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Chris Lowe, ESPN Senior Writer
Welcome to the Super Conference version of ESPN's 2024 Mock NCAA Football Tournament.
Of the teams that made it to the Sweet 16, 11 are in the Big Ten or SEC.
All four No. 1 seeds are still alive, with the lowest remaining seed being No. 5 Louisville. In this new era of college football, several transfer players have already made significant contributions, and three new coaches – Alabama's Karen DeBoer, Arizona's Brent Brennan and Michigan's Sherone Moore – have led their teams to the Sweet 16. We are welcoming you.
In summary, the original seeds were based to some degree on ESPN's latest SP+ projections going into the 2024 season, and the seeds don't really mean much at this point.
Let's finish the football version of the 64 team tournament. This tournament did not require endless meetings with commissioners and other administrators to determine the format.
southern region
Semi-final
(1) Georgia 35, (4) Utah 14: While Georgia continues to lose great defensive players to the NFL, other great players continue to emerge from the shadows. CJ Allen and Jaron Walker are next in the lineup as the type of strong linebackers the Dawgs have featured in recent years. With five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles against the Utes, Georgia never trailed.
(2) Notre Dame 34, (3) Missouri 33: He has bounced back and forth between two teams that have shown resilience throughout the season. Cornerback Benjamin Morrison's 66-yard interception return for a touchdown gave Notre Dame the lead heading into the fourth quarter. Missouri answered back minutes later with Brady Cook's 1-yard touchdown plunge, but South Carolina graduate transfer Mitch Jeter made a 49-yard field goal on the final play of the game, giving the Irish a thrilling run. We won in a certain way.
district finals
(1) Georgia 30, (2) Notre Dame 27: Notre Dame had its best game of the tournament, with Riley Leonard having success against Georgia's secondary like few quarterbacks have. The Irish led by a touchdown entering the fourth quarter, but Glenn Shuman's defense settled down and forced three consecutive 3-and-outs. The final shot created a short field for Georgia, and 240-pound Roderick Robinson sped past defenders for a 12-yard touchdown run.
How we got here
First round: (1) Georgia, (16) UNLV, (2) Notre Dame, (15) Northwestern, (3) Missouri, (14) Appalachian State, (4) Utah, (13) BYU, (12) Rutgers, (5) Miami, (6) USC vs. (11) South Carolina, (10) Liberty vs. (7) Auburn, (8) Virginia Tech vs. (9) Memphis
Round 2: (1) Georgia, (8) Virginia Tech, (2) Notre Dame, (10) Liberty, (3) Missouri, (6) Southern California, (4) Utah, (12) Rutgers
eastern region
Semi-final
(1) Texas 35, (4) Arizona 28: Brennan and Arizona continue to be one of the best storylines in the tournament. Noah Fifita outplayed Quinn Ewers for the majority of the game in a matchup of talented quarterbacks. But the difference is that Texas was able to protect Ewers better, especially on the left side, with tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. serving as a lone shield and giving Ewers the time he needed to fight back against the Longhorns in the second half. I'll give it to you.
(3) Ole Miss 38, (2) Alabama 35: Lane Kiffin fell short as Ole Miss coach with four tries against Nick Saban and Alabama. But Kiffin and the Rebels broke through against coach Karen DeBoer's Crimson Tide. It was a close battle from start to finish. Jaylen Milroe ran for two touchdowns and caught another pass, putting Alabama on the brink of advancing to the Elite Eight. Kiffin then completed a fourth-and-7 from his own 32 yards, catching a pass over the middle from Tre Harris for the game-clinching 68-yard touchdown. Kiffin has since vowed to quit social media.
district finals
(1) Texas 41, (3) Ole Miss 38: This is an instant classic from Steve Sarkisian and Kiffin, two coaches who worked together at the University of Southern California under Pete Carroll and knew each other well. The first big play of the game came on the defensive end when Ole Miss defensive end Jared Ivey sacked Ewers, forced a fumble, and Princeley Umanmielen returned it 24 yards for a touchdown. woke up. Ewers bounced back to throw two touchdown passes in the second half, but stood there and took a mean shot to his ribs on the last one. In a Hollywood-style ending, Arch Manning comes off the bench in the final minute of the game to lead the Longhorns to victory over the alma mater of his father, grandfather and uncle.
How we got here
First round: (1) Texas vs. Fresno State (16), (2) Alabama vs. Illinois (15), (3) Ole Miss vs. North Carolina (14), (4) Arizona vs. UCLA (13), (5) Clemson vs. (12) ) Colorado, (11) West Virginia, (6) Wisconsin, (10) Nebraska, (7) North Carolina, (8) Iowa, (9) Washington
Round 2: (1) Texas, (8) Iowa State, (2) Alabama, (10) Nebraska, (3) Ole Miss, (11) West Virginia, (4) Arizona, (5) Clemson
Midwest region
Semi-final
(1) Ohio State University 42, (5) University of Louisville 21: The first was Bill O'Brien. Then it was Chip Kelly. Ryan Day had been looking for a proven play-caller to take over the job, but when O'Brien left in February to take the head coaching job at Boston College, he ultimately turned to his former coach at the University of New Hampshire. I turned to Kelly. Kelly has no shortage of dynamic playmakers, with Treveyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins and Emeka Egbuka all taking turns scoring touchdowns in the Buckeyes' dominant victory.
