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19 DAYS TO 2025 KICKOFF: Garrett Harstad

2025-08-04T12:00:00-05:00

The graduation of reliable receiving target Sammy Wheeler (19) freed up his jersey number for a new tight end, redshirt sophomore Garrett Harstad. But now Mr. Harstad has converted to a wide receiver. | Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 19th day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State wide receiver Garrett Harstad.

#19 Garrett Harstad

Redshirt Sophomore | 6-5 | 220 lbs. | Loveland, Colorado

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

Garrett Harstad

Position: Wide Receiver
Previous College: None
Projection: Scout Team
Status: Preferred Walk-On

Garrett Harstad (b. Nov. 25, 2004) was a quarterback from Loveland High School in Colorado with deceptive, long-legged speed who the K-State coaches converted into a tight end and now into a wide receiver.

(Watch his exciting 7-minute quarterback highlight film here. There were times he reminded me of another quarterback for Loveland who ended up also wearing No. 7, but at K-State...)

He redshirted in 2023 and did not see any game action in either 2023 or 2024, and so projects as a member of the 2025 scout team barring some unforeseen development.

A four-year letter-winner under head coach Allan Jeffries, Harstad led Loveland to a 12-2 record as he was named a first-team all-state performer and the Loveland Reporter-Herald’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 after rushing for 1,845 yards and 24 touchdowns from his quarterback position, while also throwing for 676 yards and 10 scores.

His rushing yardage ranked third in the state, regardless of position or classification.

Harstad, who is majoring in business administration, rushed for 3,859 yards and 53 touchdowns in his Red Wolves career, and he was a three-year all-conference performer.

He also was a standout in basketball and baseball, earning all-conference honors multiple years and being named the Reporter-Herald’s baseball player of the year.

Harstad broke the school records for rebounds in a game, season and career, in addition to breaking the school’s batting average record. He was a first-team all-academic performer.

Harstad’s brother, Zach, was a pitcher at Division II Regis University.

PROTEST PLAYOFF 2018: Sweet 16 (Day 2)

2025-08-04T08:00:00-05:00

The right side of the 16-team 2018 playoff bracket | Courtesy Bracket HQ

In which BracketCat simulates first-round results for the “right side” of the 16-team playoff bracket for 2018.

The first day of this playoff may have been a little chalky, but rest assured the upsets make an appearance today. Scroll down to see who will move on to the second round!

Today’s Games

Game 1: No. 14 Kentucky (9-3) @ No. 3 Notre Dame (12-0)

I really can’t imagine more of a “new money” vs. “old elites” matchup than this. Go upset!

No. 3 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #3): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #7 Michigan, @Wake Forest (7-6), Stanford (9-4), Pittsburgh (7-7), @ #22 Northwestern, vs. #20 Syracuse
Losses: none
Head Coach: Brian Kelly (9th season)
Offensive Style: Spread

Quarterback: Ian Book
Running Backs: Dexter Williams and Jafar Armstrong
Wide Receivers: Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool
Tight End: Alize Mack

No. 14 seed Kentucky Wildcats (9-3; AP #16; BCS #14; Coaches #15): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #10 Florida, #18 Mississippi State, South Carolina (7-6), @ #23 Missouri, Middle Tennessee (8-6)
Losses: @ #19 Texas A&M, #5 Georgia, @Tennessee
Head Coach: Mark Stoops (6th season)
Offensive Style: Spread

Quarterback: Terry Wilson Jr.
Running Backs: Benjamin Snell Jr. and Kavosiey Smoke
Wide Receivers: Lynn Bowden Jr. and Allen Dailey Jr.
Tight End: C.J. Conrad

Final Score: Kentucky 39, Notre Dame 35 (OT)

Notre Dame Stadium - South Bend, Indiana
Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 - 7 PM EST

Precipitation: None
Temperature: 40
Wind: N 10 MPH

Player of the Game: Kentucky RB Benjamin Snell Jr.

Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Benny Snell Jr. capped a five-touchdown performance with a 15-yard walk-off touchdown run in overtime to lift No. 16 Kentucky past No. 3 Notre Dame 39-35 in a wild, back-and-forth, first-round College Football Playoff showdown on Friday night.

Snell carried the Wildcats (10-3) to the upset road victory with 115 yards on 22 bruising carries and scored in every quarter, including the game winner after Notre Dame had taken a 35-32 lead in overtime on Jonathan Doerer’s seventh field goal of the night.

Notre Dame (12-1) looked poised to escape with the win in regulation after Ian Book led a clutch fourth-quarter drive that ended with Doerer’s 48-yard field goal to tie the game with 28 seconds remaining. Doerer was flawless on the night — connecting from 24, 37, 48, 45, 46, 48 and 39 yards — and accounted for 21 of the Fighting Irish’s points.

Snell scored four of his five touchdowns on short-yardage plunges and added a crucial two-point conversion late in the fourth to give Kentucky a 32-29 lead. The Irish responded with Book’s 6-yard touchdown run and the game turned into a late exchange of haymakers.

