In which BracketCat simulates second-round bowl results for the 16-team playoff bracket for 2023.
This one was worth the extra wait!
The second round features a trio of interesting matchups that never occurred, plus a rematch of a season-opening game with a very different final result.
So scroll on to see who could have advanced to the Final Four of 2023-24…
(One note on bowl selection: Seeds have priority order for the bowl closest to their home campus, so Michigan gets Peach, then Washington Rose, then Texas the Cotton, and so on.)
Today’s Games
2023 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 1 Michigan (14-0) vs. No. 9 Missouri (11-2)
The upstart SEC team takes part in its first Peach Bowl ever. Those voting unanimously correctly predicted a win for the undefeated Big Ten champion.
No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines (14-0; AP/Coaches #1): Big Ten Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #10 Penn State, #7 Ohio State, vs. #17 Iowa, #16 Liberty
Losses: none
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (9th and final season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: J.J. McCarthy
Running Backs: Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards
Wide Receivers: Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson
Tight End: Colston Loveland
No. 9 seed Missouri Tigers (11-2; AP/Coaches #9): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #25 Kansas State, @RV Kentucky, #21 Tennessee, @ #8 Oregon
Losses: #13 LSU, @ #6 Georgia
Head Coach: Eliah Drinkwitz (4th season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Brady Cook
Running Backs: Cody Schrader and Nathaniel Peat
Wide Receivers: Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr.
Tight End: Brett Norfleet
Final Score: Michigan 52, Missouri 27
(True Result: Ole Miss 38, Penn State 25)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 – 12 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 72
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
ATLANTA (AP) — J.J. McCarthy threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns as No. 1 Michigan surged past No. 9 Missouri 52-27 in the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, securing a spot in the 2023 College Football Playoff semifinals and improving to 15-0 on the season.
McCarthy was surgical Saturday, completing 23 of 28 passes and spreading the ball to eight different receivers. His precision passing complemented a Michigan special teams unit that delivered a critical punt return touchdown and a defense that pressured Missouri quarterback Brady Cook all night.
Blake Corum starred once again on a national stage, rushing for 112 yards and two scores while adding a touchdown reception in the second quarter.
Donovan Edwards added two total touchdowns — one rushing, one receiving — as the Wolverines broke the game open with 31 points across the second and third quarters.
Missouri (11-3) held a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter after a Cody Schrader touchdown run, but the Tigers couldn’t keep pace. A 62-yard punt return touchdown flipped the momentum and Michigan never trailed again. Cook threw for 362 yards, but was sacked three times and intercepted once by Mike Sainristil.
Despite a strong game from Schrader (28 carries, 92 yards, two touchdowns) and a 155-yard receiving effort from Luther Burden III, the Tigers’ defense couldn’t slow Michigan’s balance and depth. The Wolverines outgained Missouri 538-471 and Michigan’s efficiency on third down (7 of 12) proved critical.
With the win, Michigan keeps its national championship hopes alive and advances to face the winner of Florida State vs. LSU in the Orange Bowl CFP semifinal.
2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: No. 7 Ohio State (12-1) vs. No. 2 Washington (14-0)
The Fiesta Bowl plays host to a rematch of the 2019 Rose Bowl. Two-thirds of those who voted correctly predicted this high-scoring affair!
No. 2 seed Washington Huskies (14-0; AP/Coaches #2): Pac-12 Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #14 Arizona, #8 Oregon, vs. #8 Oregon, #15 Louisville
Losses: none
Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Michael Penix Jr.
Running Backs: Dillon Johnson and Will Nixon
Wide Receivers: Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk
Tight End: Jack Westover
No. 7 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1; AP/Coaches #7): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #16 Notre Dame, Maryland (8-5), #10 Penn State (x2)
Loss: @ #1 Michigan
Head Coach: Ryan Day (5th season)
Offensive Style: Spread option
Quarterback: Kyle McCord
Running Backs: TreVeyon Henderson and Dallan Hayden
Wide Receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka
Tight End: Cade Stover
Final Score: Washington 59, Ohio State 41
(True Result: Oregon 45, Liberty 6)
State Farm Stadium – Glendale, Arizona
Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 – 11 AM MST / 1 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 78
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
PHOENIX (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. threw for 399 yards and five touchdowns as No. 2 Washington overwhelmed No. 7 Ohio State 59-41 in a high-scoring Fiesta Bowl showdown Monday to advance to the 2023 College Football Playoff semifinals.
The Huskies (15-0) scored early and often, fueled by a pick-six in the first quarter and a relentless offensive attack that piled up 669 total yards.
Penix was nearly flawless, completing 31 of 45 passes and connecting with seven different receivers for scores, including Rome Odunze, Jack Westover and Rashid Williams.
Running back Dillon Johnson led a dominant ground game with 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while backup Will Nixon added 117 yards of his own, including a 70-yard burst.
The Huskies averaged more than six yards per carry and controlled the clock with 37:20 of possession.
The Buckeyes (12-2) answered with big plays of their own, including a 77-yard touchdown run by TreVeyon Henderson and long scoring strikes from Kyle McCord to Julian Fleming and Marvin Harrison Jr. McCord finished with 388 yards and four touchdown passes, but also threw two costly interceptions.
The Buckeyes briefly pulled to within 14 points in the fourth quarter after Henderson’s second touchdown, but Washington responded with a Penix-to-Williams touchdown and a Grady Gross field goal to put the game out of reach.
