College football season has finally concluded on a historic note. I can finally rest…for now. Next month, plans are set in motion but there will for sure be content posted on here. I’ll explain about that later before I’m back out on the trail next month.

I could talk about the entire season about how college football played out, but I’m not writing a story here. Instead, I’ll end things off with the Worst to First CFP teams. I’ll be back on my podcast sometime this week talking about the CFP as a whole to end things off. I’m happy to thank any and every one that read (or skimmed) my posts. I truly appreciate it and can’t thank you enough. I hope to bring you all with more and better content next season. Stay tuned for my NFL and offseason stuff. If you’re also into reading random posts, I will still be around for it!

12) JAMES MADISON DUKES

It was cool seeing James Madison in their first CFP as a Group of Five program (as long as there’s little to no subjectivity from the Committee and the College Football world). But there was no way they could compete with Oregon. I give them credit for their fight to score 30-plus points.

11) TULANE GREEN WAVE

The Green Wave got their rematch with similar results as the first meeting earlier that season. They were moving the ball on Ole Miss, but the result ended the same as the first meeting. Turnovers hurt them and there was nothing they could do to finish their redzone drives without mistakes taking place. Tulane should be back in the mix next year, but who will be their quarterback?

10) TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Defense was elite and played lights out throughout the game. However, the offense did not. They were terrible. They didn’t even eclipse the 200-yard total mark. It was an awful display after what was a great run in the Big 12 prior to the game. They just haven’t developed any offensive production except once, but that ended up in an endzone interception. Texas Tech may return for another opportunity, but they’re losing a lot of experienced players. Replicating that next season becomes difficult unless they hit the right pieces in the portal again, especially on offense.

9) TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Texas A&M struggled in the wind. There could be multiple things that could’ve gone differently. The top two receivers in Kevin Concepcion and Mario Craver gave Marcel Reed multiple opportunities to finish their drives with scores. Unfortunately, he struggled and dealt with Miami’s monster edge rushers the whole game. Whether kicking made a difference or not, a touchdown was needed to stay alive. Despite being at home, A&M’s strong start came to a bitter end after the Texas loss. The team should return stronger, but it’s difficult when all they needed was just one important win against their heated in-state rival.

8) OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Oklahoma made a remarkable run to the CFP. Prior to John Mateer’s hand injury in the middle of the season, the Sooners looked optimistic on offense for once while defense and special teams overtook the season. However, them triumphing over Alabama again wasn’t possible this time. After a hot 17-0 start, they went cold and haven’t recovered since. Defense eventually collapsed after the offense made constant mistakes and got stalled. More can be done on that side and hopefully the offense has answers in key areas needed to be more successful.

7) ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

Alabama’s defense cooked early with a couple of sacks. After that, nothing. Ty Simpson was in S.O.S mode the entire game under seige by Indiana’s defense. Bama’s defense was outplayed, outgained, and wasn’t physical enough to stay with Indiana’s offense at all. That’s bizarre hearing this and saying this about Alabama. Also, Alabama hasn’t been successful for championship runs recently due to not running the ball consistently. The last time the run game was successful was 2021 when Brian Robinson was the last Bama back to run for over 1,000 yards. They made the Natty that year despite losing to Georgia. With a historical loss in program history, the Tide are left in shambles with questions for next season.

6) OREGON DUCKS

Oregon once again had their worst conclusion to the postseason. What’s worse is that it was back-to-back against their Big Ten opponents after facing them during the regular season again. The first half turnovers were their downfall. No matter what they did, they were outrun by Indiana in all facets. Despite the embarrassing loss, they’re making progression for next season. Bringing in Dylan Raiola to backup Dante Moore (who chose to return) along with players with eligibility to return could mean a big opportunity for another postseason appearance with a deeper run than their last.

5) OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

They go from last season’s First 12-team National Champions to the first team out in the quarterfinals. Defense eventually woke up and locked down Miami for the majority of the game, but the offense just looked inconsistent. Julian Sayin struggled to get anything going with the pass rush bearing down on him. The offensive line struggled all night long against Miami’s elite pass rushers. Ohio State went 0-2 this season since ending their drought against Michigan. They’ll be contenders next year with hopefully more confidence in this roster.

4) GEORGIA BULLDOGS

Georgia figured they would have a chance to atone for last season’s quarterfinal’s loss. Instead, they suffered back-to-back CFP losses in the Sugar Bowl, which they have a bad history of playing in the Superdome in postseason play. Georgia’s defense couldn’t stop Trinidad Chambliss, Kewan Lacy, and the pass catchers. Is Georgia falling off their trend as a dominant SEC team like Alabama???

3) OLE MISS

I want to applaud Ole Miss for their storybook run in the postseason. Right after the program made their first ever CFP appearance and major postseason appearance, Lane Kiffin dips for LSU for whatever reason that can and can’t be explained. Interim coach Pete Golding and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss rallied the team to wins against Tulane and a classic equalizing victory over Georgia. They came so very close to a Natty appearance against Miami, but they didn’t go down without a fight. Through all the adversity, the Rebels didn’t waver. They went in feeling like the best team in the nation in every game. However, what seemed like a possibility for Trinidad Chambliss’s return turned into uncertainty for the program after he was denied another year of eligibility. If he can’t return, where does Ole Miss go from here without him and Lane Kiffin?

2) MIAMI HURRICANES

Miami had an unbelievable run that should’ve been more believable. They were deemed one of the best teams in college football despite two costly losses by Carson Beck. Unfortunately, their season ends in Carson Beck’s interception leading to their closure with that loss. Despite that, they had a great CFP run that included defeating Texas A&M in hurricane-like conditions in College Station, defeating the former National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes, and winning a classic matchup against Ole Miss in the semifinals. As the last qualifying at-large team, Miami earned their way in and proved they can play their best football at the right time. Expect them to compete for another shot next season.

1) INDIANA HOOSIERS

Indiana completed their season on top of the college football mountain. When we all assumed this was a one-and-done CFP appearance for Indiana, Curt Cignetti thought otherwise. Bringing in his James Madison players last season and following up with key portal players like Fernando Mendoza and Roman Hemby, giving them so much more than just another CFP opportunity. They went undefeated in the regular season, won the Big Ten title against former National Champion Ohio State, ran over Alabama and Oregon like a bulldozer, and outlasted Miami in their home state in the National Championship to finish a CFB record 16-0. This was also Fernando Mendoza’s homecoming. He now takes home the Heisman trophy and won offensive MVP in the Natty with NFL aspirations along the way too. Curt Cignetti set the standard for the new college football era, and Indiana gets to bask in it for what could be decades moving forward. Look for them to be the new powerhouse program if Cigs keeps this going.