In which BracketCat simulates second-round bowl results for the 16-team playoff bracket for 2021.
This one was worth the extra wait!
The second round features a nice matchup of former Big East rivals (in Arizona!), a showdown of two bluebloods, and two chances for the Big 12 to make a STATEMENT.
So scroll on to see who could have advanced to the Final Four of 2021-22…
(One note on bowl selection: Seeds have priority order for the bowl closest to their home campus, so Alabama gets Orange, then Michigan Sugar — although the Wolverines elected to go further for a semi-traditional Rose Bowl instead — so Georgia took Sugar, and so on.)
Today’s Games
2021 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl:
No. 1 Alabama (13-1) vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State (12-2)
The Big 12 runner-up squares up against the SEC champion. Like Arizona State in 2024, the Cowboys came up just a little bit short. All those who voted correctly predicted this thriller!
No. 1 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1; AP/Coaches #1): SEC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #8 Ole Miss, #21 Arkansas, vs. #3 Georgia, #16 Oklahoma
Loss: @ #25 Texas A&M
Head Coach: Nick Saban (15th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Bryce Young
Running Backs: Brian Robinson Jr. and Jase McClellan
Wide Receivers: John Metchie III and Jameson Williams
Tight End: Cameron Latu
No. 9 seed Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-2; AP/Coaches #9): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Kansas State (8-5), #7 Baylor, #16 Oklahoma, @ #8 Ole Miss
Losses: @Iowa State, vs. #7 Baylor
Head Coach: Mike Gundy (17th season)
Offensive Style: Spread option
Quarterback: Spencer Sanders
Running Backs: Jaylen Warren and Jaden Nixon
Wide Receivers: Tay Martin and Blaine Green
Tight End: Austin Jarrard
Final Score: Alabama 35, Oklahoma State 28 (OT)
(True Result: Michigan State 31, Pittsburgh 21)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021 – 7 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 72
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: Alabama QB Bryce Young
ATLANTA (AP) — Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young delivered when it mattered most, tossing three touchdown passes — including the game-winner in overtime — as No. 1 Alabama escaped a determined Oklahoma State squad, 35-28, in a Peach Bowl classic.
Young, who finished with 419 passing yards on 31 of 47 attempts and was named Player of the Game, overcame two interceptions to orchestrate a dramatic comeback on Thursday.
Down 28-20 with less than a minute left, Alabama (14-1) capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jase McClellan as time expired in regulation. A successful two-point conversion to Cameron Latu tied the game at 28 and forced overtime.
In the extra period, Young found Jameson Williams in the corner of the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown. Alabama’s defense then slammed the door, stopping the Cowboys on four straight plays to seal the win and punch its ticket to the College Football Payoff semifinals.
No. 9 Oklahoma State (12-3) stunned Alabama early with a powerful ground game and efficient play from Spencer Sanders, who threw for 173 yards and ran for a score.
Freshman Jaden Nixon provided a spark with two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter as the Cowboys built a 21-10 lead.
Alabama responded with patience and precision, racking up 33 first downs and controlling the ball for 35 minutes. Brian Robinson Jr. bulldozed his way to 133 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, while John Metchie III and Williams combined for 257 receiving yards.
Despite falling short amid a nightmarish repeat of the end of the Big 12 Championship, Oklahoma State left everything on the field and nearly pulled off a program-defining upset.
But Alabama’s depth, experience and star quarterback proved too much in the end. The Crimson Tide now advance to face the winner of Cincinnati-Pittsburgh in the Cotton Bowl.
2022 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl:
No. 12 Pittsburgh (12-2) vs. No. 4 Cincinnati (14-0)
The only two teams to beat Notre Dame this season face off far from home in the desert to determine who actually is superior. Again, all of you who voted nailed this pick correctly.
No. 4 seed Cincinnati Bearcats (14-0; AP/Coaches #4): AAC Champion (G5 auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #5 Notre Dame, UCF (9-4), #20 Houston, #13 BYU
Losses: none
Head Coach: Luke Fickell (5th season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Desmond Ridder
Running Backs: Jerome Ford and Ryan Montgomery
Wide Receivers: Tre Tucker and Tyler Scott
Tight End: Josh Whyle
No. 12 seed Pittsburgh Panthers (12-2; AP #13; Coaches #12): ACC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #19 Clemson, vs. #17 Wake Forest, @ #5 Notre Dame
Losses: Western Michigan, Miami
Head Coach: Pat Narduzzi (7th season)
Offensive Style: Pro-style
Quarterback: Kenny Pickett
Running Backs: Israel Abanikanda and Vincent Davis
Wide Receivers: Jordan Addison and Taysir Mack
Tight End: Gavin Bartholomew
Final Score: Cincinnati 28, Pittsburgh 23
(True Result: Oklahoma State 37, Notre Dame 35)
State Farm Stadium – Glendale, Arizona
Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 – 11 AM MST / 1 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 78
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder
PHOENIX (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw three touchdown passes, all to standout receiver Alec Pierce, as No. 4 Cincinnati held off a furious fourth-quarter surge from No. 13 Pittsburgh to claim a 28-23 victory Saturday in the Fiesta Bowl and punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
The Bearcats (15-0) showcased their trademark efficiency on both sides of the ball all day.
Ridder, who was named Player of the Game, completed 21 of 27 passes for 269 yards, spreading the ball to eight different receivers and delivering critical strikes, including a 32-yard scoring toss to Pierce in the first quarter and a 7-yard back-shoulder fade in the third.
Pittsburgh (12-3), led by Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett, racked up 477 total yards and 31 first downs. Pickett threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns, but two interceptions — one by Deshawn Pace and a game-sealing pick by Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner — proved quite costly.
