In which BracketCat simulates second-round bowl results for the 16-team playoff bracket for 2019.
In hindsight, 2019 may well have been the modern Southeastern Conference’s nadir.
Yes, I know Alabama won the next national championship and Georgia the two following before finally yielding to the Big Ten, but other than them, there isn’t much to speak of.
LSU was the last SEC program other than those two to hoist the trophy — or even seriously threaten for it — and 2019 feels like a century ago, under entirely different roster rules.
In this simulation, that peak of SEC power culminated in five of their teams reaching the playoff (six, if you count Oklahoma) and four of those have advanced to an all-SEC pair of quarterfinals, guaranteeing the conference an entrant to the national championship game.
On the other side of the bracket, we also get a Big Ten rematch and a pair of non-P2 bluebloods (well, at least Oregon was at the time), meaning that despite a trio of upsets (which is a first for an opening round in these simulations), it’s only “power” teams left now.
Scroll on to see which college football “big boys” will advance to the Final Four of 2019-20…
(One note on bowl selection: Seeds have priority order for the bowl closest to their home campus, so LSU gets Sugar, then Ohio State the Cotton, then Clemson Orange, and so on.)
Today’s Games
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 2020 Allstate Sugar Bowl:
No. 1 LSU (14-0) vs. No. 9 Florida (11-2)
A little anticlimactic, as LSU already beat Florida 42-28 in its home state earlier this season, and indeed this was the result all of you correctly predicted.
No. 1 seed LSU Tigers (14-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #1): SEC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #9 Florida, #12 Auburn, @ #13 Alabama, vs. #5 Georgia, #17 Memphis
Losses: none
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (3rd season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Joe Burrow
Running Backs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Chris Curry
Wide Receivers: Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase
Tight End: Thaddeus Moss
No. 9 seed Florida Gators (11-2; AP/BCS #6; Coaches #7): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @Kentucky (8-5), Tennessee (8-5), #12 Auburn, @ #8 Wisconsin
Losses: @ #1 LSU, vs. #5 Georgia
Head Coach: Dan Mullen (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Feleipe Franks
Running Backs: Lamical Perine and Dameon Pierce
Wide Receivers: Trevon Grimes and Van Jefferson
Tight End: Kyle Pitts
Final Score: LSU 41, Florida 28
(True Result: Georgia 26, Baylor 14)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 – 7:45 PM CST / 8:45 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 74
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: LSU QB Joe Burrow
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In a quarterfinal game worthy of its Sugar Bowl stage, Joe Burrow once again showed why he is the nation’s most unstoppable quarterback, throwing for 391 yards and three touchdowns Wednesday night to lead No. 1 LSU past a feisty No. 6 Florida team, 41-28, and into the semifinals of the 2019 College Football Playoff.
Burrow was nearly flawless, completing 29 of 32 passes while also running for a short score.
The Gators (11-3), led by Feleipe Franks’ 380 passing yards and three touchdowns, matched LSU for much of the night through the air, but couldn’t overcome a swarming Tigers pass rush and an anemic run game that averaged just 0.8 yard per carry.
The Tigers (15-0) took control in the second quarter with 21 unanswered points, including Burrow’s 59-yard strike to Stephen Sullivan and a 3-yard rushing touchdown from the Heisman winner himself. LSU led 31-14 at halftime and never let Florida back within one score the rest of the way.
Florida made a late push with touchdowns in the third and early fourth quarters, including a 13-yard grab by Jacob Copeland, but LSU’s 36-yard Cade York field goal with just over four minutes remaining put the game out of reach.
Thaddeus Moss hauled in two early touchdowns, while LSU’s balanced receiving corps featured eight different players catching passes.
Justin Jefferson led with 115 yards on eight catches. Running back Chris Curry added a 25-yard touchdown run, part of a 145-yard team rushing effort.
LSU advances to face the winner of the Alabama-Georgia Rose Bowl quarterfinal in what promises to be a national championship-caliber Peach Bowl semifinal.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 2020 Rose Bowl presented by Northwestern Mutual: No. 5 Georgia (12-2) vs. No. 13 Alabama (11-2)
See, this is why you don’t give Alabama a double-digit seed — it’s just asking for trouble. Just ask this Georgia team that was lucky enough to miss the Crimson Tide during the regular season. None of you apparently asked the Bulldogs their thoughts before picking them.
