College Football National Title Matchup Fans Want To See
By Erik Lambert
Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher shares a laugh with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban on the ESPN post game set after defeating the Auburn Tigers 34-31 during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The playoffs will bring an extra edge of excitement to college football in 2014, but in all honest what is the game fans likely want most?
Alabama and Florida State bring all the history and more
There is no doubt seeing unheralded teams like Mississippi State, Michigan State or Oregon in the big game would be a great time for anybody but the fact is fans love games that have all sorts of storylines and backdrops. They love powerhouses going at each other for the right to supremacy. That is what a showdown between Alabama and Florida State would represent. Between the two teams they have decades of football dominance including 18 national championships, hosts of future NFL superstars.
More recently one has Alabama winning three out of four titles under Nick Saban while the Seminoles are reigning champions and haven’t lost a game since November of 2012. There is the connection between Saban and FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher, who won a championship together at LSU back in 2003 before parting ways. There is of course the Jameis Winston angle, who rules college football both as champion and Heisman trophy winner but has never played the Crimson Tide in his young career. Or maybe the highlight reel receivers like Amari Cooper and Rashad Greene?
The possibilities are practically endless. With the season reaching the home stretch, Alabama is 7-1. Florida State is undefeated. Both are on track for a birth in the inaugural college football playoffs. One can only hope they don’t play each other before the final game of that tournament.