Kentucky’s Terry Wilson Jr. managed the game efficiently, throwing for 208 yards on 20-of-31 passing while adding 50 yards on the ground.

Notre Dame’s quarterback tandem of Book and Brandon Wimbush combined for 326 passing yards and 70 rushing yards, with Wimbush also scoring once on the ground.

The Fighting Irish held the edge in total yards (500-385) and time of possession, but three costly lost fumbles proved decisive. Kentucky’s defense never forced an interception but recovered each loose ball on the ground to keep momentum on the Wildcats’ side.

It’s the first College Football Playoff win for Kentucky, which now advances to face the LSU-Ohio State winner in the quarterfinals.

Game 2: No. 11 LSU (9-3) @ No. 6 Ohio State (12-1)

Two programs that win national championships, no matter who’s coaching, clash in Columbus as Joe Burrow returns to take on his former team in a game dripping with drama.

No. 6 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1; AP/Coaches #5; BCS #6): Big Ten Champ (auto-bid)

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. TCU (7-6), Tulane (7-6), @ #12 Penn State, Minnesota (7-6), @Michigan State (7-6), #7 Michigan, vs. #22 Northwestern
Loss: @Purdue
Head Coaches: Urban Meyer (7th season; remainder of season) / Ryan Day (first 3 games)
Offensive Style: Spread

Quarterback: Dwayne Haskins
Running Backs: Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins
Wide Receivers: Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin
Tight End: Luke Farrell

No. 11 seed LSU Tigers (9-3; AP/Coaches #11; BCS #10): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. Miami (7-6), @Auburn (8-5), Louisiana Tech (8-5), #5 Georgia, #18 Mississippi State
Losses: @ #10 Florida, #1 Alabama, @ #19 Texas A&M
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread

Quarterback: Joe Burrow
Running Backs: Tory Carter and Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Wide Receivers: Justin Jefferson and Stephen Sullivan
Tight End: Foster Moreau

Final Score: Ohio State 44, LSU 28

Ohio Stadium - Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 - 6 PM EST

Precipitation: None
Temperature: 50
Wind: ENE 18 MPH, gusting to 26 MPH

Player of the Game: Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Joe Burrow and No. 11 LSU rallied late in the first half, but Dwayne Haskins and the No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes pulled away after halftime for a 44-28 win in a College Football Playoff first-round showdown on a breezy Saturday night at Ohio Stadium.

Trailing 21-3 with just over five minutes left in the first half, LSU ripped off 17 straight points in a span of 1:42 to cut the deficit to just 21-20 heading into the break. Nick Brossette’s 11-yard touchdown run and Burrow’s 6-yard strike to Justin Jefferson brought the Tigers (9-4) closer, and Cole Tracy drilled a 46-yard field goal at the buzzer to complete the blitzkrieg.

But Ohio State (13-1) regrouped in the second half behind its star quarterback, with Haskins finishing 29 of 37 for 420 yards and three touchdowns.

His second scoring toss to Parris Campbell gave the Buckeyes the lead for good late in the third quarter, after a brief LSU advantage fueled by a safety and another Tracy field goal.

Blake Haubeil added three second-half field goals for the Buckeyes and J.K. Dobbins’ 3-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left sealed it.

Ohio State piled up 32 first downs and 577 total yards, holding the ball for more than 35 minutes. Campbell led a balanced receiving corps with seven catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while Binjimen Victor added three catches for 82 yards and a score.

Mike Weber powered the Buckeyes’ run game with 107 yards on 21 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

LSU struggled to protect Burrow, who was sacked five times and finished 13 of 34 for 191 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

Brossette led the Tigers with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Ohio State advances to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, where it will face No. 16 Kentucky, a surprise upset winner over No. 3 Notre Dame on Friday night in South Bend.

Game 3: No. 10 Florida (9-3) @ No. 7 Michigan (10-2)

Semi-frequent Citrus Bowl opponents meet in the Big House instead, in what you would think would be an advantage for the Wolverines. Well, you would be wrong.

No. 7 seed Michigan Wolverines (10-2; AP/BCS/Coaches #8): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Western Michigan (7-6), @ #22 Northwestern, Wisconsin (8-5), @Michigan State (7-6), #12 Penn State
Losses: @ #3 Notre Dame, @ #6 Ohio State
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (4th season)
Offensive Style: Multiple

Quarterback: Shea Patterson
Running Backs: Karan Higdon and Chris Evans
Wide Receivers: Grant Perry and Donovan Peoples-Jones
Tight End: Zach Gentry

No. 10 seed Florida Gators (9-3; AP/Coaches #10; BCS #11): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #18 Mississippi State, #11 LSU, South Carolina (7-6)
Losses: #14 Kentucky, vs. #5 Georgia, #23 Missouri
Head Coach: Dan Mullen (1st season)
Offensive Style: Spread

Quarterback: Kadarius Toney
Running Backs: Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett
Wide Receivers: Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes
Tight End: Kyle Pitts

Final Score: Florida 33, Michigan 27

Michigan Stadium - Ann Arbor, Michigan
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 - 5 PM EST

Precipitation: None
Temperature: 46
Wind: W 3 MPH

Player of the Game: Michigan QB Shea Patterson

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — No. 10 Florida made the most of its road trip north and used a steady mix of big plays and timely stops to knock off No. 8 Michigan 33-27 on a chilly Friday evening in the first round of the 2018 College Football Playoff at Michigan Stadium.