No. 5 seed Georgia Bulldogs (12-2; AP/BCS/Coaches #5): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #15 Notre Dame, vs. #9 Florida, @ #12 Auburn, #12 Auburn
Loss: South Carolina, vs. #1 LSU
Head Coach: Kirby Smart (4th season)
Offensive Style: Pro-style
Quarterback: Jake Fromm
Running Backs: D’Andre Swift and Kenny McIntosh
Wide Receivers: Lawrence Cager and Demetris Robertson
Tight End: John FitzPatrick
No. 13 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (11-2; AP/Coaches #9; BCS #11): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @Texas A&M (8-5), Tennessee (8-5), @ #4 Oklahoma
Losses: #1 LSU, @ #12 Auburn
Head Coach: Nick Saban (13th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa
Running Backs: Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr.
Wide Receivers: Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith
Tight End: Miller Forristall
Final Score: Alabama 37, Georgia 24
(True Result: Oregon 28, Wisconsin 27)
Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 – 2 PM PST / 5 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 66
Wind: SW 5 MPH
Player of the Game: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A focused performance from Tua Tagovailoa and the Alabama offense sent the No. 9 Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff semifinals, outpacing No. 5 Georgia 37-24 in a star-studded Rose Bowl matchup that delivered on expectations.
Tagovailoa was sharp and efficient Wednesday, going 20 for 30 for 310 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Jaylen Waddle, who continued his postseason breakout with 81 yards on four grabs in an all-SEC matchup of two teams who did not play this season.
The Tide (12-2) built a 27-14 halftime lead thanks to a pair of second-quarter scoring drives that showcased the full arsenal of Alabama’s weapons.
Georgia (12-3) kept it close early, answering Alabama’s first score with a Kenny McIntosh 1-yard TD and later tying the game at 14 with a Jake Fromm 10-yard rushing touchdown.
But Alabama responded with 13 straight points before the break and never trailed again.
Najee Harris powered the run game, finishing with 131 yards and a 13-yard score on 21 carries, helping the Tide to stay ahead despite being held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, Alabama limited Georgia’s ground game to just 2.5 yards per carry and picked off Fromm twice, one each by Jared Mayden and Patrick Surtain II.
Fromm finished with 286 passing yards and a touchdown to tight end John FitzPatrick, but the Bulldogs couldn’t convert key fourth downs or contain Alabama’s explosive passing game. Despite drawing even in first downs and time of possession, Georgia also couldn’t generate enough momentum to erase the second-half deficit.
With the win, Alabama advances to the CFP Peach Bowl semifinal, where the Tide will meet top-seeded LSU in an all-SEC showdown and rematch featuring two Heisman-winning quarterbacks and the nation’s most dynamic offenses.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 2019 Capital One Orange Bowl:
No. 3 Clemson (14-0) vs. No. 6 Oregon (12-2)
The only quarterfinal that played to seed, this battle of Dabo and the Ducks. All of those voting correctly predicted it would continue to play to seed into the semifinals, too.
No. 3 seed Clemson Tigers (14-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #3): ACC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Win (CFP Rankings): @Louisville (8-5), Wake Forest (8-5), vs. #24 Virginia, #14 Michigan
Losses: none
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (11th full, 12th overall season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence
Running Backs: Travis Etienne and Lyn-J Dixon
Wide Receivers: Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross
Tight End: Braden Galloway
No. 6 seed Oregon Ducks (12-2; AP/BCS #7; Coaches #6): Pac-12 Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): California (8-5), @Washington (8-5), @USC (8-5), #11 Utah x2
Losses: vs. #12 Auburn, @Arizona State
Head Coach: Mario Cristobal (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Pistol
Quarterback: Justin Herbert
Running Backs: CJ Verdell and Travis Dye
Wide Receivers: Mycah Pittman and Johnny Johnson III
Tight End: Jacob Breeland
Final Score: Clemson 48, Oregon 21
(True Result: Florida 36, Virginia 28)
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida
Monday, Dec. 30, 2019 – 8 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 75
Wind: SE 1 MPH
Player of the Game: Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence
MIAMI (AP) — Trevor Lawrence threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns as No. 3 Clemson overwhelmed No. 7 Oregon 48-21 in the Orange Bowl quarterfinal Monday to punch its ticket back to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Lawrence, who was named Player of the Game for his efforts, completed 24 of 37 passes and found three different receivers for touchdowns, while Travis Etienne added two scores on the ground and another through the air. Clemson broke a 14-14 tie late in the second quarter and outscored the Ducks 34-7 the rest of the way.
