2019 Death to the BCS Playoffs: Fast Forward

We're starting to see something of a return to normalcy now. The Stanley Cup Final is complete, the NBA Finals are underway, the MLB Playoffs are about to begin... and football is more or less in full swing. The NFL has gone on with minimal hitches, and the FBS is starting to get back to normal as some conferences are already playing and others are coming back soon.

This would normally be where I'd be announcing the 2020 Death to the BCS Playoffs. Problem is, given the way the schedules are set up, with different conferences starting later, I don't think it's a fair year or a good year to do the Death to the BCS Playoffs. Fortunately, I still have the 2019 bracket to go through!

I built this bracket out way back in December, when the word "pandemic" wasn't on anyone's mind, North Central was coming off a huge upset of Mount Union en route to a national title, and I was in the midst of a long basketball layoff. Teams were not in on my simulator in time to do the playoff in real time like I had for the first few years, but now that they are, and we're in full swing of football, it's time to attack this again.

You can view the official bracket, which will include final scores when we're done, here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's play some football!

First Round

12pm Games

@ (1) Ohio State 41, (16) Miami (OH) 3

Ohio State quickly took advantage in this one, forcing a quick three and out and getting a short field, then needing just a single play to open the scoring as J.K. Dobbins took one in from 23 yards. Miami responded with a nine play, 79 yard drive though would only manage a 22 yard Sam Sloman field goal to get on the board. It was all Buckeyes from there, as a 21 point second quarter put the game pretty much out of reach with an almost five minute scoring drive capped by a six yard Master Teague III touchdown plunge, Fields hit Dobbins for a 12 yard strike, and Teague scored again from 32 yards away. They got ten more points in garbage time, ultimately holding the Redhawks to just over 300 yards, but less than a yard a carry and forced three turnovers on downs. Dobbins led the way offensively for Ohio State with 153 yards on 26 carries plus three catches for 39 yards and two total scores, while Teague added 61 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Justin Fields finished an efficient 17-19 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Brett Gabbert paced Miami with 277 yards on 20 of 34 passing, but was picked once and sacked six times.

@ (3) Clemson 35, (14) Appalachian State 17

The Tigers got off to a quick start, forcing a three and out, then marching 64 yards, aided by a facemask penalty, as Trevor Lawrence hit Tee Higgins for a 12 yard touchdown only four and a half minutes in. The Mountaineers moved the ball on their next couple drives, but punted twice in Clemson territory, though the Tigers couldn't capitalize until late in the half, when Travis Etienne broke free for a 29 yard touchdown run with just 38 seconds left until the break. To start the second half it was the Mountaineers who took control, forcing a three and out and cutting the lead in half with a six yard Darrynton Evans touchdown run. But Clemson responded, marching 75 yards in seven plays capped by a 13 yard Lyn-J Dixon touchdown run. A chip shot from Chandler Staton made it 21-10 late in the third, but the Tigers put the game away late with a pair of 34 yard touchdown runs. Appalachian State's garbage time touchdown accounted for the final score. Travis Etienne did most of the damage, piling up 139 yards rushing and 44 receiving, with a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Trevor Lawrence didn't need to do a ton through the air, picking up 177 yards on 13 of 23 attempts with a touchdown, though he added 59 yards on 12 carries. The Mountaineers did all right on offense, with Zac Thomas racking up 232 yards and a touchdown on 17 of 29 passing, including five for 105 yards and the touchdown to Thomas Hennigan, and Demetrius Taylor sacked Lawrence twice for Appalachian State.

3pm Games

@ (4) Georgia 57, (13) Boise State 10

This one wasn't a blowout early, as the Bulldogs had to settle for a pair of field goals in the first quarter (though on the second, they took advantage of a pass interference on a third and eight to move the chains). Boise State pulled off a goal to go going into the second quarter, but couldn't punch it in and had to settle for a chip shot field goal to cut the deficit in half. Georgia finally got going with a short field later in the quarter, with Jake Fromm hitting Lawrence Cager for a three yard touchdown and a 13-3 edge. Rodrigo Blankenship would add two more field goals before halftime for a 19-3 advantage. Then the bottom fell out for the Broncos in the third as Kenny McIntosh broke free for a 65 yard touchdown run two and a half minutes in. Boise State forced a fumble on the goal line on Georgia's next drive, but the Bulldogs recovered, and McIntosh made them pay with a three yard touchdown plunge, then a few minutes later D'Andre Swift delivered the dagger with an 82 yard touchdown scamper. Georgia would add a couple more touchdown runs in garbage time to seal the deal. As a team, Georgia ran for 364 yards on 51 carries, needing just 25 passes from Fromm, who completed 16 of them for 179 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. Swift led the rushing attack with 19 totes for 194 yards and two scores, McIntosh finished with 91 and two touchdowns, and Brian Herrien finished with 77 yards rushing. Azeez Ojulari led the Bulldog defense with three sacks of Hank Bachmeier, who completed just 15 of 27 passes for 186 yards, but one interception.

