GLENDALE, Ariz. — No. three TCU surprised No. 2 Michigan with a fifty one-forty five win inside the Fiesta Bowl to understand the school soccer Playoff championship recreation in direction of No. 1 Georgia.
TCU stormed out to a 21-6 halftime lead after which survived an epic run of scoring inside the second half, responding to every amongst Michigan’s scores with a sequence of explosive performs in direction of one among many nation’s extreme-ranked defenses.
After Michigan drew with a discipline purpose at forty one-38 early inside the fourth quarter, the Horned Frogs scored on a seventy six-yard catch-and-run down the becoming sideline after which added a discipline purpose on the following possession to develop to be the primary crew to understand 50 factors in direction of Michigan since Ohio State in 2019.
past qualifying as an upset, the win is a large second for the massive 12, which was on the precipice of disaster with the dearth of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC however now has a crew inside the championship recreation for the primary time. For Michigan, the loss is a enticing blow after ending one among many very important spectacular common season in program historic previous.
listed right here are three observations from the Frogs’ win:
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there is not any extra doubting TCU
the massive questions coming into the Fiesta Bowl:
may TCU run the ball on Michigan? may TCU cease Michigan’s working recreation? Most of all, may the Horned Frogs stand as a lot as a consequence of the bodily nature of the massive Ten champions?
After stepping out to a large lead and answering every amongst Michigan’s challenges inside the second half, there aren’t any extra questions with regard to the Frogs’ toughness or the crew’s place amongst the numerous biggest teams inside the Bowl Subdivision.
TCU ran for 264 yards whereas holding the Wolverines to one hundred eighty yards on forty carries, with fifty 4 yards approaching a future by Donovan Edwards on the sport’s opening play. The go rush harassed J.J. McCarthy and compelled him to intention throws into small dwelling windows, ensuing in two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
And whereas the protection was worn down inside the second half and finally cratered, a frustratingly explosive blitz scheme helped the Frogs preserve the Wolverines off stability and construct that finally insurmountable lead.
in the end, a crew acknowledged for worthwhile shut video games was ready for Michigan’s inevitable comeback. inside the third quarter alone, the two teams mixed for sixteen first downs, forty 4 factors, 420 yards of offense and three turnovers. After each had appeared to flip momentum a quantity of instances, the quarter ended with the sport roughly inside the identical place: TCU led by 15 factors at halftime after which eleven factors heading into the fourth, forty one-30.
At one level, the pair mixed for fifty one factors in simply over seven minutes of recreation time, exchanging haymakers in a playoff recreation virtually with out precedent inside the format’s historic previous. however TCU was ready — the Frogs have performed 4-quarters video games all season whereas the Wolverines had been in uncharted territory.
Max Duggan is imperfect however finally ends up delivering for TCU
The Heisman Trophy runner-up accomplished solely 14 of 29 makes an try for 225 yards with two scores and two interceptions, struggling at instances with Michigan’s strain and connecting inside the Frogs’ downfield passing recreation.
however as in the course of the massive 12 championship recreation, when he broke by means of late and took over your full offense, Max Duggan delivered with the sport on the highway. His seventy six-yard touchdown go to Quentin Johnson, delivered underneath extreme duress, pushed TCU forward forty eight-38 after Michigan scored 14 factors in underneath a minute.
He additionally performed an limitless half inside the working recreation, as anticipated. Duggan accomplished with fifty seven yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns and helped loosen up the Michigan protection, which led to backup working again Emari Demarcado’s recreation-extreme a hundred and fifty yards on 17 carries.
general, that is what we have come to anticipate from the senior, who has already introduced this shall be his final season. all by means of this magical yr, TCU has leaned on Duggan to maintain the load on offense; as quickly as as quickly as extra, he stepped up with a Heisman-worthy efficiency.
TCU pulls off the upset. however what occurs subsequent?
Beating the Wolverines as roughly a touchdown underdog would possibly qualify as a consequence of the most very important upset inside the historic previous of the playoff format. In doing so — and inside the strategy all by means of which they greater than held up bodily in direction of the massive Ten champions — the Horned Frogs may very effectively be given extra good factor about the doubt heading into the championship recreation in direction of Georgia. however one factor will not change: TCU will as quickly as extra be the underdog, and probably by a double-digit margin ought to the Bulldogs race previous the Buckeyes.
The bodily facet of the Fiesta Bowl win underscores one among many biggest misconceptions about TCU, which was considered as a extra finesse crew barely than one in a place to standing as a lot as Michigan’s play on both facet of the highway of scrimmage. And taking half in the Wolverines is an environment nice introduction to what the Frogs will face in direction of Georgia, for event, even when the Bulldogs appear to be on a particular diploma than Michigan.
however virtually regardless of the opponent, TCU shall be taken rather extra significantly as a menace to win an unbelievably enticing nationwide championship after posting a mixed 23-24 report inside the 4 years earlier than Dykes’ arrival final winter.
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