College Football Championship 2016: Breaking Down Playoff Semifinal Matchups
With Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State and Oklahoma competing for a national title, the 2016 College Football Playoff promises to be a spectacle.
And aesthetically, the two CFP semifinals should be a treat. While Oklahoma and Clemson figure to entertain fans with a shootout of the highest caliber, Alabama and Michigan State are primed to duke it out in a smashmouth throwback.
So before things get underway on New Year's Eve, it's time to break down the dichotomous semifinal action.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Orange Bowl: No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
Deshaun Watson and the Clemson Tigers have a shot to keep their undefeated season rolling against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, but don't be surprised if the marquee showdown evolves into a shootout of epic proportions.
Clemson hasn't scored fewer than 30 points in a game since its 23-13 win over Florida State on Nov. 7, and Watson has piled up stats at ridiculous rates. During the regular season, Watson was the only player in the country to tally at least 3,500 passing yards and 800 rushing yards, and he did so while posting 41 total touchdowns.
However, the Sooners are lurking, and they've got some serious confidence thanks to quarterback Baker Mayfield.
"Mayfield has completely transformed the Sooners, both tangibly and intangibly," ESPN.com's Jake Trotter wrote. "He’s completed 69 percent of his passes while throwing 35 touchdowns to just five picks. Just as importantly, he’s brought a swagger that’s rubbed off on the rest of the team, which had been lacking in Norman in recent years."
Since losing to Texas in early October, Oklahoma has ripped off seven straight wins by an average margin of 32.6 points. Considering its opponents in that span included TCU, Oklahoma State and Baylor, that's stunning.
The Tigers have answered every question about their top-rank status with resounding answers all season long, but the positive vibes that have enveloped Mayfield and Co. over the past two months have the Sooners on track to pull off a semifinal stunner.
Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Michigan State
The Cotton Bowl is being billed as a slugfest, and for good reason. Alabama and Michigan State ranked 36th and 49th, respectively, in average scoring this season, and both sides tout burly defensive fronts that should apply pressure all night long.
The question, then, is whether Michigan State's 19th-ranked scoring defense will be capable of doing what few Alabama opponents have throughout the 2015 campaign: shut down Derrick Henry and the Crimson Tide running game.
The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner has gashed opposing defenses all season long, and he's been particularly prolific at slamming the door shut in fourth quarters.
| 1st | 550 | 5.9 | 6 |
| 2nd | 433 | 6.3 | 7 |
| 3rd | 482 | 5.2 | 5 |
| 4th | 521 | 6.1 | 5 |
And while it may be impossible to contain Henry entirely, the Spartans should have some hope. They rank seventh among FBS teams in rushing yards allowed per game (113.1) and have the discipline up front to at least contain Henry for stretches.
"I just think we have resilience," head coach Mark Dantonio said, according to MLive.com's Mike Griffith. "I said all along, this football team, we know how to win."
If the Spartans can flex their defensive muscles early and flash that resilient demeanor, they'll force quarterback Jake Coker to try and beat them. Though Coker is no slouch, he's more of a game manager than anything else.
However, Michigan State won't be able to pull off the upset without a solid offensive display of its own. And in a matchup against the nation's stingiest rushing and third-ranked scoring defense, that may be too much to ask for.
Points will undoubtedly be at a premium when the Big Ten and SEC powers collide, and based on Alabama's track record, Henry should eventually break out for a decisive run or two. Assuming trends hold, the Crimson Tide should strut into the national title game.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