@ (7) Auburn 40, (10) Notre Dame 9

This score doesn't do justice to the fact that early on, both teams were struggling, especially Auburn in the first quarter. Bo Nix was picked off twice, the second time in his own territory, leading to a 38 yard Johnathan Doerer field goal and a 3-0 lead. The defense kept it up until Ian Book threw a pick early in the second quarter, and after a 41 yard D.J. Williams run, Nix hit him for a nine yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Tigers. On the ensuing drive Book hit Braden Lenzy for a 41 yard pickup on third and 16, but he took a third down sack later on the drive, and the Irish had to settle for a field goal to pull back within one. But then the Tigers went off, scoring touchdowns on their next three drives to break the game wide open, and the Irish couldn't respond. Bo Nix was pretty good after the early struggles, finishing 16-32 for 287 yards, three touchdowns, and those two early picks, but the story was a defense that got to Ian Book eight times, including four by Marlon Davidson, while Smoke Monday had a sack and an interception. Book finished 21 of 44 for 242 yards and two interceptions.

6pm Games

@ (2) LSU 62, (15) Florida Atlantic 15

Not a lot of drama in these first round games as LSU dominated from the outset. The Tigers marched 82 yards on their opening drive with Joe Burrow hitting Thaddeus Moss from 18 yards out to open the scoring just three and a half minutes in. Clyde Edwards-Helaire doubled the lead later in the quarter with a five yard touchdown run, though the Owls answered with a field goal to get on the board. LSU broke it open early in the second quarter, using a personal foul penalty to aid a long drive and scoring just a couple minutes in, blocking a punt on the Owls' ensuing drive, taking advantage of that short field to take a 28-3 lead, then pouncing on an FAU fumble and turning it into a field goal, all in about the first six minutes of the frame. The Owls would find the end zone by half's end, but missed the extra point to go into halftime down 31-9. The Owls took advantage of getting the ball to start the second half, marching downfield for a touchdown, but yet another missed extra point only cut the lead to 16, and late in the third Edwards-Helaire broke free for a 72 yard touchdown that served as the dagger. Burrow was ruthless, completing 34 of 39 passes for 397 yards and four touchdowns. Thaddeus Moss caught two of those scores, Justin Jefferson caught nine passes for 113 yards, and Edwards-Helaire finished with 184 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 24 carries. The Tigers' defense made life miserable for Chris Robison, who was held to just 187 yards on 13-33 passing with a single touchdown, though the ground game did all right as Malcolm Davidson and BJ Emmons combined for 20 carries for 103 yards, with Emmons scoring a 28 yard touchdown.

@ (6) Wisconsin 41, (11) Memphis 31

This ended up being a good game, at least until the final quarter. Wisconsin wasted no time taking the initiative, as a 66 yard Jonathan Taylor run on the second play from scrimmage led to a five yard strike from Jack Coan to Kendric Pryor less than two minutes into the game. But the Tigers had an answer, converting a pair of third downs en route to six yard scoring plunge from Kenneth Gainwell. The Badgers responded in kind with an 11 play drive capped by Taylor punching it in from 11 yards out,  but again Memphis had an answer, with Brady White finding Kedarian Jones on a third and 17 for a 24 yard touchdown that tied the game again. But once again, Wisconsin pounded the ball, with Taylor scoring from 29 yards out to again give the Badgers a seven point lead. Memphis got to a goal to go, but Matt Henningsen sacked White to force a chip shot field goal, and Wisconsin took a 21-17 lead into the break. Wisconsin added a field goal on its first drive of the second half to make it a seven point game again, though they'd miss from 50 later to make it a two possession game, and the Tigers made them pay, as a 65 yard Gainwell run set up a game-tying strike from White to Patrick Taylor, Jr. But then the bottom fell out, as the Tigers couldn't capitalize on a Wisconsin fumble, and early in the fourth Coan took it in himself from 16 yards out to once again give the Badgers the lead, and after a three and out, Taylor provided the dagger with a 71 yard scamper. Gainwell would get a garbage time touchdown to help account for the final score. He went berserk in this one, running 36 times for 325 yards and three touchdowns, allowing Coan to manage the game as he completed 12 of 24 passes for 161 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. Brady White was pretty good for the Tigers, finishing 23 of 40 for 314 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Damonte Coxie finished with six catches for game-high 119 yards, and Gainwell added 192 yards and two scores on 22 carries.

