So with the postseason looming upon the college football world, I figured I would conduct an experiment of my own. What I did was I took the top four teams from each year of the BCS era and ran my own playoff through a sports simulator I discovered on whatifsports.com.
As a means to make sure no teams advanced through "pure luck", I made each team from these respective years play each other in a best of seven series in both the semifinal and championship. The player of the game honors were determined by whoever was named player of the game the most in each series (as shown in parentheses). So without further adieu, let's get to it. Here is what a College Football Playoff from 1998-2013 would have done to the college football landscape!
1998
#2 Florida State vs. #3 Kansas State
Semifinal: #1
Tennessee vs #4 Ohio State
Game 1: Vols 23-7 (Travis Henry)
Game 2: Bucks 38-13 (Michael Wiley)
Game 3: Bucks 24-17 (Michael Wiley)
Game 4: Bucks 23-16 (Michael Wiley)
Game 5: Vols 28-27 (OSU Joe Germaine)
Game 6: Bucks 38-17 (Michael Wiley)
Game 7: N/A
#4 Ohio State upsets #1 Tennessee four games to two.
Player of the Game: Michael Wiley, Running Back
Semifinal: #2 Florida State vs #3 Kansas State
Game 1: FSU 33-17 (Travis Minor)
Game 2: FSU 35-0 (Travis Minor)
Game 3: FSU 28-25 (KSU Michael Bishop)
Game 4: FSU 26-20 (Travis Minor)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#2 Florida State sweeps #3 Kansas State in four games.
Player of the Game: Travis Minor, Running back
Game 1: Bucks 23-16 (Joe Montgomery)
Game 2: Bucks 17-14 (Michael Wiley)
Game 3: Bucks 33-26 (Michael Wiley)
Game 4: FSU 29-0 (Travis Minor)
Game 5: FSU 24-10 (OSU Michael Wiley)
Game 6: Bucks 31-10 (Joe Germaine)
Game 7: N/A
1998 National Champion: #4 Ohio State Buckeyes
#4 Ohio State defeats #2 Florida State in six games to win the first National Championship of the College Football Playoff.
Player of the Game: Michael Wiley, Running Back
1999
#1 Florida State vs.
#2 Virginia Tech vs. #3 Nebraska
Semifinal: #1 Florida State vs #4 Alabama
Game 1: FSU 40-30 (Bama Shaun
Alexander)
Game 2: FSU 33-16 (Peter Warrick)
Game 3: FSU 21-7 (Chris Weinke)
Game 4: FSU 44-21 (Peter Warrick)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
Semifinal: #2 Virginia Tech vs #3 Nebraska
Game 1: Neb 17-15 (Correll Buckhalter)
Game 2: VT 22-19 (Michael Vick)
Game 3: Neb 17-13 (Correll Buckhalter)
Game 4: VT 30-7 (Andre’ Davis)
Game 5: Neb 27-7 (Correll Buckhalter)
Game 6: VT 27-24 (Neb Eric Crouch)
Game 7: VT 28-10 (Michael Vick)
1999 National Championship: #1 Florida State vs #2 Virginia Tech
Game 1: VT 26-13 (FSU Chris Weinke)
Game 2: FSU 23-20 (VT Michael Vick)
Game 3: VT 23-13 (Shyrone Smith)
Game 4: FSU 30-16 (Travis Minor)
Game 5: FSU 25-24 (VT Michael Vick)
Game 6: FSU 24-10 (Travis Minor)
Game 7: N/A
1999 National Champion: #1 Florida State Seminoles
#1 Florida State defeats #2 Virginia Tech in six games for the second National Championship in school history.
Player of the Game: Travis Minor, Running Back
2000 College Football Playoff
#1 Oklahoma vs. #4 Washington
#2 Florida State vs. #3 Miami
Semifinal: #1 Oklahoma vs #4 Washington
Game 1: Wash 27-13 (Marques Tuiasosopo)
Game 2: OU 23-17 (Quentin Griffin)
Game 3: OU 24-3 (Quentin Griffin)
Game 4: OU 27-17 (Quentin Griffin)
Game 5: OU 22-10 (Josh Norman)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
Oklahoma defeats Washington four games to one.
