CFW Week 20 Results – Who will quarterback Miami next year?
The Big Red Machine
No, not the Cincinnati Reds, but the Indiana Hoosiers. The Cincinnati Reds were the Big Red Machine in the 1970s because of their dominance in baseball. Indiana is the Big Red Machine now because of the Hoosiers dominance in the College Football Playoff. You can’t get much more dominant than 38-3 and 56-22.
Before the two CFP semifinal games were played last Thursday and Friday nights, the two games had one thing in common. In both contests, the favored team was a 4-point favorite. Miami was favored by 4 points over Ole Miss and Indiana was favored by 4 points over Oregon.
As it turned out, the two games had nothing in common, other than the favored team won in both games. Aside from that, there were no similarities in the two games. As predicted, Miami beat Ole Miss by 4 points. However, in the other contest, Indiana beat Oregon by 34 points.
The outcome of the Miami-Ole Miss game remained in doubt until the final play. All doubts about the outcome of the Indiana-Oregon game fell by the wayside at some point in the second quarter – probably when Indiana went up 28-7.
I could go on-and-on about the differences in the two games. Miami-Ole Miss combined for 58 points, while Indiana-Oregon combined for 78 points. Despite the closeness of the Miami-Ole Miss game, Miami all but dominated the stats, including a 23-minute edge in time of possession. Despite the Indiana-Oregon game not being close, the two teams were fairly even in the stats – including just a 3-minute edge for Indiana in time of possession.
So, we ended up with two entirely different semifinal games.
Ole Miss lost to Miami due to poor defensive play. Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding was the Magnolias’ interim defensive coordinator in the game. During the season, Golding was the full-time defensive coordinator. Playing the roles of both head coach and defensive coordinator, I think Golding had more than he could handle. In the quarterfinal win over Georgia, Ole Miss gave up 35 points to Georgia. In the semifinal, Ole Miss gave up 30 points to Miami.
Perhaps the most damaging thing to Ole Miss was time of possession – or the lack thereof. Miami controlled the ball for almost 42 minutes of the game. The Ole Miss defense couldn’t get Miami off the field. It’ hard to come out with a win when you only have the ball for about 18 minutes. The Canes all but dominated the field of play.
The game ended similar to how the first half neared its end. In the second quarter, with the score tied at 10-10, Ole Miss’s defense fell asleep. With 2:18 remaining in the first half, Carson Beck connected with Keelan Marlon on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Just like that, Miami was up 17-10. Ole Miss did manage a field goal before the half ended.
At the end of the second half, with Ole Miss winning 27-24, the Ole Miss defense fell asleep again. Miami easily moved down the field on a 6-play drive, scoring a touchdown with 0:18 left on the clock. Carson Beck scampered into the end zone on a three-yard run. Just like that, Miami was up 31-27. And so it ended.
As a starter, Carson Beck is 37-5.
After the outcome of the Indiana-Oregon game, Alabama fans shouldn’t be despondent over their loss to Indiana. The Tide limited the Hoosiers to 5 touchdowns. The Ducks gave up 8 touchdowns to the Hoosiers.
Indiana’s performance in its two CFP games has been nothing short of unbelievable. And Fernado Mendoza’s performance in Indiana’s two games has been nothing short of unbelievable. Combined, Mendoza was 31-for-36 passing in the two games, throwing a total of 8 touchdown passes. He had no interceptions.
If anyone had any doubts about Mendoza winning the Heisman Trophy, they shouldn’t have now. The right guy definitely won the Heisman.
Indiana is making a case to become one of the top teams, if not the top team, in college football history. The Hoosiers have won their two playoff games by a combined 69 points – averaging a 34.5-point margin of victory. If Indiana beats Miami in the championship game, the Hoosiers will become the first team to go 16-0.
Indiana is not only dominating the games, but also its fans are dominating the stadiums. In the Rose Bowl in Pasadena 80% of the 90,000 fans in attendance were Indiana fans. In Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, 85% to 90% of the 75,000 fans in attendance were Indiana fans.
Before we leave the Indiana-Oregon game, it’s interesting to note that Oregon has 55 four and five-star players on its roster. Indiana has 8 four and five-star players on its roster. Legendary Texas coach Darrell Royal used to say, “It’s not about the X’s and O’s, it’s about the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. Meaning, whoever has the superior players wins the games. I think Indiana is an exception to Royal’s axiom.
Oregon’s loss to Indiana was the second-straight ugly exit from the playoff for the Ducks. Last year Ohio State led Oregon 34-0 at halftime and went on to beat the Ducks, 41-21, in the playoff. Oregon coach Dan Lanning is now 0-2 in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. At the start of the 2022 season, Lanning’s first as head coach at Oregon, the Ducks lost to Georgia 49-3.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has been seeking a waiver from the NCAA to allow him to play a sixth season. Chambliss, a transfer from Division II Ferris State, was requesting one more year of eligibility to play for Ole Miss. Friday, the NCAA denied his waiver for a sixth year of eligibility. Chambliss may or may not appeal the decision.