9pm Games

@ (5) Oklahoma 27, (12) Utah 20

Our first down-to-the-wire game came late in the first round, but it was a good one. Utah controlled things early, forcing a punt in their territory, then marched 82 yards in 11 plays, with Zack Moss scoring from six yards out. The Sooners were able to respond, putting together a nice drive to get a 33 yard Gabe Brkic field goal to make it 7-3. The Utes pushed their lead in the second quarter with a couple decent drives leading to a pair of Jadon Redding field goals for a 13-3 halftime edge. Utah had to punt on their first drive of the second half, and the Sooners got a little lucky on their first play, as Calcaterra fumbled after a long catch and run, but Oklahoma recovered it, and five plays later Rhamondre Stevenson punched it in from six yards out to make it a three point game. Utah had a chance to push the lead to six, but Redding missed a 50 yard field goal, and the Sooners capitalized, capturing their first lead early in the fourth on a two yard Trey Sermon plunge. Utah was quick to respond, with Devonta'e Henry-Cole breaking free for a 43 yard touchdown run that recaptured the lead. They held it until late in the quarter when Kennedy Brooks broke free for a 58 yard run on a draw to set up a game-tying 22 yard field goal with about five minutes to play. Utah went three and out, and Oklahoma retook the lead two plays later with a couple chunk plays, with Brooks scoring from 25 yards out to give the Sooners a 27-20 edge with just over three minutes to go. The Utes would get no further than their own 41 the rest of the way as the Sooners escape to Round 2. Kennedy Brooks led the Sooners with 126 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, while Jalen Hurts completed 12 of 17 passes for 232 yards. Zack Moss was good in the Utes' loss, picking up 163 yards and a score on 24 carries, while Tyler Huntley completed 15 of 24 passes for 192 yards.

(9) Michigan 41, @ (8) Oregon 24

We get our one first round upset in the 8-9 matchup again, but Oregon was in the mix early. Travis Dye got the Ducks on the board with a 33 yard touchdown run less than three minutes into the game, but the Wolverines answered a little later, as Zach Charbonnet broke free for a 34 yard touchdown run that tied the game. Justin Herbert would convert a third and long on the ensuing drive with a 59 yard completion to Johnny Johnson III, setting up a nine yard touchdown plunge from Dye for a 14-7 lead. Michigan had to settle for three to open the second quarter, and shortly after it seemed like the Ducks were going to run away with it, as they marched 73 yards in 10 plays, with CJ Verdell punching it in from seven yards out to make it 21-10. The Wolverines got back into it late in the half, overcoming a fumble that they recovered as Shea Patterson hit Ronnie Bell from 14 yards out to make it a four point game before the break. They'd pull within one about five and a half minutes into the third, the defense completely shut the Ducks down again, and Hassan Haskins punched one in from 20 yards out to give Michigan its first lead. An early fourth quarter field goal made it a two possession game, though the Ducks would get it right back. Michigan got away with two more fumbles on the ensuing drive, and after the second one, Patterson hit Giles Jackson for a four yard touchdown, and Haskins added a two point conversion to make it a 14 point game with only six minutes to play. Herbert led a strong Oregon drive that included two fourth down conversions, but couldn't convert the third from just outside the red zone, and Michigan would run the clock out, though not without a completely unnecessary field goal to close it out. Patterson was really good, completing 24 of 34 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns, surviving four sacks, including three from Mase Funa. Josh Uche matched that for the Wolverines, Zach Charbonnet ran for 131 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, and Haskins added 63 and a score on 15 totes. Herbert was okay for the Ducks, completing 18 of 30 passes for 249 yards, while Travis Dye picked up 60 yards on 10 carries with two scores.