The Gators (10-3) leaned on a surprisingly potent aerial attack, throwing for 356 yards as Feleipe Franks and Kadarius Toney combined to complete 17 of 27 passes.

Tight end Kyle Pitts led all receivers with 113 yards on just three catches and Josh Hammond added a 39-yard touchdown grab early in the third quarter to stretch Florida’s lead to 30-17.

Michigan (10-3) outgained Florida 509-457 and held a commanding edge in time of possession, but the Wolverines settled for field goals on two fourth-quarter drives and couldn’t complete the comeback.

Shea Patterson was sharp for most of the day, throwing for 279 yards and a touchdown and rushing for another score. He found Nico Collins for an 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter, ran in from 7 yards out in the first and was named Player of the Game for his efforts.

Florida’s ground game wasn’t explosive, but it was efficient when needed. Lamical Perine broke loose for a 47-yard score late in the first quarter, and Jordan Scarlett punched in a 3-yard touchdown to give the Gators a 20-17 lead before halftime.

Jorge Powell added four field goals, including a clutch 29-yarder early in the fourth quarter that gave Florida just enough cushion.

Michigan’s Chris Evans paced the ground game with 72 yards and a touchdown, and the Wolverines converted 9 of 16 third downs. But Florida’s defense stiffened in the red zone late and an interception by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson ended one key Michigan drive.

Florida now advances to face the Clemson-Texas winner in the CFP quarterfinals.

Game 4: No. 15 Texas (9-4) @ No. 2 Clemson (13-0)

Hey look, it’s a “pre”-match of last season’s first-round matchup. Only Clemson is the home team coming off a pair of national title game appearances and Texas doesn’t have Sark yet.

No. 2 seed Clemson Tigers (13-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #2): ACC Champion (auto-bid)

Notable Win (CFP Rankings): @ #19 Texas A&M, Georgia Southern (10-3), @Georgia Tech (7-6), #20 Syracuse, NC State (9-4), @Boston College (7-5), Duke (8-5), South Carolina (7-6), vs. Pittsburgh (7-7)
Losses: none
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (10th full, 11th 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. 15 seed Texas Longhorns (9-4; AP/Coaches #14; BCS #16): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): TCU (7-6), vs. #4 Oklahoma, Baylor (7-6), #24 Iowa State
Losses: vs. Maryland, @Oklahoma State, #16 West Virginia, vs. #4 Oklahoma
Head Coach: Tom Herman (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Spread

Quarterback: Sam Ehlinger
Running Backs: Keaontay Ingram and Tre Watson
Wide Receivers: Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson
Tight End: Andrew Beck

Final Score: Clemson 50, Texas 3

Memorial Stadium - Clemson, South Carolina
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 - 8 PM EST

Precipitation: None
Temperature: 47
Wind: SW 10 MPH

Player of the Game: Clemson RB Travis Etienne

Box Score

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns, and Travis Etienne rushed for 144 yards and two scores, to lead No. 2 Clemson to a dominant 50-3 win Saturday night over No. 14 Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers (14-0) set the tone early and never looked back, scoring on their first three possessions and building a 27-3 halftime lead behind Lawrence’s efficient passing and Etienne’s explosive runs.

Lyn-J Dixon added a 17-yard touchdown run and kicker B.T. Potter chipped in with five field goals, including two in the third quarter that pushed the game further out of reach.

Clemson’s defense held Texas (9-5) without a touchdown, limiting quarterback Sam Ehlinger to 250 passing yards on 24 of 39 attempts while sacking him three times and forcing one interception. Texas managed just 73 yards on the ground despite 40 rushing attempts, averaging less than 2 yards per carry.

Etienne was a constant threat in the second half, capping the scoring with back-to-back touchdown runs of 12 and 40 yards in the fourth quarter. The junior’s performance, which included two runs of 20-plus yards, earned him Player of the Game honors.

Clemson finished with 514 total yards and 30 first downs, compared to Texas’ 323 and 18.

The Tigers controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, outgaining the Longhorns 195 to 73 on the ground and holding a slight edge in time of possession.

Texas’ only points came on a 31-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker midway through the second quarter. Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson combined for 141 receiving yards, but the Longhorns never seriously threatened the Tigers after falling behind by two scores.

With the win, Clemson advances to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, where it will take on upset winner No. 10 Florida in the Peach Bowl.

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.

BracketCat’s Protest Playoff Archives

2018: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1)

20 DAYS TO 2025 KICKOFF: Ralph Ortiz

2025-08-03T08:00:00-05:00

Until last season, the No. 20 jersey was worn by Colby McCalister (20). Then it came to transfer linebacker Alec Marenco, who made little impact after battling injuries. This year, it will go to a different transfer linebacker, Ralph Ortiz. | Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 20th day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State linebacker Ralph Ortiz.

