Matt Harrelson
ALL SEC ALL THE TIME
Well, here we are.
After a very interesting and up-and-down college football season, we're left with two SEC teams battling it out to see who will win the conference. Wait, we already did that. Sorry, battling it out to see who will win the National Championship.
For starters, if you would have told me that Georgia would put up 54 points in ANY game, I would have laughed at you. But yet, the Bulldogs were able to literally run it down the throats of an Oklahoma defense that couldn't have stopped a local Pee Wee team.
But then again, Georgia's vaunted top-three D didn't do much stopping of their own.
A couple of weeks ago, I said Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield had never seen a defense like the Georgia, but at the same time, Mayfield had never gone up against a D like this. Because of that, I figured Mayfield would come out on top.
Even once the game went into overtime, I still figured the Heisman winner would still figure out a way to manufacture a touchdown.
What I didn't expect, even though they had done it twice already this season, was for the Bulldogs to block the kick and move on to the CFP National Championship.
Fine, one SEC team in, but surely Clemson and its awesome defense would find a way to stop Alabama's run game and make Jalen Hurts do all the grunt work.
The problem is not that the Tigers' defense wouldn't show up but rather the offense. Quarterback Kelly Bryant and all the young, versatile weapons he had surrounding him pretty much laid an egg. It's as simple as that.
Clemson, as well coached as they are, just wasn’t prepared for a Tide defense that was finally well-rested and ready to bring the noise.
Roll Tide, roll.
So once again, here we are with a game that, let's be honest, not many people in the country want to see. Well, outside of SEC country.
For those of you, as myself, that are sick of Alabama always being there... tough. Even though the game will be right back in Georgia country in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, I can't see any other outcome other than the Crimson Tide doing what they do best - roll.
TRIVIA TIME: In what year were the Alabama Crimson Tide first crowned national champions in college football? Answer below.
WILL THE REAL BIG 12 QB PLEASE STAND UP
With the Kansas City Chiefs starting rookie quarterback and former Texas Tech player Patrick Mahomes on Sunday, it made me wonder, what other quarterbacks from the Big 12 are starters in the NFL?
So I took a quick survey around the league and realized that the answer is none.
And before you try to tell me that Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback Andy Dalton should count, sorry but he doesn't. He was drafted in 2011 and TCU didn't join until 2012.
Which begs the question of why?
It's actually simple in my opinion, and it's the same reason why Mayfield probably won't do well, or Mahomes either for that matter, once the league figures him out.
Quarterbacks from a league like the Big 12 never have to worry about stout defenses. Most of the passers that come out of that league usually throw for massive amounts of yards and touchdowns because the league just doesn't play much D.
Obviously that's a big eye opener once you get to the big time.
With that being said, have fun next year Mahomes when you're tasked with taking a playoff team like Kansas City, and you too Baker once you're drafted to the Chargers or Redskins, or whoever you end up with.
NFL defenses already have their eyes set on you guys no matter how big the BIG 12 is.
TRIVIA ANSWER: In 1945, the 10-0 Tide were recognized as champions with Army by the National Championship Foundation.