Quarterfinals

12pm Game

(6) Wisconsin 33, @ (3) Clemson 28

We have a big upset in South Carolina! The Tigers went three and out to open the game, and Wisconsin went right to work, marching 44 yards in 11 plays to set up a Zach Hintze 29 yard field goal. Then the defenses took over as the teams traded interceptions and a punt before Clemson finally righted the ship, getting chunks of yards at a time before Trevor Lawrence got loose and ran for a 30 yard touchdown and the lead. But the Badgers answered right back, on a third and nine when Jack Coan found Garrett Groshek for a 72 yard catch and run touchdown. Lawrence went right back to work having found a groove passing, capping a quick drive with a 16 yard strike to Amari Rodgers. Wisconsin answered by running the ball down Clemson's throat, capping things with a 32 yard Groshek touchdown run. The seesaw battle continued as Lawrence hit Braden Galloway for a 52 yard pickup, setting up a three yard Travis Etienne plunge to make it 21-17 with about three minutes to go in the half. That score held up into the break, as Hintze missed a 47 yard field goal late, and Lawrence's Hail Mary attempt was completed, but short of the end zone. Clemson seemed poised to extend the lead early in the third, when Etienne picked up 45 on a pitch to get into scoring range, but B.T. Potter doinked a 38 yard field goal off the upright, and Wisconsin responded with a field goal to pull within one. The Badgers' defense continued to hold firm, winning a field position battle to set up Jonathan Taylor to break free for a go-ahead 42 yard touchdown run late in the third, then picked Lawrence again to go into the fourth with the ball up six. They capitalized, taking almost five minutes off the clock and getting a Hintze chip shot field goal to go up nine. The Tigers weren't done though, as Etienne carved up the defense both on the ground and through the air, punching it in from three yards out with just under six minutes to play to make it 30-28. Taylor broke free for 53 yards on the next play from scrimmage to immediately get the Badgers into field goal range, but they stalled there and had to settle for three. Clemson seemed poised to quickly retake the lead, with Chez Mellusi breaking out for a 25 yard run, only to lose the ball and see the Badgers fall on it. Wisconsin couldn't run out the clock, punting back to Clemson to give them 74 seconds to go 73 yards with just one timeout. Clemson managed the clock fairly well, getting into reasonable striking range at the 34, and Lawrence spiked the ball with 12 seconds to go. He ended up taking more time than he wanted on the next play though, and his heave to the end zone fell to the turf with the clock at zero, and the Badgers escape with the upset. Jonathan Taylor was good again, rushing 35 times for 233 yards and a touchdown, while Garrett Groshek did a great job complementing him with 141 total scrimmage yards on 11 touches with a long receiving touchdown. Coan did well, completing 21 of 32 passes for 227 yards, a touchdown, and a pick, and the defense made some key plays, including two interceptions by Eric Burrell. Trevor Lawrence threw three total picks on the day, marring an otherwise pretty good performace of 351 yards and a touchdown on 19 of 28 throws. Etienne ran 18 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns, adding four catches for 77 yards. Galloway finished with three grabs for 121 yards for the Tigers.

3pm Game

@ (4) Georgia 37, (5) Oklahoma 12

The Bulldogs justified my seeding choice with a pretty convincing second round victory, but it was pretty close early on. After trading a few three and outs, Jake Fromm finally got going through the air, setting up a 26 yard Rodrigo Blankenship field goal to open the scoring. Georgia couldn't get out of its own way on the ensuing drive, committing a couple penalties and giving up a fourth and two conversion, before finally buckling down and holding the Sooners to a 32 yard Gabe Brkic field goal. The Bulldog offense went right back to work, with the running lanes opening up this time before Fromm hit George Pickens for a six yard touchdown and a 10-3 lead. Georgia couldn't build on it though, and Oklahoma finally broke through late in the half with Jalen Hurts getting a couple long pass plays before hitting Trey Sermon from 14 yards out to tie the game with 2:55 to go in the half. Unfortunately for Oklahoma, D'Andre Swift broke free on the next play from scrimmage for a 73 yard touchdown run and a 17-10 Bulldog lead going into the break. Oklahoma seemed poised to bounce back in the second half though, as a holding on the second half kickoff forced the Bulldogs to start from their own four, and Swift got dropped in the endzone for an Oklahoma safety. The Sooners opted to punt on fourth and one from the Georgia 41, and the Bulldogs made them pay by going 70 yards in 13 plays, including a defensive pass interference penalty, to set up a 33 yard Blankenship field goal and take six minutes off the clock. Though still a one possession game, all momentum was lost, the Sooners went three and out again, and the Bulldogs took advantage of a short field, with Fromm hitting Demetris Robertson for 31 yards on a swing route, and Swift punched it in from two yards out the next play to make it 27-12. Fromm would take one in himself from two yards out just two minutes into the fourth quarter, and that pretty much sealed the deal. A Hurts interception all but ended the comeback hopes as the Bulldogs advance to the semis. Swift was the star for Georgia, rushing for 170 yards and two scores on 19 carries, Fromm hit on 15 of his 28 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown, though he took four sacks, and Channing Tindall had the late interception that all but sealed the game for Georgia. That was really the only mistake of the game for Jalen Hurts, who otherwise completed 14 of 21 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown to go with that pick and added 24 rushes for 48 yards.

