B/R's College Football Weekly Awards: Week 14
The final week before the postseason of the 2023 college football campaign did not disappoint.
Unlike the selection committee.
I am conflicted, my friends. I both understand why Alabama is headed to the College Football Playoff and respect the Crimson Tide's clear ability to compete for a national title. Upsetting the nation's top-ranked team in the SEC Championship Game should be celebrated, and we'll do that!
At the same time, Florida State deserved better. It won every game—including two with backup quarterbacks.
Those interconnected stories are the biggest topics of the weekend. But we have several other awards to distribute, featuring more backup QBs, a bizarre Boise State championship and Washington's big win.
If you're new here, hi! B/R's Weekly Awards is an often-lighthearted review of what happened in college football over the weekend.
Team of the Week: Washington Huskies
1 of 7
Hand up, I was wrong, too.
Following a blistering four-game run to begin the season, Washington settled into a rhythm of nerve-wracking finishes. The bright side is the Huskies kept winning! The problem, so it seemed, was that a sizzling Oregon squad awaited in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Heck, Oregon entered as a near-double-digit favorite. Even the smart people in Vegas saw Washington as a risky team.
So much for that!
Washington started hot, recovered late and punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff with a 34-31 triumph. Michael Penix Jr. threw for 319 yards and a touchdown, while Dillon Johnson rushed for 152 yards and two scores.
Along with that CFP berth, Washington secured what could be the final Pac-12 championship ever.
Statement of the Week: Alabama Clips Georgia
2 of 7
For a moment, if possible, detach the aftermath of the weekend from the discussion of this particular result.
Alabama needed a win. Alabama got a win.
Georgia hadn't dropped a contest since the Crimson Tide defeated UGA in the 2021 SEC Championship Game. However, the Tide pulled out a 27-24 victory in Atlanta—primarily thanks to a fumble recovery that led to a field goal during the third quarter.
At the time, Alabama held a 17-10 lead. Georgia had just forced a punt. Could this be the moment the Dawgs clawed back into the game, as they've done so many times before?
Carson Beck turned to receiver Dillon Bell for a misdirection run, but a botched exchange led to the turnover.
Soon, a seven-point edge became a 10-point advantage. Although UGA trimmed the margin to three, Roydell Williams' short touchdown run in the fourth quarter effectively iced the result and set the stage for, well, a controversial afternoon on Sunday, to say the least.
Best Goodbye: Texas Wins Big 12
3 of 7
The biggest story is that Texas, in its third season of the Steve Sarkisian era, has a place in the College Football Playoff.
But the Longhorns are also leaving the Big 12 as the champion.
Quinn Ewers put together a stellar day, tallying career-best totals of 35 completions and 452 yards. He tossed four touchdowns and propelled Texas to a commanding 49-21 win over Oklahoma State.
First up, of course, is the looming Sugar Bowl showdown against second-ranked Washington.
In the offseason, however, the program is shifting to the SEC alongside rival Oklahoma. There's no question the 10 remaining teams in the Big 12 wanted to keep the championship inside that group, but Texas is leaving the league on the highest note possible.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Trend of the Week: Backup QBs Leading Wins
4 of 7
Backup quarterback? No problem. Three programs won conference championships without their starter.
Most notably, third-stringer Brock Glenn oversaw Florida State's win over Louisville in the ACC title. More on that shortly.
In the MAC, Miami continued its hot streak without Brett Gabbert. Since a leg injury in October ended his season, the RedHawks are a perfect 5-0. They capped that stretch with a 23-14 win against Toledo, leaning on 109 passing and 99 rushing yards from Aveon Smith.
Kevin Jennings followed suit for SMU in the AAC Championship Game, throwing for 203 yards and scampering for 63. Sure, he tossed two interceptions, but that was the first start of Jennings' career after an ankle injury last week abruptly halted Preston Stone's year.
FSU, Miami U and SMU took "next man up" to heart.
Strangest Title: Boise State Broncos
5 of 7
Ah, yes, the classic "fired the head coach in mid-November and still won a conference championship" tale.
Typical, really.
Only a few weeks ago, Boise State dismissed third-year boss Andy Avalos. Since the Broncos held a 5-5 record, it may have seemed—at least on paper—that the story of the season was written.
However, the Broncos still had a 4-2 record in Mountain West action. They closed the regular season with two victories under interim coach Spencer Danielson and finished on the right side of a three-way tiebreaker with UNLV atop the conference and ahead of San Jose State.
Boise State capped its fascinating year on Saturday, piling up 527 yards and steamrolling nine-win UNLV 44-20.
Danielson isn't a lock for a promotion to the permanent job, but winning a league title certainly doesn't hurt his case.
Cruelest Decision: CFP Selection Committee
6 of 7
I'm ready to throw technological hands with the College Football Playoff selection committee.
Like, seriously, why do we bother keeping score?
From this point forward, not a single person on this 13-member panel can honestly say the games matter. Because, apparently, they don't! The committee's decision to put both Texas and Alabama ahead of Florida State is as disheartening as it was unsurprising.
Florida State finished 13-0. I don't care if quarterback Jordan Travis is hurt. Not only did the Seminoles beat Florida with second-stringer Tate Rodemaker, but FSU also beat Louisville in the ACC Championship Game with third-stringer Brock Glenn behind center.
Was it an impressive win? Not on offense, no. But the Florida State defense yielded a mere 188 yards on its biggest stage of the season, completely atoning for the short-handed offense.
And the 13-0 'Noles don't get a shot at a championship. Absurd.
Most Timely Change: CFP Expansion
7 of 7
I like the four-team format. Until this season, the CFP selection committee had really only turned heads in 2014. Overall, the ever-changing group has picked the proper teams.
Expansion, in my mind, is both unnecessary and acceptable. But it would've become inevitable on Sunday.
Good thing the CFP is destined for a 12-team tournament in 2024, because wow. I mean, WOW. The discourse is already passionate enough in the wake of FSU's incredible snub. Can you imagine if expansion wasn't already in the late stages of being finalized?
Put it this way: Any remaining details may have been hammered out by the time the clock hit midnight on Monday.
See you soon, 12-teamer. You're coming one year too late.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