#20 Ralph Ortiz

Redshirt Junior | 6-1 | 226 lbs. | Jacksonville, Florida

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

Ralph Ortiz

Position: Linebacker
Previous College: University of West Florida
Projection: Co-Third-String
Status: On Scholarship

Ralph Ortiz (b. Feb. 9, 2004) is a transfer linebacker from West Florida who is majoring in management. Expect him to make an impact as a reserve linebacker and on special teams.

Out of high school, Ortiz committed to Division II West Florida, where he redshirted and did not play in 2022. He played in 12 games during the 2023 season with 11 starts for the Argonauts as he was named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year.

Ortiz collected 40 tackles, seven tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions and 10 total passes defended as a redshirt freshman, and he tied for third in the conference in interceptions, sixth in passes defended and first in interception-return touchdowns.

He earned Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week honors in three consecutive weeks following games against West Georgia (where fellow defensive transfer Qua Moss started out his career), North Greenville and Shorter.

Ortiz recorded a season-high seven tackles at Mississippi College, while he had five at both Florida A&M and Delta State. He posted a season-best 2.0 TFLs, which included a sack, at McKendree and returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown against West Georgia.

Ortiz tallied a career-high three pass breakups at North Greenville, while he had an interception and a pass breakup against Shorter.

He then started all 10 games en route to first-team All-Gulf South Conference honors last year, totaling 33 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup and a forced fumble on the season.

Ortiz tied for ninth in the Gulf South Conference in sacks, while he finished ninth in tackle for loss and tied for first in interception-return touchdowns. He started the season strong with 26 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss during the first three games of the season.

Ortiz opened last year with a career-high 10 tackles and three tackles for loss against McKendree, while he returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown and also broke up another pass and forced a fumble against the Bearcats.

He had seven tackles and 2.0 TFLs against West Alabama before tallying nine tackles and a TFL at Grand Valley State, and also recorded sacks against Delta State, Chowan and Erskine.

Ortiz prepped under head coach Walter Banks at Lake Minneola High School in Minneola, Fla., where he was named an all-area defensive back by the Leesburg Daily Commercial in addition to being named the most valuable defensive back.

He helped to lead the Hawks to the state championship game as a junior and was selected to participate in the Cure Classic All-Star Game between Orange and Seminole counties.

Ortiz came away with 104 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three interceptions and eight total passes defended during his prep career.

An unrated prospect, he originally committed to West Florida out of high school over an offer from Florida Atlantic. He enrolled at K-State last winter in time for spring practices.

Ortiz’s lead recruiter was his new position coach, linebackers coach Steve Stanard.

Get to know him a little better in this video!

21 DAYS TO 2025 KICKOFF: JoJo Scott

2025-08-02T16:00:00-05:00

Marques Sigle (21) and his ball-hawking skills are off to the NFL now. His No. 21 jersey now will be inherited by freshman cornerback JoJo Scott. | Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 21st day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State cornerback JoJo Scott.

#21 JoJo Scott

True Freshman | 6-1 | 173 lbs. | Lakeland, Florida

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

JoJo Scott

Position: Cornerback
Previous College: None
Projection: Redshirt
Status: On Scholarship

Jozia “JoJo” Scott (b. June 1, 2007) is a promising young cornerback from Florida who plans on majoring in kinesiology. He may redshirt in 2025 but already has earned praise from practice observers, so I wouldn’t rule out his appearing in more than four games just yet.

Scott prepped under head coach Kendrick Stewart at Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland, Fla., where he was viewed as the 78th-best cornerback in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports after he carded 57 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries over the final three seasons of his prep career.

He had three interceptions in each of his final two high school seasons, and added 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 20 catches over his final two seasons.

Scott also competed in basketball and track and field as a prep.

He committed to K-State over offers from Akron, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Jackson State, Kansas, Liberty, Louisville, Memphis, NC State, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota State, Oregon State, South Florida, Temple, UAB, UConn, USF, West Virginia, Western Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as recruiting interest from Maryland, Miami and Tennessee.

Scott’s lead recruiter was his new position coach, assistant head coach Van Malone.

PROTEST PLAYOFF 2018: Sweet 16 (Day 1)

2025-08-02T14:10:00-05:00

The left side of the 16-team 2018 playoff bracket | Courtesy Bracket HQ

In which BracketCat simulates first-round results for the “left side” of the 16-team playoff bracket for 2018.

After one day of play, the Pac-12 is already out of this thing. Don’t expect any upsets today, but there is a surprising shootout that does not involve the vintage air raid programs meeting in Norman. Scroll down to see who will move on to the second round!

Today’s Games

Game 1: No. 16 West Virginia (8-3) @ No. 1 Alabama (13-0)

Nick Saban takes on his home state school in what I expected to be a lopsided matchup, considering West Virginia beat hardly anyone good. Instead, it was surprisingly competitive.