Player of the Game: Quentin Griffin, Running Back
Semifinal: #2 Florida State vs #3 Miami
Game 1: FSU 34-31 (Chris Weinke)
Game 2: FSU 33-17 (Chris Weinke)
Game 3: FSU 28-23 (Travis Minor)
Game 4: FSU 34-27 (Chris Weinke)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#2 Florida State defeats #3 Miami for the second time this season with a four-game sweep.
Player of the Game: Chris Weinke, Quarterback
2000 National Championship:#1 Oklahoma vs #2 Florida State
Game 1: FSU 20-19 (Tay Cody)
Game 2: FSU 23-6 (Chris Weinke)
Game 3: FSU 32-17 (Chris Weinke)
Game 4: FSU 31-21 (Chris Weinke)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
2000 National Champion: #2 Florida State Seminoles
#2 Florida State sweeps #2 Oklahoma to become the first back-to-back champions of the College Football Playoff.
Player of the Game: Chris Weinke, Quarterback
2001
#1 Miami vs #4 Oregon
#2 Nebraska vs. #3 Colorado
Semifinal: #1 Miami vs #4 Oregon
Game 1: Mia 51-13 (Ken Dorsey)
Game 2: Mia 50-3 (Clinton Portis)
Game 3: Mia 37-24 (Ken Dorsey)
Game 4: Mia 33-10 (Clinton Portis)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#1 Miami thrashes #4 Oregon in four-game sweep.
Co-Players of the Game: Ken Dorsey & Clinton Portis, Quarterback/Running Back
Semifinal #2 Nebraska vs #3
Colorado
Game 1: Neb 39-10 (Dahrran Diedrick)
Game 2: Col 34-23 (Chris Brown)
Game 3: Col 35-17 (Chris Brown)
Game 4: Neb 33-22 (Thunder Collins)
Game 5: Col 29-19 (Chris Brown)
Game 6: Col 49-14 (Chris Brown)
Game 7: N/A
#3 Colorado bests #2 Nebraska four games to two in rematch of Big 12 foes.
Player of the Game: Chris Brown, Running Back
2001 National Championship:#1 Miami vs #3 Colorado
Game 1: Mia 53-19 (Clinton Portis)
Game 2: Mia 35-10 (Ken Dorsey)
Game 3: Mia 37-32 (Clinton Portis)
Game 4: Mia 37-19 (Clinton Portis)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
2001 National Champion: #1 Miami Hurricanes
#1 Miami sweeps #3 Colorado to claim their first National Championship since 1991.
Player of the Game: Clinton Portis, Running Back
2002
#1 Miami vs. #4 USC
#2 Ohio State vs. #3 Georgia
Semifinal: #1 Miami vs #4 USC
Game 1: Mia 47-28 (Willis McGahee)
Game 2: Mia 49-32 (Willis McGahee)
Game 3: Mia 50-0 (Ken Dorsey)
Game 4: Mia 29-16 (Willis McGahee)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#1 Miami continues title defense with four-game sweep over upstart #4 USC.
Player of the Game: Willis McGahee
Semifinal: #2 Ohio State vs #3
Georgia
Game 1: Bucks 29-17 (Maurice Clarett)
Game 2: Dawgs 35-25 (David Greene)
Game 3: Bucks 23-13 (Maurice Clarett)
Game 4: Bucks 16-9 (UGA Musa Smith)
Game 5: Dawgs 26-3 (Tony Milton)
Game 6: Dawgs 28-25 (Musa Smith)
Game 7: Dawgs 33-21 (David Greene)
#3 Georgia stuns #2 Ohio State with a seven-game upset to propel the Dawgs to the title game.
Player of the Game: David Greene, Quarterback
2002 National Championship: #1 Miami vs #3 Georgia
Game 1: Mia 48-45 (Ken Dorsey)
Game 2: Mia 16-13 (Willis McGahee)
Game 3: Dawgs 29-7 (Musa Smith)
Game 4: Mia 24-10 (Willis McGahee)
Game 5: Dawgs 44-37 (Willis McGahee)
Game 6: Mia 35-13 (Ken Dorsey)
Game 7: N/A
2002 National Champion: #1 Miami Hurricanes
#1 Miami survives a tough six-game battle against #3 Georgia to claim their second consecutive title.