6pm Game

@ (1) Ohio State 47, (9) Michigan 10

Michigan got another crack at the Buckeyes, but it went about the same as their regular season meeting in Ann Arbor just a few weeks prior. Ohio State was in control early, getting a good kick return to start the game to set up a 39 yard Blake Haubeil field goal to open the scoring three minutes in, then the Buckeyes blocked a Michigan punt to set up another kick. Michigan got on the board late in the frame when Hassan Haskins rumbled for 52 yards to set up a 41 yard Quinn Nordin field goal. But that was probably their high water mark, as Ohio State convered a third and 12 from deep in its own territory late in the frame, and cashed in early in the second when Master Teague III ran one in from 22 yards out. Michigan couldn't move the ball, but got a couple sacks of Justin Fields on Ohio State's possession sandwiched by a pair of punts, but the Buckeyes got back on the board late in the half with Fields finding Binjemin Victor on a screen for 42 yards to set up a ten yard strike to Austin Mack for a 20-3 lead, and a quick three and out allowed the Buckeyes to get one more field goal right before the intermission for a 20 point edge. The game was pretty much sealed early in the third quarter when Shea Patterson was picked off by Justin Hilliard, and after an OSU punt, Zach Charbonnet lost a fumble in Michigan territory, and J.K. Dobbins cashed in on the next play with a 26 yard touchdown run. Patterson would hit Donovan Peoples-Jones for a 33 yard score late in the third after another OSU field goal, but at that point it was too little too late, and Teague would add a pair of garbage time touchdowns to pad the final score and send the Buckeyes to the semis. Teague scored three times on the ground, picking up 83 yards on 18 carries in the process, Dobbins ran for 158 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, and Fields put up 289 yards and a touchdown on 15 of 21 passing, and Chase Young had one sack to complement the Hilliard interception. Patterson was awful for the Wolverines, completing just 12 of 34 passes for 126 yards, a touchdown, and the aforementioned pick. Hassan Haskins led Michigan in rushing with 78 yards on nine carries, though 52 yards came on one, while Charbonnet was held to 43 yards on 14 carries with that lost fumble.

9pm Game

@ (2) LSU 34, (7) Auburn 24

LSU wins the second round rematch of SEC powers, though it was a pretty good game. The hosts scored a field goal on their first drive, then marched for a touchdown on their second after forcing an Auburn punt for an early 10-0 lead. LSU was poised to tack on early in the second quarter, but missed a 47 yard field goal, and after a 49 yard pass from Bo Nix to Seth Williams, Auburn got on the board with a field goal. They tied it on their next drive, going 85 yards in 10 plays, capping it with five yard JaTarvious Whitlow plunge. But the hosts responded quickly, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire scampering for 32 yards to help set up a 30 yard touchdown on a Chris Curry draw. LSU added a field goal right before halftime to make it 20-10, but that lead was short lived in the second half, as the visitors forced a pair of three and outs and turned them into field goals to make it 20-16. Fortunately for LSU, after the second, Joe Burrow was able to scamper for 36 yards to get into the red zone, and two plays later he found Justin Jefferson for a 16 yard touchdown to extend the lead. Auburn did make it interesting, with Marlon Davidson recording a big sack on a third and long to get the ball back, then Auburn marched 83 yards in nine plays, capped by a one yard Whitlow punch-in, and Nix hit Eli Stove for the two point conversion to make it a 27-24 contest. But Auburn's defense couldn't come up with a big stop, as LSU converted a trio of third-and-longs, and Burrow hit Stephen Sullivan from a yard out with three and a half minutes to go to seal the deal and send LSU to the semis. Burrow was great, throwing for 278 yards and three touchdowns on 19 of 25 passing, including five for 108 and a score to Jefferson, while Edwards-Helaire picked up 88 yards on 19 carries for the hosts. Marlon Davidson led Auburn's attempt to slow LSU down with two sacks, while Bo Nix finished with 253 yards on 17 of 30 passing, D.J. Williams ran for 89 yards on 11 carries, and Whitlow ran 17 times for 72 yards and two scores.