No. 1 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #1): SEC Champion (auto-bid)

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #19 Texas A&M, #23 Missouri, @ #11 LSU, #18 Mississippi State, vs. #5 Georgia
Losses: none
Head Coach: Nick Saban (12th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread

Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa
Running Backs: Damien Harris and Najee Harris
Wide Receivers: Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith
Tight End: Irv Smith Jr.

No. 16 West Virginia Mountaineers (8-3; AP/BCS #15; Coaches #16): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Baylor (7-6), @ #15 Texas, TCU (7-6)
Losses: @ #24 Iowa State, @Oklahoma State, #4 Oklahoma
Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen (8th season)
Offensive Style: Spread

Quarterback: Will Grier
Running Backs: Kennedy McKoy and Martell Pettaway
Wide Receivers: David Sills V and Gary Jennings Jr.
Tight End: Trevon Wesco

Final Score: Alabama 35, West Virginia 31

Bryant-Denny Stadium - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 - 2:30 PM CST / 3:30 PM EST

Precipitation: 0.01 in
Temperature: 49
Wind: SW 8 MPH

Player of the Game: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa shook off a sluggish start and delivered a vintage fourth-quarter rally, leading No. 1 Alabama to a dramatic 35-31 comeback victory Saturday over No. 15 West Virginia in the first round of the 2018 College Football Playoff.

In a game filled with offensive fireworks, it was Alabama’s defense and Tagovailoa’s poise in the final frame that proved decisive. The Crimson Tide (14-0) trailed 31-16 late in the third quarter after Mountaineers running back Kennedy McKoy scored his third touchdown of the afternoon, capping a breakout performance.

But the Tide responded with 19 unanswered points, seizing control in the closing minutes.

Tagovailoa, named Player of the Game, completed 24 of 32 passes for 396 yards and two touchdowns, orchestrating three scoring drives in the fourth quarter alone.

He found Jerry Jeudy, who led all Alabama receivers with 101 yards, on a 26-yard strike late in the second quarter to keep the game within reach. Tagovailoa’s only blemish came on a second-quarter interception, but he otherwise torched the Mountaineers’ secondary with big plays to Jaylen Waddle, Irv Smith Jr. and Henry Ruggs III.

West Virginia’s Will Grier was nearly flawless, throwing for 428 yards and a 64-yard touchdown to Kwincy Hall. The Mountaineers (8-4) appeared in control midway through the third, riding McKoy’s bruising 97-yard, three-touchdown effort.

But Alabama’s defense stiffened and a missed blocking assignment stalled a late Mountaineer drive, opening the door for the Crimson Tide’s final surge.

Joseph Bulovas connected on three short field goals to aid Alabama’s comeback, including a 21-yarder with 1:48 left to seal the win.

Alabama advances to the CFP quarterfinals, where it will host the winner of the UCF-Washington matchup. West Virginia, despite outgaining Alabama in total yards and winning the time of possession battle, heads home after a heartbreaker at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Game 2: No. 9 Washington (10-3) @ No. 8 UCF (12-0)

This is a very interesting matchup of Josh Heupel, who was just starting his head coaching journey, and Chris Petersen as he was nearing the end of his. I was surprised at the margin.

No. 8 seed UCF Knights (12-0; AP #11; BCS #7; Coaches #12): AAC Champ (G5 auto-bid)

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): Pittsburgh (7-7), @Memphis (8-6), Temple (8-5), #24 Cincinnati, @South Florida (7-6), Memphis (8-6)
Losses: none
Head Coach: Josh Heupel (1st season)
Offensive Style: Spread

Quarterback: Quadry Jones
Running Backs: Greg McCrae and Adrian Killins
Wide Receivers: Otis Anderson and Gabriel Davis
Tight End: Michael Colubiale

No. 9 seed Washington Huskies (10-3; AP/Coaches #13; BCS #9): Pac-12 Champ (auto-bid)

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #17 Utah, Arizona State (7-6), BYU (7-6), Stanford (9-4), @ #13 Washington State, vs. #17 Utah
Losses: vs. Auburn, @Oregon, @California
Head Coach: Chris Petersen (5th season)
Offensive Style: Spread

Quarterback: Jake Browning
Running Backs: Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed
Wide Receivers: Ty Jones and Aaron Fuller
Tight End: Hunter Bryant

Final Score: UCF 44, Washington 24

Spectrum Stadium - Orlando, Florida
Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 - 6 PM EST

Precipitation: None
Temperature: 76
Wind: SE 7 MPH

Player of the Game: Washington QB Jake Browning

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — No. 11 UCF extended its historic unbeaten streak in dominant fashion, riding a relentless offensive performance to a 44-24 win Friday night over No. 13 Washington in a 2018 College Football Playoff first-round matchup at Spectrum Stadium.

The Knights (13-0), who piled up 583 yards of total offense, got scoring contributions from seven different players and never trailed after the opening drive. Running back Greg McCrae found the end zone twice on the ground, while backup quarterback Quadry Jones provided a late spark, tossing for 188 yards and a touchdown on 9-of-10 passing.

Washington (10-4), despite 370 passing yards and three touchdowns from senior quarterback Jake Browning, struggled to keep pace.