College players today really want to remain in school and keep playing for as long as they can. They look for every possible loophole, hoping to get an extra year or two eligibility. The reason? They are making lots of money playing college football. And as we know, money is addictive.
Florida State has lost 38 players to the transfer portal and Colorado has lost 35. Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt apparently has options from Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee and Miami. Former Florida quarterback D.J Lagway has committed to Baylor, but he is still in communication with Ole Miss. Stay tuned!
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson announced last week he was headed for the NFL draft. However, sources now say he may pull out of the draft and transfer to Miami. LSU and Tennessee also are trying to lure Simpson away from the NFL draft. Between the three schools, Simpson is being offered between $4 and $6.5 million. Stay tuned! And former NC State running back Hollywood Smothers, who committed to Alabama in a transfer portal move, has flipped his commitment to Texas.
Speaking of Alabama, why didn’t the Crimson Tide hire Curt Cignetti?
So, this upcoming week – Week 21 – is a quiet week. The week of silence before next week’s championship game.
Touchdown Tom
January 12, 2026
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
Review of the Two College Football Playoff Games
The Hurricane was a Cat 5 – (in the Fiesta Bowl) – Miami 31, Ole Miss 27 (Touchdown Tom said: Ole Miss 28, Miami 26). There were six lead changes in the game – four in the final seven minutes of the game. After trailing Miami since late in the second quarter, Ole Miss retook the lead at 19-17, with seven minutes left in the game. The score went back-and-forth until Miami took its final lead at 31-27. Carson Beck passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Mark Fletcher ran for 133 yards. Receiver Keelan Marlon caught 7 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss passed for 277 yards and one touchdown. Running back Kewan Lacy ran for 103 yards and one touchdown. Except for passing yards, Miami dominated the other stats – more first downs, more total yards, more running yards, more penalties and an amazing 23-minute edge in time of possession. Miami suffered one turnover. Ole Miss had none. Attendance in Glendale: 67,928
Peking Duck – (in the Peach Bowl) – Indiana 56, Oregon 22 (Touchdown Tom said: Indiana 28, Oregon 24). Just 11 seconds into the game, Indiana asserted its dominance when D’Angelo Ponds intercepted a Dante Moore pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. Oregon briefly showed signs of life when Danre Moore hit Jamari Johnson for a 19-yard touchdown pass. The score was 7-7. Maybe we had a ball game. But we didn’t. Indiana proceeded to score an amazing 35-unanswered points (5 touchdowns) to take a 42-7 lead over Oregon. This was mid-third quarter. Oregon responded with a touchdown, but Indiana responded with two more touchdowns. With 5:13 remaining in the game, the Hoosiers led 56-15. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was 17-20-0, passing for 177 yards and five touchdowns. He ran for another 28 yards. Indiana receiver Elijah Sarratt had 7 catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Oregon was the stronger passing team (285 yards to 177 yards), but Indiana was the stronger running team (185 yards to 93 yards). Oregon had three turnovers and Indiana had none. Both teams had 5 penalties. Attendance in Atlanta: 75,604
Quarterfinal CFP Picks: 1 winner, 1 fumble
Total CFP Picks: 5 winners, 5 fumbles
Quotes of the Week
“Why didn’t Alabama hire someone from the Saban tree?” ESPN’s Pat McAfee.
“He’s hungry, he’s driven, he’s a great human being, and all he wants to do is to see his teammates have success,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal, on his quarterback Carson Beck.
“I’m really not thinkin’ about the next game. I’m thinkin’ about crackin’ open a beer,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, when asked about Miami, during his post-game interview, following the win over Oregon.
Joke of the Week
“Bevo is hitting the transfer portal. He’s signing with LongHorn Steak House.”
Touchdown Tom
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but on the 12th day of the New Year, as college football fans were still celebrating playoff wins, commiserating over playoff losses, worrying about New Year’s resolutions and going back to work or school, the number one song in the country…
…85 years ago, this week in 1941, was “Frenesi” by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
…80 years ago, this week in 1946, was “Symphony” by Freddy Martin and His Orchestra, and “I Can’t Begin To Tell You” by Bing Crosby
…75 years ago, this week in 1951, was “The Tennessee Waltz” by Patti Page
…70 years ago, this week in 1956, was “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford, and “Memories Are Made Of This” by Dean Martin
…65 years ago, this week in 1961, was “Wonderland By Night” by Bert Kaempfert
…60 years ago, this week in 1966, was “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel, and “We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles
…55 years ago, this week in 1971, was “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison
…50 years ago, this week in 1976, was “Saturday Night” by The Bay City Rollers, and “Convoy” by C.W. McCall
…45 years ago, this week in 1981, was “(Just Like) Starting Over” by John Lennon
…40 years ago, this week in 1986, was “Say You, Say Me” by Lionel Richie
…35 years ago, this week in 1991, was “Justify My Love” by Madonna
The next CFW – Week 22 Forecast – will be posted Thursday morning, January 15.
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