The Biggest 'What Ifs' of the 2017 College Football Season
Injuries, specific plays and single-game results drastically affect the college football season, and sports fans love to debate what we cannot know.
If one single thing had played out differently, how would that have altered what we saw?
During the 2017 campaign, several championship contenders fell short of the ultimate prize and can point to a particular moment where things went wrong. The four College Football Playoff qualifiers can identify the biggest positive outcome of the year.
Additionally, a couple of wins could've saved a head coach. And if he had not been fired, the carousel might've looked enormously different.
Please be aware that these are not connected sequences. Each scenario is discussed independently of the others.
Deondre Francois Doesn't Get Injured
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What happened: In Week 1, Florida State needed a miracle to catch Alabama, but the touted Seminoles weren't going down without a fight. Deondre Francois had plenty of reason to be in the game. However, the worst-case scenario happened. He landed awkwardly while taking a sack, and a torn patellar tendon in his left knee ended Francois' season.
Why it mattered: As well as FSU has recruited, the team simply could not afford an injury to Francois. The coaching staff didn't view J.J. Cosentino as a long-term option, but neither James Blackman nor Bailey Hockman had any in-game experience. Dreams of a championship left along with Francois.
What would've been different: Maybe the 'Noles don't lose to NC State by six. Or Miami by four. Or Louisville by three. FSU was flawed, but Francois proved in 2016 he could atone for some of those weaknesses. Even at 10-2, the Seminoles could've shaken up the College Football Playoff picture.
Ohio State Beats Oklahoma
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What happened: Baker Mayfield tossed a trio of touchdowns in the second half to propel Oklahoma past Ohio State in Columbus. The eventual Heisman Trophy winner threw for 386 yards, helping the Sooners put 490 yards on the Buckeyes. And to celebrate the victory, he planted an OU flag at midfield.
Why it mattered: In 2016, Ohio State squeaked into the playoff thanks in part to its marquee nonconference win over Oklahoma. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten title this season, but a loss here, plus the embarrassing performance at Iowa, kept Urban Meyer's squad from snagging the No. 4 spot instead of Alabama.
What would've been different: If the Buckeyes owned an 11-1 record heading into the Big Ten Championship Game, we'd have considered it a clear-cut winner-take-all game for both Ohio State and Wisconsin. Alabama's loss to Auburn would've eliminated Nick Saban's team from the playoff conversation.
Oklahoma State Lets Mason Rudolph Throw It vs. TCU
3 of 9What happened: With about six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma State had a chance to cut into TCU's 37-24 lead. However, a trick play resulted in wide receiver Jalen McCleskey throwing an interception. The Cowboys still had three timeouts and forced a three-and-out on the next possession anyway. Would OSU still have come out with a 44-31 loss if it hadn't taken the ball out of Mason Rudolph's hands?
Why it mattered: Oklahoma State rattled off four consecutive wins following this shortcoming. Even with losses to Oklahoma and Kansas State, the Pokes would've secured a place in the Big 12 Championship Game because of the head-to-head tiebreaker over TCU.
What would've been different: Yes, Mayfield and the Sooners hung 62 points on Oklahoma State, so a rematch almost certainly would've been another offensive shootout. But the Cowboys could've taken Round 2. And an OSU win would've meant no Big 12 in the College Football Playoff.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Jacob Eason Starts When Healthy
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What happened: During Georgia's season-opening win against Appalachian State, quarterback Jacob Eason left the matchup due to a sprained left knee. But after backup Jake Fromm oversaw the offense in victories over two ranked opponents—Notre Dame and Mississippi State—the Bulldogs stuck with the freshman even when Eason was healthy.
Why it mattered: Eason appeared in all 13 games during the 2016 season, making 12 starts. Since the decision to keep starting Fromm paid off, nobody is second-guessing if Georgia should've gone to its experienced starter when he was ready...yet.
What would've been different: The Dawgs were always going to lean on the running game and defense, so the difference between Eason and Fromm must not be overstated. Georgia might be a playoff team either way. But if the Bulldogs don't win the national championship, some may wonder if Eason would've given them a better chance.