(3) Oklahoma 24, (2) Michigan 20: All of the talk surrounding this game centers around a potential matchup between Ohio State and Michigan for the Elite Eight spot. Brent Venables and Oklahoma State have other ideas. The Sooners' defensive experience is a reminder of how important it was to get their two best defenders back in linebacker Danny Stutzman and safety Billy Bowman for the 2024 season. Every time it looks like the Wolverines are putting together a drive, Stutzman or Bowman is there to make the big play.
district finals
(1) Ohio State 37, (3) Oklahoma State 24: The Sooners' deep and impressive run in the tournament comes to an end. Sophomore quarterback Jackson's Arnold's talent and toughness explain why he will be one of the nation's top returning quarterbacks in 2025, but the Buckeyes' defense He keeps running away for most of the match. Additionally, Oklahoma was unable to advance its running game, allowing Ohio State defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimorow to tee off with Arnold.
How we got here
First round: (1) Ohio State vs. (16) Miami, (2) Michigan vs. (15) Arkansas, (3) Oklahoma vs. (14) South Florida, (4) LSU vs. (13) Georgia Tech, (5) ) Louisville (12) Boise State, (6) Texas A&M, (11) Minnesota, (10) Maryland, (7) Iowa, (8) Florida, TCU (9)
Round 2: (1) Ohio State vs. Florida (8), (2) Michigan vs. (10) Maryland, (3) Oklahoma vs. (6) Texas A&M, (5) Louisville vs. (4) LSU
western region
Semi-final
(1) Oregon State 42, (4) Tennessee State 35: Oregon State has aggressively recruited Nico Iamareaba, ranking second behind Tennessee for the talented quarterback from California. Imareaba's first season as the Vols' starter proves why he was used so heavily. But for his performance in this game, as well as Dillon Gabriel throwing for 390 yards and four touchdowns to move the Ducks one step closer to a national championship, he was the second-best quarterback on the field. It's back.
(3) Florida State 28, (2) Pennsylvania State 24: Do you think the Seminoles and everyone involved with their program are still upset about being eliminated from the playoffs last season? That's why we have a 64-team field and Florida State There is no doubt that he is playing with a shoulder injury. Back in January, some in the FSU administration thought they might lose Mike Norvell to Alabama. Those fears seem like a fleeting memory as the Seminoles hold the Nittany Lions scoreless in the fourth quarter and cling on to victory.
district finals
(3) Florida State 31, (1) Oregon State 30: DJ Uiagalelei has traveled the college football map from Clemson to Oregon State and now Florida State. It's a journey he and the Seminole people will never forget. A year ago, Uiagalelei's touchdown pass was Oregon State's only score in a 31-7 loss to rival Oregon State. But this time, the stakes were even higher, and he threw three touchdown passes, propelling FSU to the Final Four. It's a place Seminole fans around the world will tell you was where they belonged a year ago.
How we got here
First round: (1) Oregon State vs. James Madison (16), (2) Penn State vs. (15) Wake Forest, (3) Florida State vs. (14) Washington State, (4) Tennessee vs. (13) Duke College, (12) UCF vs. (5) Kansas State, (6) Oklahoma State, (11) Oregon State, (7) Kansas State, (10) Texas Tech, (9) Kentucky, (8) SMU
Round 2: (1) Oregon vs. (9) Kentucky, (2) Penn State vs. (7) Kansas, (3) Florida State vs. (6) Oklahoma State, (4) Tennessee vs. (12) UCF
final four
(1) Texas 31, (1) Georgia 24: If you like offense vs. defense, there's nothing better than this semifinal game where Steve Sarkisian pits his wits against Kirby Smart. Ewers returned from injury in the regional final win over Ole Miss and was as good as new. He and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck had passing exhibitions with key third-down completions, deep balls and throws into tight windows. The Bulldogs tied the game with Beck's 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oscar Delp, but Ewers threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to his own tight end, Amari Niblack, a transfer from the University of Alabama. They found it and won, ending Georgia's winning streak at 17. .
(1) Ohio State 38, (3) Florida State 21: Ohio State looked as good as anyone in this tournament, even against a Florida State team that ran out of gas after an emotional run that took some of the pain away from a year ago. The Buckeyes scored 30 or more points for the fifth straight time in the tournament, and cornerback Denzel Burke rushed for 91 yards and a score on a Seminoles drive late in the third quarter, scoring a defensive touchdown.
national championship tournament
(1) Texas 41, (1) Ohio State 37: Ohio State advanced to the national championship game in this tournament for the second straight season. The Buckeyes are also set to win the title for the first time since he won the title in 2014. The Longhorns are on track to win another title. The last title he won in 2005. In his fourth season with Acres, Sarkisian has the best and most balanced team. The game will feature 28 of his future NFL draft picks.
Ohio State gained momentum in the fourth quarter, but Texas' Ethan Burke and Anthony Hill Jr. took down a scrambling Will Howard with a game-changing sack. The Buckeyes were forced to punt, and Oregon State transfer Silas Bolden scored the winning touchdown with a 73-yard punt return that left a steam trail down the left sideline. As the final seconds pass, Bebo appears on the field with a full-blown horns-up glow and a burnt orange sign that reads “Texas is back!”