Semifinals

4pm Game

(4) Georgia 33, @ (1) Ohio State 12

Georgia makes its second straight Death to the BCS title game with a dominant win on the road. The game started as a battle for field position eventually won by the Buckeyes, who started their second drive from midfield, and cashed in with a 33 yard Blake Haubeil field goal. But Georgia's offense finally got going on the ensuing drive, with Jake Fromm finding Demetris Robertson for a 48 yard pickup to set up a one yard scoring plunge from D'Andre Swift. The Buckeye defense seemed to settle after that, giving up 15 yards on a personal foul penalty on a later drive before shutting down a Georgia fourth and one to take over on downs. Unfortunately, Ohio State's offense couldn't capitalize, and Georgia made them pay when Swift broke free for a 56 yard touchdown run on the ensuing drive to make it 14-3. Ohio State would cut it back to a one possession game with just over a minute to go on a Haubeil field goal, but a 44 yard pass from Fromm to Lawrence Cager got the Bulldogs into scoring range, and Rodrigo Blankenship got those points back right before the half. Things went from bad to worse early in the second half when Justin Fields found J.K. Dobbins on a pass, but Dobbins fumbled and the Bulldogs recovered; six plays later Blankenship hit another field goal to make it 20-6 Georgia. Ohio State got those points back later in the quarter, but the dagger seemingly came on the ensuing drive, when Swift broke free again for a 57 yard touchdown and a 27-9 lead. Ohio State would not threaten again, save for a field goal early in the fourth quarter. Swift was magnificent again, picking up 188 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries, Fromm did enough in completing 16 of 29 passes for 227 yards, and Quay Walker recorded a pair of sacks for Georgia. Fields was not good in the loss, completing just nine of 21 passes for 136 yards and an interception. Dobbins ran for 93 yards and added a couple catches for 24 more yards, but had a costly fumble, while Blake Haubeil hit four of his five field goals.

7pm Game

@ (2) LSU 20, (6) Wisconsin 13

A bummer for the Big Ten, but Wisconsin definitely held its own in this one. LSU seemed in control early despite missing a 47 yard field goal on its opening drive; Wisconsin couldn't take advantage, and after a 37 yard draw by Chris Curry got them out of the shadow of their own end zone, and a few plays later Joe Burrow hit Curry for a nine yard touchdown to open the scoring. The Badgers finally got going on a long driving bridging the first and second quarters, using an encroachment penalty on third and four from the LSU eight to get a first and goal, but then Jack Coan was picked by Derek Stingley, Jr to end the threat. Wisconsin would get a 42 yard field goal on their next drive, only for that to be matched from 43 by Cade York for LSU on the ensuing drive with just over a minute to go. But that was too much time for Wisconsin, as Coan led a long drive and despite still having 15 seconds left, Paul Chryst opted to take the field goal instead of going for a touchdown, leaving LSU with just a 10-6 halftime lead. The third quarter was a parade of punts and fighting for field position, which LSU won by getting a sustained drive late in the third down to the goal line, but a third down stuff on the final play of the quarter forced the Tigers to settle for a field goal to open the fourth. After this Wisconsin finally got their offense into high gear as Garrett Groshek broke free for a 45 yard touchdown run that tied the game. The Badgers seemed poised to take the lead late after forcing an LSU punt and starting a drive at midfield, but Groshek fumbled on the first play and LSU recovered. Even then, Cade York missed a 52 yard field goal with 1:28 to play, giving the Badgers another shot. But they only got back to midfield, punting away and pinning the Tigers back to their nine with 49 seconds left. But Burrow went to work, completing a couple intermediate passes to get out from behind their own 20, then found an open Thaddeus Moss, who outran the Wisconsin defense for a 65 yard touchdown with just 15 seconds remaining. Wisconsin would get one last look from their own 33 with six seconds to go, and Coan was able to find Quintez Cephus downfield, but he was knocked out of bounds after only picking up 50, and LSU won a thriller to advance to the title game. Burrow lit it up again, throwing for 383 yards and two touchdowns on 19 of 27 passing, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was held to 74 yards rushing on 18 carries, though he added three grabs for 50 yards, Justin Jefferson hauled in six catches for 109 yards, and Moss's only catch was that game-winning 65 yarder. The Badgers made Burrow work for it though, sacking him six times, including a pair by Chris Orr, while Coan put up 246 yards on 16 of 27 passing with an interception. Jonathan Taylor managed 98 yards on 26 carries plus three catches for 36 yards, and Cephus, after that last 50 yard catch that fell 17 yards short, finished with 112 receiving yards on five grabs.