Player of the Game: Willis McGahee
2003 College Football Playoff
#1 Oklahoma vs.
#2 LSU vs. #3 USC
Semifinal: #1 Oklahoma vs #4 Michigan
Game 1: OU 35-10 (Jason White)
Game 2: OU 41-20 (Renaldo Works)
Game 3: Mich 27-23 (Chris Perry)
Game 4: Mich 31-30 (John Navarre)
Game 5: OU 41-17 (Jason White)
Game 6: Mich 26-21 (John Navarre)
Game 7: OU 32-16 (Jason White)
#1 Oklahoma defeats #4 Michigan in gritty a seven-game affair.
Player of the Game: Jason White, Quarterback
Semifinal: #2 LSU vs #3 USC
Game 1: USC 35-21 (Matt Leinart)
Game 2: USC 47-21 (Matt Leinart)
Game 3: USC 37-34 (F/OT) (Matt
Leinart)
Game 4: USC 44-21 (Hershel Dennis)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#3 USC sweeps #2 LSU in four games.
Player of the Game: Matt Leinart, Quarterback
2003 National Championship: #1 Oklahoma vs #3 USC
Game 1: USC 38-20 (Matt Leinart)
Game 2: USC 37-23 (Matt Leinart)
Game 3: OU 30-20 (Jason White)
Game 4: USC 31-21 (Matt Leinart)
Game 5: OU 34-16 (Jason White)
Game 6: USC 41-31 (Matt Leinart)
Game 7: N/A
2003 National Champion: #3 USC Trojans
#3 USC defeats #1 Oklahoma four games to two to claim their first title of the College Football Playoff.
Player of the Game: Matt Leinart, Quarterback
2004 College Football Playoff
#1 USC vs.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Auburn
Semifinal: #1 USC vs #4 Texas
Game 1: USC 34-33 (Tex Cedric Benson)
Game 2: USC 41-7 (Matt Leinart)
Game 3: USC 23-0 (Matt Leinart)
Game 4: Tex 23-10 (Cedric Benson)
Game 5: USC 27-10 (Matt Leinart)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#1 USC defeats #4 Texas four games to one to begin title defense.
Player of the Game: Matt Leinart, Quarterback
Semifinal: #2 Oklahoma vs #3
Auburn
Game 1: Aub 43-29 (OU Jason White)
Game 2: Aub 28-24 (OU Jason White)
Game 3: OU 31-12 (Adrian Peterson)
Game 4: Aub 31-14 (Ronnie Brown)
Game 5: OU 37-14 (Adrian Peterson)
Game 6: Aub 43-41 GW TD as time
expires from the 16-yard line (R. Brown)
Game 7: N/A
#3 Auburn defeats #2 Oklahoma four games to two.
Player of the Game: Ronnie Brown, Running Back
2004 National Championship: #1 USC vs #3 Auburn
Game 1: USC 41-38 (Matt Leinart)
Game 2: Aub 23-13 (Cadillac Williams)
Game 3: USC 38-14 (Matt Leinart)
Game 4: USC 37-20 (Matt Leinart)
Game 5: Aub 37-34 3/OT (Ronnie Brown)
Game 6: Aub 39-17 (Cadillac Williams)
Game 7: USC 47-41 3/OT (Matt Leinart)
2004 National Champion: #1 USC Trojans
Player of the Game: Matt Leinart, Quarterback
2005 College Football Playoff
#1 USC vs.
#2 Texas vs. #3 Penn State
Semifinal #1 USC vs #4 Ohio State
Game 1: USC 37-19 (Reggie Bush)
Game 2: USC 42-21 (Reggie Bush)
Game 3: USC 38-30 (LenDale White)
Game 4: USC 41-31 (Reggie Bush)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#1 USC steamrolls into a third straight National Championship with a four-game sweep over #4 Ohio State.