With the win, Washington moves on to face the winner of Georgia-Texas in a CFP semifinal.
2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 6 Georgia (13-1) vs. No. 3 Texas (13-1)
Texas beat Alabama who beat Georgia, so the outcome of this was seems fairly predictable using the transitive property. Two-thirds of those voting correctly agreed.
No. 3 seed Texas Longhorns (13-1; AP #3; Coaches #4): Big 12 Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #4 Alabama, #25 Kansas State, vs. #20 Oklahoma State, #14 Arizona
Loss: vs. #12 Oklahoma
Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian (3rd season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Quinn Ewers
Running Backs: Jonathon Brooks and CJ Baxter
Wide Receivers: Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell
Tight End: Ja’Tavion Sanders
No. 6 seed Georgia Bulldogs (13-1; AP/Coaches #6): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): RV Kentucky, #9 Missouri, #11 Ole Miss (x2), @ #21 Tennessee
Loss: vs. #4 Alabama
Head Coach: Kirby Smart (8th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Carson Beck
Running Backs: Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton
Wide Receivers: Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Rara Thomas
Tight End: Brock Bowers
Final Score: Texas 52, Georgia 23
(True Result: Missouri 14, Ohio State 3)
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 – 7 PM CST / 8 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 72
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: Texas RB Jonathon Brooks
DALLAS (AP) — Jonathon Brooks ran for 187 yards and two touchdowns as No. 3 Texas overwhelmed No. 6 Georgia 52-23 in a statement win Friday night at the Cotton Bowl, punching its ticket to the 2023 College Football Playoff semifinals.
Brooks powered a Longhorns offense that racked up 228 yards on the ground and nearly 300 more through the air. He broke loose for gains of 68 and 14 yards, finishing with over 200 all-purpose yards and earning Player of the Game honors. Quarterback Quinn Ewers added 297 yards passing and three touchdowns, including a 65-yard strike to Isaiah Neyor.
The Bulldogs (13-2) looked sharp early, grabbing a 10-7 lead after Kendall Milton broke free for a 67-yard touchdown.
But Georgia’s defense had no answers for Texas’ explosive second quarter, surrendering 21 points in just over eight minutes as the Longhorns (14-1) surged to a 28-23 halftime lead.
Georgia never recovered. Texas shut out the Bulldogs in the second half and poured on 24 unanswered points, including a 46-yard pick-six that sealed the blowout. UGA quarterback Carson Beck threw for 302 yards, but was intercepted twice and sacked six times.
The win propels Texas into a Rose Bowl semifinal matchup with Washington for a battle between two of the nation’s most potent offenses.
2023 Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 5 Florida State (14-0) vs. No. 13 LSU (10-3)
In a rematch of their season-opening game, LSU continues its revenge tour and Florida State is left to consider why its season always ends in the Orange Bowl. Two-thirds of you nailed it!
No. 5 seed Florida State Seminoles (14-0; AP #4; Coaches #3): ACC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. #13 LSU, @ #22 Clemson, vs. #15 Louisville, #12 Oklahoma
Losses: none
Head Coach: Mike Norvell (4th season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Tate Rodemaker (due to Jordan Travis’ season-ending injury)
Running Backs: Trey Benson and Samuel Singleton Jr.
Wide Receivers: Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman
Tight End: Jaheim Bell
No. 13 seed LSU Tigers (10-3; AP/Coaches #13): at-large bid
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #9 Missouri, Texas A&M (7-6), @ #4 Alabama
Losses: vs. #5 Florida State, @ #11 Ole Miss, @ #4 Alabama
Head Coach: Brian Kelly (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Multiple
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels
Running Backs: Logan Diggs and Trey Holly
Wide Receivers: Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
Tight End: Mason Taylor
Final Score: LSU 41, Florida State 13
(True Result: Georgia 63, Florida State 3)
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida
Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 – 4 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 64
Wind: N 5 mph
Player of the Game: LSU QB Jayden Daniels
MIAMI (AP) — Jayden Daniels cemented his Heisman campaign with a dazzling performance Saturday in the Orange Bowl, leading No. 13 LSU to a 41-13 rout of previously undefeated No. 4 Florida State in one of the most dominant postseason upsets in recent memory.
Daniels accounted for 424 total yards — 179 of them on the ground, with two long touchdown runs of 59 and 64 yards, and 245 through the air with a 78% completion rate.
The Tigers (11-3) outscored the Seminoles 34-0 after falling behind 13-10 midway through the second quarter, avenging their 45-24 loss to Florida State on Sept. 3 in Orlando, Fla.
LSU’s offense exploded for 367 rushing yards behind Daniels, Logan Diggs (90 yards, 1 TD), and Trey Holly (87 yards, 1 TD). The Tigers controlled the game with a 34:18 time of possession and converted 7 of 15 third downs, while holding FSU (14-1) to just 3 of 15.
Missing regular starter Jordan Travis due to his season-ending knee injury, Florida State rotated four quarterbacks, but none of them found a rhythm. Tate Rodemaker started, but was replaced after halftime as the Seminoles failed to score in the second half.
LSU’s defense pitched a shutout over the final 37 minutes and sealed the game with a Harold Perkins Jr. interception in the fourth quarter. With the win, LSU advances to the CFP Rose Bowl semifinal, where it will face Michigan in a blockbuster matchup.
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)
2008: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data
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