of bad games begin and the only reason this one is the King of Bad is because of the hype around it. Defending National Champions Florida State, the Rose Bowl, and the first-ever playoff game.
No. 5: Clemson defeats Oklahoma, 37-17 in 2015
No. 6: Alabama defeats Washington, 24-7 in 2016
No. 7: Alabama defeats Clemson, 24-6 in 2017
With the 2017 Rose Bowl right before it, this was a let down considering it was a rematch of the previous year’s National Championship.
No. 8: Alabama defeats Oklahoma, 45-34 in 2018
The first of two really bad playoff games in 2018. Since Oklahoma actually put up points, they get props over the Cotton Bowl.
No. 9: Clemson defeats Notre Dame, 30-3 in 2018
No. 10: Alabama defeats Michigan State, 38-0 in 2015
After an emotional victory over Iowa in the Big Ten championship, Alabama worked the Spartans. Little did the Big Ten know, it would only get worse.
No. 11: Clemson defeats Ohio State, 31-0 in 2016
And this was worse. Two years in a row that your representative got shut out in a semifinal game.
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No. 12: LSU defeats Oklahoma, 63-28 in 2019
Games like this one is why we need an eight-team playoff. Oklahoma surely would have been eliminated in the quarterfinals against a team like Oregon.