Israel Abanikanda provided a spark for the Panthers with 90 rushing yards and a 34-yard touchdown gallop in the third quarter, cutting Cincinnati’s lead to 28-17.
Pickett connected with Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison for a 6-yard touchdown with less than five minutes to play, but a failed two-point conversion left the score at 28-23.
The Bearcats’ defense, anchored by their experienced secondary, held Pitt on its final possession to preserve the win and continue their perfect season, which next will be challenged by No. 1 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl semifinal of the College Football Playoff.
2022 Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia (13-1) vs. No. 6 Ohio State (11-2)
Oh look, yet another playoff matchup of traditional powers in the Big Ten and SEC. How surprising and unexpected. How exciting. All of you voting correctly picked Georgia.
No. 3 seed Georgia Bulldogs (13-1; AP/Coaches #3): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. #19 Clemson, #21 Arkansas, #22 Kentucky, #14 Oregon
Loss: vs. #1 Alabama
Head Coach: Kirby Smart (6th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Stetson Bennett
Running Backs: James Cook and Zamir White
Wide Receivers: Jermaine Burton and Ladd McConkey
Tight End: Brock Bowers
No. 6 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2; AP #6; Coaches #5): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @Minnesota (9-4), Purdue (9-4), #10 Michigan State, #11 Utah
Losses: #14 Oregon, @ #2 Michigan
Head Coach: Ryan Day (3rd season)
Offensive Style: West Coast spread
Quarterback: C.J. Stroud
Running Backs: TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams
Wide Receivers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garrett Wilson
Tight End: Jeremy Ruckert
Final Score: Georgia 56, Ohio State 35
(True Result: Baylor 21, Ole Miss 7)
Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana
Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 – 8 PM CST / 9 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 72
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: Georgia QB Stetson Bennett
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In a clash of offensive heavyweights, No. 3 Georgia unleashed a first-half barrage that proved too much for No. 6 Ohio State to overcome, claiming a 56-35 win Saturday in the Sugar Bowl and booking a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett, who was named Player of the Game, continued his strong postseason showing for the Bulldogs, throwing for 290 yards and four touchdowns, while backup JT Daniels added another 143 yards and a score in limited duty. Georgia (14-1) racked up 433 passing yards and 595 total yards in a masterclass of offensive balance.
The Bulldogs opened the game with six straight scoring drives, racing to a 42-6 halftime lead behind explosive plays from George Pickens (48-yard touchdown), Ladd McConkey, Jermaine Burton (43-yard TD) and tight end Brock Bowers. James Cook added three rushing touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
The Buckeyes (11-3) showed life in the fourth quarter, scoring 29 points, including a 55-yard run from TreVeyon Henderson and a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
A pick-six and a successful two-point conversion briefly brought the Buckeyes to within 14, but Georgia responded immediately with back-to-back Cook touchdowns.
Henderson led the Buckeyes with 186 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, but Ohio State’s defense struggled to contain Georgia’s deep arsenal of receivers and versatile backfield. C.J. Stroud threw for 303 yards and one touchdown, but was sacked five times and intercepted once.
Georgia now advances to face the winner of Baylor-Michigan in the Orange Bowl semifinal.
2022 Rose Bowl presented by Capital One Venture X:
No. 7 Baylor (12-2) vs. No. 2 Michigan (13-1)
The Big Ten champion and Big 12 champion face off in what would be Baylor’s first-ever Rose Bowl. This was voted as a coin-flip game, but Michigan made it not feel like one.
No. 2 seed Michigan Wolverines (13-1; AP/Coaches #2): Big Ten Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @Wisconsin (9-4), #6 Ohio State, vs. #15 Iowa, #15 Iowa
Loss: @ #10 Michigan State
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (7th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Cade McNamara
Running Backs: Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum
Wide Receivers: Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson
Tight End: Erick All
No. 7 seed Baylor Bears (12-2; AP/Coaches #6): Big 12 Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #13 BYU, #16 Oklahoma, @Kansas State (8-5), vs. #9 Oklahoma State, #10 Michigan State
Losses: @ #9 Oklahoma State, @TCU
Head Coach: Dave Aranda (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Gerry Bohanon
Running Backs: Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner
Wide Receivers: Tyquan Thornton and R.J. Sneed
Tight End: Ben Sims
Final Score: Michigan 52, Baylor 27
(True Result: Ohio State 48, Utah 45)
Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California
Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 – 2 PM PST / 5 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 60
Wind: WSW 3 MPH
Player of the Game: Michigan QB Cade McNamara
LOS ANGELES (AP) — No. 2 Michigan’s offense erupted for 45 points over the final three quarters as the Wolverines overwhelmed No. 6 Baylor 52-27 in a Rose Bowl quarterfinal victory Saturday, punching their ticket to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Quarterback Cade McNamara delivered his finest performance yet and was named Player of the Game, throwing for 351 yards and three touchdowns on 20 of 30 passing.
He spread the ball around to seven different receivers, with running back Blake Corum shining both on the ground and through the air, including a back-breaking 73-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter.
Baylor (12-3) started strong and led 17-7 early in the second quarter after rushing touchdowns from both Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner.
But Michigan (14-1) responded with 21 unanswered points before halftime, sparked by two Hassan Haskins touchdown runs and a 12-yard score from Corum.
The Wolverines’ ground game was relentless. Haskins rushed for 177 yards and the two scores, while Corum added another two touchdowns and 120 total yards from scrimmage.
The offensive line paved the way for 227 rushing yards and kept McNamara clean for most of the afternoon.
Despite 387 passing yards and a late touchdown from Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohanon, the Bears couldn’t keep pace in the second half.
Michigan’s defense limited Baylor to just one touchdown after halftime, forced a critical interception by Daxton Hill and added three sacks on their way to a date with No. 3 Georgia.
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 both 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)
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