Player of the Game: Reggie Bush, Running Back
Semifinal: #2 Texas vs #3 Penn State
Game 1: Tex 41-17 (Vince Young)
Game 2: Tex 19-3 (Vince Young)
Game 3: PSU 22-15 (Tony Hunt)
Game 4: Tex 14-6 (Vince Young)
Game 5: Tex 38-33 (Ramonce Taylor)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#2 Texas edges past #3 Penn State four games to one.
Player of the Game: Vince Young, Quarterback
2005 National Championship: #1 USC vs #2 Texas
Game 1: USC 29-28 (Tex Vince Young)
Game 2: USC 37-13 (Matt Leinart)
Game 3: Tex 40-26 (Vince Young)
Game 4: USC 40-16 (Matt Leinart)
Game 5: USC 43-22 (Matt Leinart)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
2005 National Champion: #1 USC Trojans
#1 USC becomes the first team in the College Football Playoff era to win three consecutive National Championships with a five-game series victory over #2 Texas.
Player of the Game: Matt Leinart, Quarterback
2006 College Football Playoff
#1 Ohio State vs.
#2 Florida vs. #3 Michigan
Semifinal: #1 Ohio State vs #4 LSU (Antonio
Pittman P.O.G.)
Game 1: Bucks 33-3 (Antonio Pittman)
Game 2: Bucks 27-16 (Antonio Pittman)
Game 3: LSU 33-3 (JaMarcus Russell)
Game 4: LSU 34-24 (Keiland Williams)
Game 5: Bucks 29-24 (Troy Smith)
Game 6: LSU 48-24 (Jacob Hester)
Game 7: Bucks 26-16 (Antonio Pittman)
#1 Ohio State outlasts #4 LSU in seven games.
Player of the Game: Antonio Pittman, Running Back
Semifinal: #2 Florida vs #3 Michigan
Game 1: UF 27-9 (Chris Leak)
Game 2: UF 35-25 (Percy Harvin)
Game 3: UF 31-3 (DeShawn Wynn)
Game 4: UF 24-13 (Chris Leak)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#2 Florida sweeps #3 Michigan in convincing fashion.
Player of the Game: Chris Leak, Quarterback
2006 National Championship: #1 Ohio State vs #2 Florida
Game 1: UF 29-26 (DeShawn Wynn)
Game 2: UF 31-9 (DeShawn Wynn)
Game 3: Bucks 10-3 (Antonio Pittman)
Game 4: UF 21-13 (Chris Leak)
Game 5: UF 35-19 (Percy Harvin)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
2006 National Champion: #2 Florida Gators
Player of the Game: DeShawn Wynn, Running Back
2007 College Football Playoff
#1 Ohio State vs.
#2 LSU vs. #3 Virginia Tech
Semifinal: #1 Ohio State vs #4
Oklahoma
Game 1: OU 33-30 (OSU Beanie Wells)
Game 2: OU 19-7 (Sam Bradford)
Game 3: OU 44-25 (Sam Bradford)
Game 4: Bucks 25-21 (Beanie Wells)
Game 5: OU 31-25 (Allen Patrick)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#4 Oklahoma upsets #1 Ohio State four games to one.
Player of the Game: Sam Bradford, Quarterback
Semifinal: #2 LSU vs #3 Virginia Tech
Game 1: LSU 38-9 (Keiland Williams)
Game 2: VT 40-28 (Brandon Ore)
Game 3: LSU 26-23 (Jacob Hester)
Game 4: LSU 28-14 (Matt Flynn)
Game 5: VT 29-21 (LSU Richard Dickson)
Game 6: LSU 44-6 (Matt Flynn)
Game 7: N/A
#2 LSU defeats #3 Virginia Tech four games to two.
Player of the Game: Matt Flynn, Quarterback
2007 National Championship: #2 LSU vs #4 Oklahoma
Game 1: LSU 33-30 F/2OT (OU Allen
Patrick)
Game 2: OU 34-13 (Allen Patrick)
Game 3: OU 36-24 (LSU Jacob Hester)
Game 4: LSU 44-17 (Early Doucet)
Game 5: OU 35-26 (Allen Patrick)
Game 6: OU 41-26 (Sam Bradford)
Game 7: N/A
2007 National Champion: #4 Oklahoma Sooners
In their fourth trip to the College Football Playoff, #4 Oklahoma finally gets their National Championship with a six-game victory over #2 LSU.