Florida Finds a Way vs. LSU and Texas A&M
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What happened: After stealing wins against Tennessee and Kentucky in September, the magic ran out. In consecutive weeks, Florida fell at home by a combined three points. A botched hold on an extra point proved costly in a 17-16 loss to LSU, and Texas A&M kicked three field goals during the fourth quarter to win 19-17.
Why it mattered: Instead of carrying a 5-1 record into a showdown with Georgia, the Gators were just 3-3. The eventual SEC champions smashed Florida 42-7, and the school fired third-year coach Jim McElwain shortly after the blowout.
What would've been different: Though a different issue could've complicated his future, perhaps a seven-win season would have saved McElwain for another year. If the program sticks with McElwain, Dan Mullen probably doesn't leave Mississippi State, which wouldn't have hired Joe Moorhead, who might've stayed at Penn State.
Penn State Holds off Ohio State
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What happened: Penn State entered the fourth quarter against Ohio State in Week 9 with a 15-point lead. It did not last. J.T. Barrett led three touchdown drives to give Ohio State a riveting 39-38 victory. The Nittany Lions had one 64-yard field-goal drive and otherwise lost 10 yards on three possessions in the final frame.
Why it mattered: Even though Penn State lost to Michigan State the next weekend, once again, this was a head-to-head victory that shaped the season. Ohio State couldn't have taken the tiebreaker back from the Nittany Lions, who had already beaten Michigan and would've benefited from the Buckeyes smashing Michigan State.
What would've been different: We cannot say for certain that Penn State would've defeated Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, but Saquon Barkley would've been there. That's half the battle. And if the Lions had won in Indianapolis, the one-loss team could've leaped Alabama for the final playoff position.
USC Shows Up at Notre Dame
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What happened: Notre Dame built a 28-0 halftime lead en route to a 49-14 dismantling of USC in Week 8. Josh Adams racked up 191 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while QB Brandon Wimbush accounted for 226 total yards and four scores. USC lost three turnovers in the game.
Why it mattered: The Trojans fell to 6-2 on the season, and the second loss doomed their pursuit of the College Football Playoff. USC rattled off five consecutive victories to end the campaign, but it still finished No. 8 in the final CFP poll.
What would've been different: In reality, the college football world didn't know if the selection committee would choose Alabama or USC for the final playoff spot. Had the Trojans ended 12-1 with a Pac-12 title, two wins over Stanford and a road triumph over Notre Dame, there wouldn't have been any doubt Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia and USC would be in the playoff.
NC State Stuns Clemson
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What happened: Clemson survived a tough North Carolina State team on the road, but the Wolfpack had a couple of late opportunities to swing the result. On a potential go-ahead drive, Ryan Finley threw an interception. And on the game's final possession, NC State stalled at Clemson's 28 before Finley tossed a pick as time expired.
Why it mattered: The victory handed Clemson the critical tiebreaker in the ACC Coastal, and the Tigers secured the division crown the following week. NC State hadn't lost a conference game to that point, so a loss to Wake Forest two weeks later wouldn't have affected the program's bid to the ACC title.
What would've been different: Miami had recently lost key targets Chris Herndon and Ahmmon Richards before the ACC championship, and Clemson dominated the short-handed offense. However, the 'Canes likely would've fared better against a talented yet inefficient Wolfpack defense. Miami could've won the ACC and been in a three-way battle with Alabama and Ohio State for two playoff spots.
Texas Stops Collapsing
9 of 9What happened: USC forced overtime with a field goal as regulation expired in Week 3, and Texas lost a fumble in overtime. The secondary completely lost Oklahoma's Mark Andrews on a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of a Week 7 matchup, and Sam Ehlinger threw a mind-numbing pick in overtime against Oklahoma State the next weekend. Texas Tech overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Why it mattered: Flip two of those results, and we're talking about an 8-4 Longhorns team. While that's not an amazing year for a proud program, Texas hasn't won eight games since 2013. It would at least be considered a step in the right direction.
What would've been different: No, this year wasn't a failure. Even the best-case scenario for Texas didn't include a national championship. But 2017 certainly was a disappointment for Tom Herman and the Longhorns, who could've finished a season ranked for the first time since 2012 if they entered bowl season at 8-4.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