Browning was picked off three times, twice by UCF’s Shawn Burgess-Becker, and the Huskies mustered just 58 yards rushing on 33 carries.

After a back-and-forth first quarter that saw four touchdowns, UCF pulled away late in the first half. A touchdown pass from Jones to tight end Michael Colubiale and a Matthew Wright field goal just before halftime pushed the Knights’ lead to 27-17.

Browning answered with a touchdown pass to Ty Jones early in the third quarter, but McCrae’s second rushing score quickly quelled Washington’s momentum.

From there, UCF controlled the pace, adding 10 fourth-quarter points and holding the Huskies scoreless in the final frame.

UCF wideout Marlon Williams led all receivers with 89 yards, while six different Knights caught passes of 20 yards or more.

The Knights also recorded three sacks and forced three turnovers.

With the win, UCF advances to the CFP quarterfinals to take on No. 1 Alabama. The Knights’ explosive showing reinforced their status as more than just a Group of Five success story — they looked every bit the part of a contender on college football’s biggest stage.

Game 3: No. 12 Penn State (9-3) @ No. 5 Georgia (11-2)

Two of the more staid, defense-heavy brands deliver unto us a wild-ass shootout — go figure!

No. 5 seed Georgia Bulldogs (11-2; AP #7; BCS #5; Coaches #8): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @USC, Middle Tennessee (8-6), @ #23 Missouri, vs. #10 Florida, @ #14 Kentucky, Auburn (8-5), Georgia Tech (7-6)
Losses: @ #11 LSU, vs. #1 Alabama
Head Coach: Kirby Smart (3rd season)
Offensive Style: Pro-style

Quarterback: Jake Fromm
Running Backs: D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield
Wide Receivers: Jeremiah Holloman and Terry Godwin
Tight End: Isaac Nauta

No. 12 seed Penn State Nittany Lions (9-3; AP/Coaches #17; BCS #12): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): App State (11-2), @Pittsburgh (7-7), Iowa (9-4), Wisconsin (8-5)
Losses: #6 Ohio State, Michigan State, @ #7 Michigan
Head Coach: James Franklin (5th season)
Offensive Style: Spread

Quarterback: Sean Clifford
Running Backs: Miles Sanders and Mark Allen
Wide Receivers: DeAndre Thompkins and KJ Hamler
Tight End: Pat Freiermuth

Final Score: Georgia 62, Penn State 59

Sanford Stadium - Athens, Georgia
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 - 12 PM EST

Precipitation: none
Temperature: 52
Wind: SSW 10 MPH

Player of the Game: Georgia RB D’Andre Swift

Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — In a wild College Football Playoff first-round shootout that lived up to its billing, No. 7 Georgia edged No. 17 Penn State 62-59 on Saturday in Athens behind a monster performance from D’Andre Swift, who rushed for 190 yards and five touchdowns — including the game-winner with just 20 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs (12-2) jumped out early and rode a 31-point second quarter to a 45-28 halftime lead, sparked by a pair of long touchdown runs from Swift, who added a 72-yard dash just before the break. Jake Fromm threw for 285 yards and two scores, while adding another on the ground, and Rodrigo Blankenship booted two field goals, including a 47-yarder to close the half and a clutch 35-yarder in the final seconds.

But Penn State (9-4) refused to fold. Freshman quarterback Sean Clifford threw three first-half touchdown passes, including a 69-yard strike to Pat Freiermuth, before Trace McSorley led a second-half comeback. McSorley rushed for a touchdown and threw another to Daniel George, and a pick-six late in the third quarter tied the game at 45. Miles Sanders carried the load with 167 yards and two scores on the ground, including a 64-yarder in the second quarter and a 34-yard game-tying touchdown with less than two minutes to play.

Both teams eclipsed 500 total yards in a game that featured 18 scoring plays and five lead changes. Georgia finished with 253 rushing yards to the Nittany Lions’ 223, and both Penn State quarterbacks contributed through the air — Clifford was a perfect 8 for 8 with 184 yards, while McSorley finished 13 of 25 for 168. However, the Bulldogs were more efficient on third down and held a slight edge in first downs and total plays.

Swift’s late score and Blankenship’s reliable leg proved to be the difference as Georgia survived a furious second-half rally to advance to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

Game 4: No. 13 Washington State (10-2) @ No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1)

Oh, my gosh, how much fun would a first-round playoff game between Mike Leach and Lincoln Riley have been?! It’s like the college football version of Obi-Wan vs. Anakin in “Revenge of the Sith.” Grab your fat little girlfriends and come light up the scoreboard!