Player of the Game: Allen Patrick, Running Back
2008 College Football Playoff
#1 Oklahoma vs.
#2 Florida vs. #3 Texas
Semifinal: #1 Oklahoma vs #4 Alabama
Game 1: OU 28-25 (Sam Bradford)
Game 2: OU 51-23 (Chris Brown)
Game 3: OU 31-26 (Sam Bradford)
Game 4: OU 30-20 (Sam Bradford)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#1 Oklahoma kicks off its title defense with a four-game sweep against #4 Alabama.
Player of the Game: Sam Bradford
Semifinal: #2 Florida vs #3
Texas
Game 1: Tex 34-31 (Colt McCoy)
Game 2: UF 41-14 (Jeff Demps)
Game 3: Tex 42-39 F/3OT (Colt McCoy)
Game 4: UF 47-27 (Chris Rainey)
Game 5: Tex 21-13 (Colt McCoy)
Game 6: Tex 15-3 (Colt McCoy)
Game 7: N/A
#3 Texas downs #2 Florida in six games to set up a rematch of the Red River Rivalry.
Player of the Game: Colt McCoy
2008 National Championship: #1 Oklahoma vs #3 Texas
Game 1: OU 49-24 (Sam Bradford)
Game 2: OU 35-26 (DeMarco Murray)
Game 3: Tex 48-41 (Colt McCoy)
Game 4: OU 37-19 (Chris Brown)
Game 5: OU 59-28 (Chris Brown)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
2008 National Champion: #1 Oklahoma Sooners
After losing to #3 Texas by 10 in the regular season, #1 Oklahoma bounces back and wins its second straight National Championship with a five-game series victory over their hated rival.
Player of the Game: Chris Brown, Running Back
2009 College Football Playoff
#1 Alabama vs.
#2 Texas vs. #3 Cincinnati
Semifinal: #1 Alabama vs #4 TCU
Game 1: Bama 19-11 (TCU Jimmy Young)
Game 2: Bama 29-10 (Mark Ingram)
Game 3: Bama 44-41 (Greg McElroy
Game 4: TCU 37-16 (Andy Dalton)
Game 5: Bama 29-17 (Mark Ingram)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#1 Alabama defeats #4 TCU in five games.
Player of the Game: Mark Ingram, Running Back
Semifinal: #2 Texas vs #3 Cincinnati
Game 1: Cincy 31-20 (Tony Pike)
Game 2: Tex 35-27 F/4OT (Jordan
Shipley)
Game 3: Tex 22-19 (Jordan Shipley)
Hunter Lawrence GW FG
Game 4: Cincy 37-16 (Isaiah Pead)
Game 5: Tex 36-24 (Cincy Isaiah Pead)
Game 6: Tex 33-20 (‘Tre Newton)
Game 7: N/A
#2 Texas defeats a stingy #4 Cincinnati team four games to two to advance to consecutive National Championship games.
Player of the Game: Jordan Shipley, Wide Receiver
2009 National Championship: #1 Alabama vs #2 Texas
Game 1: Bama 23-20 (Mark Ingram)
Game 2: Bama 30-23 (Mark Ingram)
Game 3: Bama 25-13 (Mark Ingram)
Game 4: Bama 24-6 (Greg McElroy)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
2009 National Champion: #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama sweeps Texas in four games for their first National Championship of the College Football Playoff.
Player of the Game: Mark Ingram
2010 College Football Playoff
#1 Auburn vs.
#2 Oregon vs. #3 TCU
Semifinal: #1 Auburn vs #4
Stanford
Game 1: Stan 34-17 (Stepfan Taylor)
Game 2: Stan 41-31 (Andrew Luck)
Game 3: Stan 47-12 (Stepfan Taylor)
Game 4: Stan 41-34 (Andrew Luck)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#4 Stanford upsets #1 Auburn with a four-game sweep.