Championship

(2) LSU 52, (4) Georgia 28

I don't think the final score represents that fact that well into the fourth quarter, the title game in Pasadena was a good one. In fact, it was Georgia who drew first blood in this one, with a couple good D'Andre Swift runs setting up a 38 yard touchdown strike from Jake Fromm to John FitzPatrick just over four minutes into the game. The Bulldogs tried to tack on on their next drive, but Rodrigo Blankenship missed a 45 yard field goal, and the Tigers pounced, with Joe Burrow hitting Ja'Marr Chase for 38 yards before finding Justin Jefferson from 19 yards out to tie the game. In the second quarter, Derek Stingley, Jr. picked off his second pass in as many weeks in Georgia territory, and seven plays later, including an encroachment penalty that gave the Tigers a free first down, Burrow hit Chase for a six yard go-ahead touchdown. Georgia was able to get retribution though, converting a third and 16 with a 50 yard Fromm to Demetris Robertson connection en route to a game-tying five yard plunge by Kenny McIntosh. LSU looked poised to answer right back, getting into Bulldog territory, but Chris Curry lost a fumble, and the Bulldogs were able to turn it into a 42 yard Blankenship field goal. The end of the first half saw some chaos, as Stingley picked off Fromm again, but LSU had to punt and had it blocked, giving Georgia a couple plays from the 35, but a Swift run for a loss out of bounds preceded a Hail Mary that was broken up, somehow keeping it a 17-14 Georgia lead going into the break. LSU got off to a good start in the second half, marching 58 yards in eight plays to set up a Cade York 32 yard field goal that tied the game. The Tigers then got a third down sack of Fromm to force a three and out, and seven plays later Burrow hit Terrace Marshall, Jr. for a 27 yard touchdown that gave LSU the lead once again. Georgia managed to convert three third downs on the ensuing drive, but not the fourth, and they had to settle for three to make it 24-20 late in the third. LSU wasted no time, as Clyde Edwards-Helaire broke free for a 37 yard touchdown to make it a two possession game just 40 seconds into the fourth. Fromm and the Bulldogs would not go quietly though, as he hit George Pickens for a couple big gains before finding Lawrence Cager for a nine yard score, then hit Jaylen Johnson for a two point conversion to make it 31-28 LSU with 12 minutes to go. But Burrow was on fire and wasn't going to let up; despite taking a first down sack, he found Marshall for 30 yards, then found Jaray Jenkins for 29 to convert a third and six, setting up a 21 yard touchdown to Jefferson to push the lead back to double digits. Another sack of Fromm forced the Bulldogs to punt away with about seven minutes to go, and then Edwards-Helaire brought in the dagger, as a 56 yard draw set up a four yard touchdown run on another draw, making it a three possession game. He would add one more for the road to get to the final margin, and LSU adds a Death to the BCS title to its College Football Playoff title on that same night. Edwards-Helaire shined in this one, rushing for 164 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries, Joe Burrow did a ton of damage, completing 26 of 30 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns, Justin Jefferson hauled in seven catches for 99 yards and two scores, and Ja'Marr Chase chipped in six for 93 with one touchdown. Neil Farrell, Jr. helped lead the defense with three sacks, and Derek Stingley, Jr. picked off two passes for the Tigers. Despite those mistakes, Fromm played all right, completing 22 of 40 passes for 302 yards and two scores to counter those two picks, Azeez Ojulari sacked Burrow three times, and Swift was held to 87 yards rushing on 18 carries for the Bulldogs.

You can view a full history of the Death to the BCS Playoffs here. Congratulations to the LSU Tigers, the 2019 Death to the BCS Champions!