College Football Playoff preview: Texas vs. Washington and Michigan vs. Alabama

The final four-team College Football Playoff field has beend, determine and the selection committee has been presented with its most difficult decision to date.

We were aware that history would be written and that there would be significant grievances for at least one side and its supporters. Would it be the first time an undefeated Power 5 champion was left out? Would people avoid the SEC? Would the team ranked first entering the conference finals lose?

Ultimately, the No. 1 seed went to Big Ten champion Michigan, who will now play No. 4 Alabama of the SEC in a game between two of the sport’s most famous blue bloods. Texas, ranked third in the Big 12, will take on Pac-12 champion Washington, ranked second, in the other semifinal.

This is our initial look at the four-team field, complete with important players, X factors, and the tasks that each team must complete to win the national title on January 8 at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

Michigan’s reward for moving up to the top of the rankings—following their victory over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game—is a matchup with a peaking Alabama squad.

The Crimson Tide offense looks much improved since the beginning of the season, and credit quarterback Jalen Milroe with leading the way. That offense, however, will have its hands full with Michigan’s defense, which ranks near the top of most major categories.

QB Jalen Milroe is credited with spearheading the Crimson Tide offense’s noticeable improvement from the start of the campaign. The defense of Michigan, which is ranked highly in most significant categories, will present a formidable challenge to that attack.

In the Big Ten championship game, Corum’s 55th score tied Michigan’s record for career rushing touchdowns. For the past several seasons, he has been the Wolverines’ main player, and the offense has flowed through him. With 24 touchdowns, he had the most of any FBS rushing back and recorded his third 1,000-yard campaign. A productive Corum makes things easier for the rest of Michigan’s attack and clears the way for the passing game. Along with being a team leader, Corum scored two touchdowns against Ohio State to put Michigan ahead and advance the Wolverines into the playoffs.

Though he doesn’t receive much credit, Sainristil has led Michigan’s defense. In the Big Ten title game versus Iowa, he forced two turnovers and was crucial in slowing the Hawkeyes’ offensive. Throughout the season, he totaled 30 tackles, four interceptions, and six pass breakups. Before switching to corners, he began his career as a receiver. Over the last two seasons, he has developed into a possible defensive first-round pick in the NFL draft.

Although the offensive hasn’t played at its peak level lately, it has nevertheless managed to maintain its winning streak. During the press conference following the Big Ten championship game, Jim Harbaugh stated that the team’s success in the postseason will depend on improving certain aspects of the running game and pass protection. Although Michigan’s defense has been excellent all season, they will need to score more points against the teams they will play in the playoffs. This implies that J.J. McCarthy, the quarterback, will supplement the running game with the throwing style we saw early in the season, and Corum will put up huge numbers. — VanHaaren, Tom

Since his benching against South Florida in Week 3, Jalen Milroe has been one of the most dynamic players in college football. He has accounted for 28 touchdowns and turned the ball over just five times in leading the Crimson Tide to 11 straight wins. His ability to scramble for big gains and buy time in the pocket make him extremely difficult to defend for any defense, but he also has a big arm and has repeatedly connected with his receivers on deep throws. Georgia coach Kirby Smart compared the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Milroe to Lamar Jackson last week because of his acceleration in the open field and arm strength to push the ball down the field. Alabama coach Nick Saban said the Crimson Tide wouldn’t be in this position had Milroe not responded to his benching the way he did and continued to improve and “be our point guard.” Milroe’s decision-making has gotten significantly better as the season has progressed, and he said a lot of that is because he’s played with more freedom and confidence since Saban told him unequivocally that it was his job.

Turner has been the main defensive disruption for Alabama. The junior is the finest pass-rusher for the Tide and has the ability to turn a game around with a big sack or a tackle for loss that ends a drive by the opposition. With 14.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, and 13 quarterback hurries, Turner leads Alabama in these stats. A big-play defender who can throw the opposition offense off balance is essential for championship teams. Turner, a 6-4, 252-pound member of the Crimson Tide, is that player.

Among the nation’s more resilient teams has been Alabama. This season, the Tide has fallen down five times in the second half of SEC games before coming back to win. Put another way, they know how to win close games, and the more games they’ve played, the more comfortable they are with finishing them. The offensive system of Alabama isn’t necessarily designed to win high-scoring games and overcome significant deficits. However, that is the Tide’s comfort zone if they are still in the game in the fourth quarter. They remain unfazed, and Milroe has performed admirably under duress. — Chris Low

The unusual destination of Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s reunion with the Washington program, which he oversaw for five seasons before to departing for USC, will be New Orleans. Before realignment sent them to the SEC and Big Ten the next year, both teams—Washington in the Pac-12 and Texas in the Big 12—won championships in their final seasons in their respective conferences.

Coach Kalen DeBoer has elevated the Huskies to new heights in his two seasons at Washington. With a national-best 20-game winning streak going into the playoffs, the team has won 24 of 26 games. While Sarkisian’s transformation in Austin took some time, he only needed three seasons to bring the Longhorns back to prominence in the country. Quinn Ewers of Texas and Michael Penix Jr. of Washington are two of the best quarterbacks in the country, and they will face off in this contest.