No. 4 seed Oklahoma Sooners (12-1; AP/BCS/Coaches #4): Big 12 Champion (auto-bid)

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): @ #24 Iowa State, Army (11-2), Baylor (7-6), @TCU (7-6), Oklahoma State (7-6), @ #16 West Virginia, vs. #15 Texas
Loss: vs. #15 Texas
Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (2nd season)
Offensive Style: Air raid

Quarterback: Kyler Murray
Running Backs: Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon
Wide Receivers: Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb
Tight End: Grant Calcaterra

No. 13 seed Washington State Cougars (10-2; AP/Coaches #10; BCS #13): at-large bid

Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #17 Utah, Oregon (9-4), @Stanford (9-4), California (7-6)
Losses: @USC, #9 Washington
Head Coach: Mike Leach (7th season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread

Quarterback: Gardner Minshew
Running Backs: Clay Markoff and Max Borghi
Wide Receivers: Davontavean Martin and Dezmon Patmon

Final Score: Oklahoma 45, Washington State 17

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium - Norman, Oklahoma
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 - 6 PM CST / 7 PM EST

Precipitation: None
Temperature: 52
Wind: S 6 MPH

Player of the Game: Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray

Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Kyler Murray accounted for five total touchdowns Saturday night as No. 4 Oklahoma overwhelmed No. 10 Washington State 45-17 in the opening round of the 2022 College Football Playoff at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Murray, the Heisman-winning quarterback, torched the Cougars with 396 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air, adding a 13-yard scoring run late in the third quarter that helped to cap a near-flawless offensive night for the Sooners.

Oklahoma (13-1) racked up 580 total yards and 33 first downs while averaging 4.3 yards per carry and converting 50 percent of its third-down attempts.

The Sooners wasted no time jumping out front, with Austin Seibert’s 29-yard field goal and a 24-yard touchdown from Murray to Mykel Jones giving the Sooners a 10-0 lead after one quarter. Then the second quarter turned into an onslaught.

Murray added three more touchdown passes before halftime, including a 66-yard strike to Reggie Turner, as the Sooners built a commanding 31-14 lead despite two second-quarter scores from Gardner Minshew and the Cougars.

Washington State (10-3) showed signs of life behind Minshew’s 310-yard effort and a pair of touchdown throws to Travell Harris and Kyle Sweet.

But the Cougars couldn’t keep pace with Oklahoma’s firepower, and they were undone by three interceptions and a 2-of-12 third-down conversion rate.

Murray’s rushing score in the third pushed the lead to 24 and Trey Sermon’s 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter punctuated a dominant showing for Oklahoma.

Sermon finished with 69 yards on the ground, while CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown combined for 162 receiving yards.

Miguel Edwards had two interceptions to lead the Sooners’ defense, which limited Washington State to just three points after halftime.

With the win, Oklahoma advances to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, where it will face No. 5 Georgia. Washington State, meanwhile, sees its dream season come to a close on the wrong end of a high-speed track meet in Norman.

Tomorrow’s Games

BracketCat’s Protest Playoff Archives

2018: Selection Sunday

21 DAYS TO 2025 KICKOFF: Bryce Noernberg

2025-08-02T08:00:00-05:00

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Bryce Noernberg (21) likely will continue to see most of his playing time on special teams in 2025, as he did in 2024. | Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 21st day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State wide receiver Bryce Noernberg.

#21 Bryce Noernberg

Redshirt Freshman | 5-10 | 170 lbs. | Olathe, Kansas

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

Bryce Noernberg

Position: Wide Receiver
Previous College: None
Projection: Co-Third-String
Status: Preferred Walk-On

Bryce Noernberg (b. Aug. 6, 2005) is a walk-on wide receiver from Olathe who is majoring in business administration and redshirted in 2024 as he packed muscle onto his frame.

(Although he already caught passes NFL toe-tap-style from backup QBs last fall camp...)

Noernberg served as the primary kick returner last season against both Cincinnati and Rutgers — the latter coming in the Rate Bowl — as he retained his redshirt.

He tallied two returns in each game, going for 48 yards with a long of 25 against the Bearcats and 43 total yards with a long of 24 against the Scarlet Knights.

Noernberg prepped under head coach Ron Litchfield at Olathe High School South, where he played quarterback, recording 6,196 total yards and 83 touchdowns as a passer and rusher during his three-year career. (Watch his highlights here.)

He was selected to the Top 11 team by the Kansas Football Coaches Association (KFBCA) as a senior in 2023, in addition to being the league’s offensive player of the year, a first team all-state selection by the KFBCA and Sports in Kansas, a finalist for the prestigious Simone Awards, and an honorable mention pick by The Wichita Eagle.

Noernberg was honored as a first-team all-state punter by the Eagle, and also was an honorable mention pick as a junior from both Sports in Kansas and the Eagle. (His career long was 62 yards.)

He threw for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 1,520 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior. That came on the heels of his junior season, in which he threw for 1,491 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 885 yards and 14 more scores.

Noernberg prepped at the same school as current K-State defensive end Jordan Allen, as well as former receivers Erwin Nash and Cooper Warren, and competed in track and field.

His choice to walk on at Kansas State was an easy one, he told GoPowercat.com:

My goal was to go to K-State in the first place, so it wasn’t that hard of a decision to make. I feel like my greatest strength to add to my position would be my speed and my vision.

22 DAYS TO 2025 KICKOFF: Antonio Martin Jr.

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It was a BOLD move for incoming transfer running back Antonio Martin Jr. to take on the No. 22 jersey of Christopher “Deuce” Vaughn the Second. | Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 22nd day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State running back Antonio Martin Jr.