Oregon started strong, taking early leads of 7-0 and 14-7 behind touchdowns from running backs Travis Dye and CJ Verdell.
But Clemson’s offense responded with precision and balance, going on a 28-0 run spanning the second and third quarters that included touchdown receptions by Justyn Ross, J.L. Banks, and Etienne, as well as a short touchdown run from the junior tailback.
Verdell briefly kept Oregon’s hopes alive with a 48-yard touchdown scamper to close the third quarter, but Clemson controlled the fourth with a 32-yard touchdown run from Etienne and two long field goals from B.T. Potter to seal the win.
Clemson outgained Oregon 469-356 and held the Ducks to 96 yards on the ground while forcing two turnovers and four sacks. Tanner Muse led the defense with a sack and an interception.
The Tigers move on to face the winner of Ohio State-Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal, setting up a familiar and fierce rivalry in the next round of the expanded playoff.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 2019 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 10 Penn State (11-2) vs. No. 2 Ohio State (14-0)
Oh joy, yet another P2 rematch. Penn State kept it closer the first time, falling 28-17 in Columbus. It appears the Buckeyes were a bit more to bite off in this Cotton Bowl than Memphis would have been. All of you voting correctly predicted this.
No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (14-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #2): Big Ten Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #21 Cincinnati, #8 Wisconsin, #10 Penn State, @ #14 Michigan, vs. #8 Wisconsin, #15 Notre Dame
Losses: none
Head Coach: Ryan Day (1st season)
Offensive Style: West Coast spread
Quarterback: Justin Fields
Running Backs: J.K. Dobbins and Master Teague III
Wide Receivers: Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack
Tight End: Jeremy Ruckert
No. 10 seed Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2; AP #13; BCS #8; Coaches #12): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #16 Iowa, #14 Michigan, Indiana (8-5), @ #7 Baylor
Losses: @ #18 Minnesota, @ #2 Ohio State
Head Coach: James Franklin (6th season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Sean Clifford
Running Backs: Journey Brown and Noah Cain
Wide Receivers: KJ Hamler and Jahan Dotson
Tight End: Pat Freiermuth
Final Score: Ohio State 43, Penn State 24
(True Result: Penn State 53, Memphis 39)
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 – 11 AM CST / 12 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 72
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: Penn State RB Journey Brown
DALLAS (AP) — Justin Fields threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns, Blake Haubeil drilled five field goals, and No. 2 Ohio State wore down No. 13 Penn State 43-24 on Saturday in the Cotton Bowl to complete the 2019 College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Despite a heroic effort from Penn State running back Journey Brown, who ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns, the Buckeyes (15-0) capitalized on turnovers and dominated the second half. The game was tied at 17 midway through the third quarter before a pick-six turned the tide permanently in Ohio State’s favor.
Fields connected with J.K. Dobbins on a 36-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and found Jeremy Ruckert for a 1-yard score in the second to build a 14-3 lead.
Brown’s first touchdown helped Penn State (11-3) to cut the deficit before halftime, and his second tied the game at 17 early in the third quarter.
But a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 21-yard Dobbins rushing score sparked a 26-7 run to close the game.
Haubeil’s field goals of 31, 39, 46, 40 and 36 yards provided the finishing touches.
Though Penn State outgained the Buckeyes on the ground with 244 rushing yards to 135, the Nittany Lions converted just 3 of 17 third downs and were picked off twice. KJ Hamler led all Penn State receivers with 98 yards.
Ohio State now advances to a CFP Fiesta Bowl semifinal showdown with No. 3 Clemson, while Penn State exits after an impressive run highlighted by Brown’s standout postseason.
Tomorrow’s Games
To make these posts more fun and interactive, please vote for who you think would win each matchup! I can’t promise to take the votes into account because of the simulation process I use, but it will be interesting to see and discuss the results, plus they may serve as a sort of a tiebreaker if I end up needing one. (And yes, I know we already know one of these outcomes from the actual playoff. It will be interesting to see if the simulator agrees.)
BracketCat’s Protest Playoff Archives
2024: Kickoff | Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2023: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2022: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2021: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2020: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2019: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2)
2008: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange
2007: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data
2006: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data
2005: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Rose | Data
2004: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data
2003: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data
2002: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data
2001: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Rose | Data
2000: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data | Encore
1999: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data | Encore
1998: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data | Encore