By: JC Nevils
After the conference championship games this past weekend, the
playoff field has been permanently set. With that comes a lot of
great matchups, but what will set the teams apart to give them the
edge? Here I name the biggest X-factors who will have to come
up big for their teams to have success.
1. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
The Broncos clinched an automatic bid with a bye this past
weekend after winning the Mountain West championship over
UNLV. The main reason of that you might ask? That would
obviously be Ashton Jeanty. He notched another 200 yard game,
which makes that his fifth of the season. He has been playing like a
created player all year. To put it in perspective, he has
rushed for 2,497 yards this season, along with 29 rushing touchdowns. He is
only 131 yards away from the all-time record, which the great Barry Sanders holds. He will win the Doak Walker award (Best RB) by a
long shot along with being a Heisman finalist. If he keeps it up, I
see Boise State making a run, as long as the defense holds up.
2. RB Dylan Sampson/Defensive Front, Tennessee
For the first time in program history, the Tennessee
Volunteers have finally made the College Football Playoffs. The
main reason for this has been the exceptional play of star running
back and SEC Player of the Year Dylan Sampson, along with the defense. The defensive front
specifically has caused havoc all year for offenses. To begin with, Dylan Sampson has broken numerous school records this season. He
finished the regular season leading the SEC in rushing with 1,485
yards, along with 22 rushing touchdowns, which ties him for fifth all-time in a season with Leonard Fournette. He has been the leader of
the team all season and it certainly shows.
BREAKING: Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson has been named SEC Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/FzQxMAfjw6
— Vol Report (@AllVolReport) December 5, 2024
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The other main reason Tennessee has had a great season is the defense, led by Broyles Award finalist Tim Banks, who has completely turned that side of the ball around.. The leader of
the defense though, is its nasty front led by future first round pick James Pearce Jr and many others. They have rotated up to eight or
nine defensive lineman, which keeps them fresh. The unit anchors a top-four defense in the nation and ranks second nationally in stopping the run, allowing only 79 yards per game. If these two factors come to Columbus and play like they have all season, Tennessee could make a surprising run.
QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Georgia also clinched a spot along with a bye in the College
Football Playoffs with a win over Texas, which earned them another
SEC title. While they look to get healthy so they can be at full
strength, there are still concerns. Starting quarterback Carson Beck went down with an elbow injury right before half time,
which held him out the entire second half. He may be healthy enough to play by the time the game arrives, but if the injury is as bad as it looks, confidence in his availability is low.
Beck did come out to hand the ball off on the game winning touchdown,
but he clearly couldn’t move his throwing arm. That is a recipe for
disaster. In comes backup Gunner Stockton. While he really hasn’t
played all season, he showed some playmaking ability along with
sparking the Bulldogs stagnant offense. Still, as inspiring as Stockton’s performance was, it’s hard to envision him leading Georgia to a title.
The Bulldogs have been dominant in recent years, but this season feels different. They need to be at full strength, and with that in mind, preparing for the worst by getting Stockton fully ready to play is critical. We’ll see how things unfold come game day.
Good morning to Gunner Stockton pic.twitter.com/4OC8wFNplv
— UGA (@universityofga) December 8, 2024