#22 Antonio Martin Jr.

Redshirt Junior | 5-9 | 222 lbs. | Atlanta, Georgia

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

Antonio Martin Jr.

Position: Running Back
Previous Colleges: Georgia Institute of Technology; Blinn College; Southeastern Louisiana University
Projection: Third-String
Status: On Scholarship?

Antonio Martin Jr. (b. Dec. 2, 2003) is an FCS transfer running back from Southeastern Louisiana who is majoring in humanities. He will serve as our “power back” in 2025 and is vying with Monterrio Elston Jr., JB Price and DeVon Rice to be the No. 3 back overall.

Martin actually got his start at Georgia Tech, where he redshirted and did not play in 2022.

He then transferred to Blinn, where he saw time in eight games in 2023, rushing for 643 yards and five touchdowns on 119 carries, ranking 10th nationally in rushing yards per game at 80.4, and earning all-conference honors.

Martin totaled 171 yards at Cisco, while he had 118 yards against New Mexico Military — including a season long of 50 yards — and 114 yards against Trinity Valley.

Last season, he played for Southeastern Louisiana, where he saw time in 12 games with nine starts, totaling 1,228 yards and 11 touchdowns on 230 attempts, while he also hauled in 20 receptions for 74 yards.

Martin was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which honors the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision, and an All-Southland First Team honoree.

He ranked 12th in the FCS with 102.3 rushing yards per game, while he was 14th in total rushing yards and 35th in all-purpose yards per game (108.5).

Martin’s best game of last year came at Tarleton State, where he rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries en route to Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. His 206 yards against the Texans tied for the 12th most in the FCS for a single game and his three touchdowns tied for 13th.

Martin also tallied 100-yard rushing games against Eastern Washington (149 yards), East Texas A&M (185 yards) and Northwestern State (110 yards). He had a pair of touchdowns against both East Texas A&M — including the game-winning score — and Lamar.

Last December, Martin elected to transfer to Louisiana-Monroe, where he participated in spring practices before entering the post-spring portal and ultimately choosing the Cats.

He prepped under head coach Daniel Williams at Langston Hughes (Ga.) High School in Atlanta, where he was regarded as the 256th-best overall prospect in the nation for the Class of 2022 by ESPN, which rated him the 21st-best running back.

Martin also was viewed as the 22nd-best running back in the class by Rivals after he ran for 1,114 yards and 16 touchdowns in 12 games as a senior in 2021, leading the Panthers to the state championship game and earning first-team all-state honors from the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and honorable mention accolades from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He also picked up first-team all-region honors.

Martin ran for 166 yards and two touchdowns in a one-point loss in the state title game.

He originally chose Georgia Tech out of high school over an impressive set of offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Duke, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Georgia State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Tennessee, UAB and West Virginia, as well as interest from Michigan.

Martin then picked Southeastern Louisiana out of Blinn over an offer from Alabama State.

Here is what new offensive coordinator Matt Wells had to say in June about Martin’s talents:

Antonio Martin, I’m excited to see him in training camp and how physical of a runner he is and needs to be for us.

22 DAYS TO 2025 KICKOFF: Jace Adler

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Safety Callen Barta (22) changed to No. 15 during the offseason. Now his old number will be inherited by a walk-on safety, freshman Jace Adler. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 22nd day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State safety Jace Adler.

#22 Jace Adler

True Freshman | 6-2 | 185 lbs. | Andover, Kansas

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

Jace Adler

Position: Safety
Previous College: None
Projection: Redshirt
Status: Walk-On

Jace Adler (b. Sept. 8, 2006) is a walk-on safety from Andover High School Central who plans on majoring in accounting. He is likely to redshirt and not play in 2025.

A three-year letter-winner for the Jaguars under head coach Derek Tuttle, Adler earned Top-11 honors as a senior from the Kansas Football Coaches Association in addition to being named a first-team all-state selection by both that organization and The Wichita Eagle.

He also was named the 2024 Kansas Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year by Sports in Kansas after he helped to lead Andover Central to a state championship, totaled 230 career tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a school-record nine interceptions.

Adler also came away with 1,746 career receiving yards and 24 touchdowns, in addition to 964 career kickoff and punt return yards.

He lettered three years in basketball and two years in baseball as a prep.

Adler’s father, Marcus, played baseball at Missouri and in the Detroit Tigers’ organization.

He has four siblings — Will, Ben, Nate and Luc. Ben was an offensive lineman for the Wildcats, lettering from 2019 through 2021, while Nate was a pitcher for Wichita State.

In May, Jace Adler was awarded a scholarship from the Bill Snyder Sunflower Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

He chose to walk on at K-State over scholarship offers from Butler, Hutch, Independence, and Iowa Western (where he previously was committed) community colleges; Nebraska-Kearney; Tennessee State; and Washburn, as well as recruiting interest from Emporia State, Kansas, Lindenwood, Midland, Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri State and Pitt State.