GLENDALE, AZ — The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs (13-1) squared off against the Michigan Wolverines (13-1) in the semifinal game of the College Football Playoff Championships on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 3 p.m.
Played in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, TCU excelled on defense throughout the contest and shut down Michigan's potent offense. The Horned Frogs forced three takeaways and turned two of those into touchdowns. Michigan fought back ferociously in the second half but failed to overcome TCU. The Horned Frogs advanced to the National Championship game 51-45.
Michigan received the opening kickoff and immediately found success on their first possession. The Wolverines drove down to TCU's 9-yard line before the Horned Frogs finally came to life. Four straight plays, TCU denied the Wolverines the end zone, and Michigan turned the ball over on downs at the 1-yard line.
TCU's offense did nothing with the football and punted it away on their opening possession. With the ball at the Wolverines' 34-yard line, Michigan's QB J.J. McCarthy threw an errant pass that TCU's Bud Clark picked off. Clark returned the interception 41 yards to the house for a touchdown. TCU struck first with 9:22 remaining in the 1st quarter, 7-0.
TCU's Bud Clark following his 41-yard pick-six
(Credit: @TCUFootball/twitter.com)
The Horned Frogs forced a 3-and-out and gave the ball back to their offense at TCU's 24-yard line. TCU's QB and Davey O'Brien award winner, Max Duggan, orchestrated a 12-play, 76-yard drive that ended when he punched the ball into the end zone from one yard out. The Horned Frogs led 14-0 with 2:27 remaining in the 1st quarter.
After Michigan finally got on the board with a field goal, TCU scored again. Duggan found WR Quentin Johnston for a 32-yard gain to get the Horned Frogs inside the 20-yard line. Duggan connected with Taye Barber for a 6-yard touchdown four plays later. The 10-pay, 83-yard drive extended TCU's lead, 21-3, with 4:56 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
With the game in danger of getting out of hand before halftime, the Wolverines added another field goal as time expired in the first half. K Jake Moody nailed a 59-yard bomb and the longest field goal in College Football Playoff history to leave the score 21-6 at halftime.
Michigan turned its fortunes around in the second half. After forcing the Horned Frogs to punt, they added another field goal. On the ensuing possession, the Wolverines picked off Duggan at TCU's 45-yard line. Three plays later, McCarthy found WR Ronnie Bell for a 34-yard touchdown. Michigan clawed back into the game 21-16 with 6:32 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
From that point forward, the contest exploded with touchdowns on both sides. First, TCU drove the length of the field to score a 1-yard touchdown. Michigan looked to answer, but McCarthy threw another interception to TCU's Dee Winters, who returned the ball 29 yards for a touchdown. TCU increased its lead to 34-16.
Michigan responded with a 76-yard drive on three plays that ended with a 20-yard touchdown run by McCarthy.
TCU kept pace with a short, explosive touchdown of their own. RB Emari Demercado snapped off a 65-yard run down to Michigan's 1-yard line. Max Duggan scored one play later.
However, Michigan refused to fall further behind. McCarthy hit Bell again for 44 yards to TCU's 1-yard line. RB Kalei Mullings scored the next play, and the wild 3rd quarter ended with the Wolverines still behind 41-30.
Michigan began the 4th quarter with a takeaway when they stripped Demercado at TCU's 27-yard line. Two plays later, WR Roman Wilson scored from 18 yards out. The Wolverines went for the 2-point conversion, and McCarthy hit Bell to score. Michigan pulled within three points, 41-38.
As the final period wore on, TCU took better care of the football for the remainder of the 4th quarter and added ten more points, a field goal, and a 76-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to Johnston. TCU led 51-38. The Horned Frogs and the Wolverines entered crunch time with less than ten minutes to play.
After the Wolverines forced TCU to punt, Michigan marched 56 yards down the field on nine plays to score again. McCarthy found Roman Wilson alone on 3rd and goal for the 5-yard touchdown pass. Michigan pulled within six points with 3:18 to go in the contest.
Michigan stopped TCU on the ensuing possession and gave the ball back to their offense with 45 seconds to play. Back against the wall, Michigan had no timeouts and no room for error if they wanted to win. TCU stood tall for three plays and forced Michigan into a 4th down with 35 seconds left.
Disaster struck the Wolverines on 4th down when the center snapped the ball before McCarthy called for it. The resulting mad scramble that followed ended with Michigan short of the first down. However, one of TCU's defenders lowered his head on the final tackle and rocked TE Colston Loveland near his head.
After review, the referees determined targeting did not occur, and TCU took over on downs. Max Duggan kneeled out the time remaining, and the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs defeated the Michigan Wolverines, 51-45, to advance to the College Football National Championship. The Horned Frogs will face the winner of Georgia and Ohio State on Monday, Jan. 9, at 6:30 p.m.
TCU's Quentin Johnston won offensive MVP honors when he posted six catches for 163 yards and a touchdown.
TCU's Dee Winters won defensive MVP honors with seven tackles, three for loss, one interception, and one touchdown.
TCU's Taye Barber out paces the Wolverines
(Credit: @Fiesta_Bowl/twitter.com)
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