Co-Players of the Game: Andrew Luck & Stepfan Taylor, Quarterback/Running Back
Semifinal: #2 Oregon vs #3 TCU
Game 1: TCU 41-24 (Andy Dalton)
Game 2: Oregon 23-22 (LaMichael James)
Game 3: Oregon 23-14 (LaMichael James)
Game 4: TCU 41-24 (Ed Wesley)
Game 5: Oregon 30-9 (LaMichael James)
Game 6: Oregon 29-15 (LaMichael James)
Game 7: N/A
#2 Oregon ousts #3 TCU four games to two.
Player of the Game: LaMichael James, Running Back
2010 National Championship: #2 Oregon vs #4 Stanford
Game 1: Oregon 44-25 (Stan Stepfan
Taylor)
Game 2: Oregon 27-22 (Kenjon Barner)
Game 3: Stan 19-12 (Andrew Luck)
Game 4: Oregon 31-30 (LaMichael James)
Game 5: Stan 48-42 (Stepfan Taylor)
Game 6: Stan 33-17 (Andrew Luck)
Game 7: Oregon 44-37 F/OT (LaMichael
James) Luck picked at goal line
2010 National Champion: #2 Oregon Ducks
In a seven-game thriller, #2 Oregon prevails over #4 Stanford as the Ducks pick off Andrew Luck in overtime to secure the first National Championship in school history.
Player of the Game: LaMichael James, Running Back
2011 College Football Playoff
#1 LSU vs.
#2 Alabama vs. #3 Oklahoma State
Semifinal: #1 LSU vs #4 Stanford
Game 1: LSU 17-15 (Stan Stepfan Taylor)
Game 2: LSU 27-13 (Spencer Ware)
Game 3: Stan 52-34 (Stepfan Taylor)
Game 4: LSU 34-27 (Spencer Ware)
Game 5: LSU 51-7 (Jordan Jefferson)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
Semifinal: #2 Alabama vs #3 Oklahoma State
Game 1: Bama 29-26 (Trent Richardson)
Game 2: OSU 51-30 (Joseph Randle)
Game 3: Bama 35-32 (AJ McCarron)
Game 4: OSU 33-31 (Brandon Weeden)
Quinn Sharp GW FG
Game 5: Bama 41-20 (Trent Richardson)
Game 6: Bama 48-23 (Trent Richardson)
Game 7: N/A
#2 Alabama pounds #3 Oklahoma State and prevails to their second National Championship appearance with a four games to two series victory.
Player of the Game: Trent Richardson, Running Back
2011 National Championship: #1 LSU vs #2 Alabama
Game 1: Bama 38-16 (Trent Richardson)
Game 2: Bama 44-3 (Trent Richardson)
Game 3: Bama 33-21 (Trent Richardson)
Game 4: Bama 48-27 (Trent Richardson)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
2011 National Champion: #2 Alabama Crimson Tide
#2 Alabama thoroughly sweeps #1 LSU to claim their second National Championship of the College Football Playoff.
Player of the Game: Trent Richardson
2012 College Football Playoff
#1 Notre Dame vs.
#2 Alabama vs. #3 Florida
Semifinal: #1 Notre Dame vs #4 Oregon
Game 1: ND 30-23 (Theo Riddick)
Game 2: Oregon 42-35 (De’Anthony
Thomas)
Game 3: Oregon 28-21 (Kenjon Barner)
Game 4: ND 38-14 (Theo Riddick)
Game 5: ND 41-14 (Cierre Wood)
Game 6: ND 24-20 (Kenjon Barner)
Game 7: N/A
Notre Dame defeats Oregon four games to two to advance to their first National Championship of the College Football Playoff.
Player of the Game: Kenjon Barner, Running Back
Semifinal: #2 Alabama
vs #3 Florida
Game 1: Bama 16-13 (Eddie Lacy)
Game 2: Bama 29-0 (Eddie Lacy)
Game 3: Bama 20-19 (T.J. Yeldon)
Game 4: UF 16-12 (Mike Gillislee)
Game 5: Bama 12-6 (T.J. Yeldon)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#2 Alabama inches past #3 Florida in five games to begin their title defense.
Co-Players of the Game: Eddie Lacy & T.J. Yeldon, Running Backs
2012 National Championship: #1 Notre Dame vs #2 Alabama
Game 1: Bama 40-3 (Eddie Lacy)
Game 2: Bama 32-13 (Kevin Norwood)
Game 3: Bama 45-6 (TJ Yeldon)
Game 4: Bama 26-3 (Eddie Lacy)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
2012 National Champion: #2 Alabama Crimson Tide
#2 Alabama wins back-to-back National Championships with a convincing sweep of #1 Notre Dame.
