College Football Playoffs (SemifinalRound)

#1 Oklahoma vs. #4 Alabama

Traditional football power met in Norman, OK in the first semifinal match-up. Alabama stunned the Sooners crowd by breaking free for a 42-yard touchdown run just two minutes into the game. Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin missed the extra point for a 6-0 Alabama lead. After Oklahoma's first drive stalled, Tiffin would redeem himself with a 23-yard field goal with 6:25 left in the quarter to give Alabama a 9-0 lead. After trading punts, Oklahoma's Jimmy Stevens blasted a 50-yard field goal through the uprights narrowing the lead to 9-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Tide missed several chances to add to their lead early in the second quarter including a Tiffin miss from 45-yards. Alabama finally scored again late in the quarter on 32-yard pass from John Parker Wilson to Mike McCoy to give the Crimson Tide a 16-3 lead and send a wave of concern through the Oklahoma crowd. The Sooners methodically drove the ball down the field after the Alabama TD and booted a 34-yard field goal through with 37 seconds left in the 1st Half. Wilson and Julio Jones were not content to take the 16-6 lead into the half and connected on two passes totaling 45-yards to put Leigh Tiffin in range to make a 43-yard field goal as time expired in the half to send Alabama to locker room leading 19-6. The second half would prove to be a stark contrast to the first two quarters. Oklahoma opened the 3rd Quarter with a 69-yard touchdown drive, capped by an 8-yard run by Chris Brown to make the score 19-13. Late in the quarter, Brown with break away on a 55-yard run that eventually set-up a Stevens 36-yard field goal to narrow the Alabama lead to 19-16. Both teams stalled on offense on their next possessions as the game rolled into the 4th Quarter. The Sooners forced an Alabama punt and then drove just over 80-yards in four minutes to take their first lead of the game on a DeMarco Murray 16-yard touchdown reception. Alabama began their next drive down 23-19 with just over six minutes remaining. The Crimson Tide was unable to mount a successful drive and punted the ball back to Oklahoma with just under four minutes remaining. The Sooners methodically drove the ball into Alabama territory, forcing the Crimson Tide to expend all three of its timeouts, before booting a 33-yard field goal to take a 26-19 lead with 54 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Wilson was sacked for a five yard loss and forced to spike the ball on second down to stop the clock. On third down, Wilson was chased from the pocket and ran out of bounds for no gain. A last gasp effort on 4th and 15 fell short as Wilson's deep ball was broken up by the Sooners defense. Sam Bradford took a knee for Oklahoma sending them to the national championship game with 26-19 win over the Crimson Tide.

#2 Florida vs. #3 Texas

Gainesville, Florida provided the setting for the second semifinal match-up. The two high-powered offenses failed to dazzle in the first quarter, with the only real scoring opportunity coming from a 45-yard field goal attempt that was missed by Florida's Jonathan Phillips. The Longhorns finally broke the scoring drought early in the 2nd Quarter after their drive stalled and Hunter Lawrence drilled a 42-yard field goal. Florida then took over seven minutes to finally score as Phillips narrowly made a 34-yard field goal. The score remaining knotted at 3-3 as the teams went into the half. The 3rd Quarter would provide more scoring for both teams. After the opening kickoff return of the 2nd Half gave Texas the ball at their own 43, the Longhorns quickly drove into Florida territory and scored on an 18-yard Foswhitt Whittaker touchdown run to take a 10-3 lead. The Gators responded with a 47-yard drive capped off by a 36-yard Phillips field goal to close to 10-6. Brandon Spikes then intercepted Colt McCoy. Florida immediately took a deep shot down the field that paid off with a 56-yard touchdown grab by Riley Cooper to take a 13-10 lead. Both teams traded punts and time in the third quarter expired. Early in the fourth, Texas' Hunter Lawrence missed a chance to tie with a field goal attempt from 42-yards. Florida responded to the miss with another quick score, again by Cooper with a 66-yard touchdown reception to stretch the lead to 20-10. Lawrence would miss again for Texas from 47-yards with just over nine minutes remaining. After a Florida punt, Lawrence would finally redeem himself by connecting from 39-yards to bring Texas within to within seven at 20-13. The Longhorns then forced the Gators to go three and out, giving the ball back to Texas on their own 36 with just over three minutes to play. The Longhorns were able to pick their way to the Florida 41-yard line before a holding call pushed them back to their own 49 and set-up a 2nd and 21. An incomplete pass and a sack forced Texas to go for it on 4th and 26 at their own 44. McCoy was flushed from the pocket and forced to scramble, only to be tackled for no gain, giving the ball back to the Gators with 59 seconds remaining. Florida's Emmanuel Moody broke free for 17 yards on the first play of the new drive, sealing the game for the Gators as Tebow took a knee twice. Florida, with the 20-13 win advance to face Oklahoma for the national title.