2021 Death to the BCS Playoffs: Quarterfinals

Eight games are down, seven to go as we advance to the second round of the Death to the BCS Playoffs!

The first round was largely chalk-based as we only had one road team advance from the first batch of games. But the matchups get tougher the further along we get, especially on one side of the bracket as we have a pair of regular season rematches forthcoming in this round. The other side of the bracket seems to be setting a collision course for what would be a rematch as well as a pseudo-preview of the upcoming College Football Playoff title game.

Like with the first round, I'm trying to update depth charts to make sure no one who's hurt gets in (though one guy with a torn ACL somehow recorded one catch last week; I did all I could). Weather conditions from the host sites are taken into account.

All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's play some football!

Quarterfinals

5pm Games

@ (3) Georgia 39, (11) Pittsburgh 33

The Cinderella story ends, but the Panthers did acquit themselves well in this one. They took an early 6-0 lead thanks to a six minute opening drive that found the end zone, but the Bulldogs responded with 14 unanswered in the quarter to take control. Pitt got back within one just over a minute into the second, survived a missed field goal, but did allow a late touchdown to push the lead back to eight. A late pick by Kenny Pickett nearly spelled doom, but Phil Campbell recorded a huge sack on the final play of the first half to keep the score at 21-13. This is where the Panthers made their move. After forcing a quick three and out, the Panthers needed less than three minutes to pull back within one, then M.J. Devonshire picked off Stetson Bennett, and on the very next play Isreal Abanikanda broke free for a 43 yard touchdown run and a six point lead. Georgia responded immediately and retook a one point lead, but early in the fourth the Panthers were able to march downfield and once again jump in front, though a missed two point conversion kept the lead at five. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they once again couldn't stop the Bulldog attack, and Bennett found Kenny McIntosh for both a touchdown and a two point conversion to give Georgia a 36-33 lead with seven minutes to go. The Panthers were able to drive, but Pickett fumbled at the Georgia 31, the Bulldogs recovered, and were able to run out the clock while adding a meaningless field goal as time expired. Bennett finished 18 of 30 for 284 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick, JT Daniels played one drive, going a perfect 5-5 for 69 yards and a touchdown, and James Cook totaled 130 yards from scrimmage with a score on the ground. Kenny Pickett was really good in defeat, putting up 264 yards and four touchdowns on 21 of 29 passing, but did throw a pick and lost that key fumble late, while Israel Abanikanda ran for 100 yards and a touchdown.

(5) Notre Dame 35, @ (4) Cincinnati 24

On a blustery day in Cincinnati, the Irish avenge one of their regular season losses and make a trip back to the semis for the first time since 2018. Each team scored a touchdown on its opening possession before the defenses tightened up a bit, with the Bearcats grabbing their first lead to open the second quarter with a chip shot field goal. The teams traded touchdowns again, with the Irish recording a pick, though they were unable to take advantage, and Cincy took a 17-14 lead into the locker room. Early in the second half, Notre Dame forced a quick three and out and got a huge punt return to set up a quick go-ahead touchdown, though the Bearcats would answer with a five and a half minute touchdown drive of their own. The Irish retook the lead on the opening play of the fourth quarter when Logan Diggs broke free for a 25 yard touchdown. The Bearcats had a great chance after getting a short field, but Christian Lowery missed a 34 yard field goal, and Notre Dame made them pay with a five minute touchdown drive to go up 11 with about five and a half to go. The Bearcats had one more chance to cut into it, but Lowery missed from 49, and their last gasp died in the red zone, allowing Jack Coan to kneel out the upset. Coan completed 18 of 29 passes for 256 yards and three scores, Kyren Williams led the rushing attack with 87 yards, but it was Logan Diggs who got the glory with a pair of rushing scores. Justin Ademilola sacked Desmond Ridder twice. Ridder, for his part, was held to 264 yards on 19 of 31 passing, with no touchdowns and one interception. Jerome Ford ran for 81 yards and two scores, while Charles McClelland had the other touchdown for the Bearcats.

8pm Games

(8) Michigan State 38, @ (1) Michigan 23

Not even a shift to the Big House was enough to get their revenge as the top seed bows out in the second round for just the second time in playoff history. The offenses struggled early until Michigan pounced on a Tre Moseley fumble and turned it into a 28 yard Jake Moody field goal. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Blake Corum lost a fumble early in the second quarter, and that was enough to get Sparty going as Payton Thorne capped a nine play drive by finding Kenneth Walker for an eight yard touchdown and the lead. Michigan responded with a quick touchdown, but their lead was again short lived as the Spartans quickly answered with another score of their own, and Moody had a short field goal blocked to keep the Spartans up by four going into the break. Then disaster struck for the hosts, as Thorne led a quick touchdown drive to open the second half, and on Michigan's first play from scrimmage, Jacub Panasiuk strip sacked Cade McNamara, State recovered, and two plays later Thorne hit Jalen Nailor for an eight yard touchdown and a 28-10 lead. Michigan fought back, getting a touchdown run from Hassan Haskins on the ensuing drive before the teams traded field goals, with the Spartans taking a 31-20 lead into the final quarter. Michigan survived getting a punt blocked early in the fourth, though had to settle for a 20 yard field goal to cut it to a one score game with about nine minutes to play. The Wolverines took over with a chance to tie a few minutes later, but stalled out inside the Spartan 40, with a sack forcing a turnover on downs, and after Thorne got his team to goal to go, Walker finished things off with a one yard dagger with about a minute and a half to play. Thorne was excellent again, throwing for 306 yards and three touchdowns on 21 of 36 passing, Walker finished with 115 all purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns, and the Spartans recorded four sacks, including that strip sack by Panasiuk. McNamara, for his part, went 24 of 40 for 315 yards and one of Michigan's two lost fumbles on the evening, Hassan Haskins ran for 99 yards and two scores, and Blake Corum ran for 75 yards, but had the other lost fumble.

@ (2) Alabama 41, (7) Oklahoma State 7

Another round, another easy win for the Tide. The Cowboys, for their part, were able to move the ball on their first two drives, but saw them end with an interception and a missed field goal, at which point the Alabama offense woke up thanks in part to a facemask penalty, and Bryce Young capped the drive with a 16 yard strike to Jameson Williams to open the floodgates. OSU seemed like they could respond, but missed another field goal, and eight plays later Young hit Traeshon Holden for a 32 yard touchdown that doubled the lead. Brian Robinson got in on the fun with a 13 yard touchdown run following another interception. The Cowboys seemed like they'd get momentum going into the second half with a late touchdown, but great clock management got them at least a field goal to take a 24-7 lead into the break. Bama all but put the game away with another Young to Williams connection a few minutes into the third quarter, and it was pretty much over. The Cowboys missed another field goal and threw another pick before all was said and done. Bryce Young was efficeint, notching 300 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Jameson Williams, while Brian Robinson ran for 181 yards and two scores for the Tide. Meanwhile, it was a rough outing for Spencer Sanders, who was held to 162 yards on 11 of 27 passing, while throwing three picks and getting sacked twice. Jaylen Warren ran for 81 yards, and Tanner Brown missed all three field goals he attempted for the Cowboys.

To see the updated bracket, click here.