Player of the Game: Eddie Lacy, Running Back
2013 College Football Playoff
#1 Florida State vs.
#2 Auburn vs. #3 Alabama
Semifinal: #1 Florida State vs #4 Michigan State
Game 1: FSU 28-20 (Devonta Freeman)
Game 2: FSU 27-17 (MSU Josh Price)
Game 3: FSU 27-20 (MSU Connor Cook)
Game 4: FSU 53-16 (Devonta Freeman)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
#1 Florida State sweeps #4 Michigan State on route to a fourth National Championship appearance.
Player of the Game: Devonta Freeman, Running Back
Semifinal: #2 Auburn vs #3
Alabama
Game 1: Bama 35-19 (AJ McCarron)
Game 2: Bama 51-21 (AJ McCarron)
Game 3: Bama 48-23 (TJ Yeldon)
Game 4: Bama 48-27 (Kenyan Drake)
Game 5: N/A
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
After losing to #2 Auburn via the "Kick Six", #3 Alabama gets their revenge with a resounding four-game sweep.
Player of the Game: A.J. McCarron, Quarterback
2013 National Championship: #1 Florida State vs #3 Alabama
Game 1: Bama 38-23 (TJ Yeldon)
Game 2: Bama 24-17 (Kenyan Drake)
Game 3: Bama 34-16 (TJ Yeldon)
Game 4: FSU 21-19 (Jameis Winston)
Game 5: Bama 27-23 (FSU Jameis
Winston)
Game 6: N/A
Game 7: N/A
2013 National Champion: #3 Alabama Crimson Tide
#3 Alabama dispatches #1 Florida State in five games for their third-straight National Championship and fourth in five years.
Player of the Game: T.J. Yeldon, Running Back
Final Takeaway:
Using the simulator, the correct team won the National Championship in 9 of the 16 years. The teams who won in the simulation, but not real life, are as follows:
- 1998: Ohio State (instead of Tennessee)
- 2000: Florida State (instead of Oklahoma)
- 2002: Miami (instead of Ohio State)
- 2003: USC (instead of LSU)
- 2005 USC (instead of Texas)
- 2007: Oklahoma (instead of LSU)
- 2008: Oklahoma (instead of Florida)
- 2010: Oregon (instead of Auburn)
- 2013: Alabama (instead of Florida State)
It is amazing how much of a difference the College Football Playoff makes. In addition to producing different champions, it also:
- Settled the 2003 dispute as to whether USC or LSU should have been the National Champion for that season.
- Paved the way for USC to win three-straight National Championships and establish a dynasty in the mid-2000s. It also allowed Trojan QB Matt Leinart to become maybe the winningest college quarterback of all-time as he won Player of the Game for the National Championship THREE consecutive times!
- Saw five different teams win at the least back-to-back titles (Florida State, Miami, USC, Oklahoma, and Alabama).
- Allowed the Alabama dynasty to live on as the Tide, like USC, also won three-straight titles and four in five years. This by far makes them the most dominant team of my hypothetical College Football Playoff era in my opinion.
- Deflated the SEC's hype as the conference won just five National Championships in the playoff as opposed to nine in the BCS era.
- Proved that Ohio State, with star receiver/return man Ted Ginn Jr., most likely would have beaten Florida in 2006. I ran a different test where Ginn does not get hurt and the result did not bode well for the Gators.
So there you have it. My wacky experiment proved that the computers got it right a little more than half of the time. I do wish these match-ups could have actually happened, but for now I will have to settle with my simulations. Either way, college football is in a great position now with a playoff system as opposed to letting computers decide. I have a good feeling that the playoff will expand beyond four teams in due time, but for now it works perfectly.
I hope you enjoyed this Thanksgiving article of mine! Stay tuned as I will be recapping the first month of Gator basketball as well as the football game between #12 Florida and #13 Florida State on Saturday!
*All game simulations and information accredited to whatifsports.com & http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/
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