Carla and Crappy Show: The B1G Semifinal Edition

A new year is upon us, and as this new era of college football continues, there are many important questions still to be answered.

How rich can the lore and canon of the Pop-Tarts Bowl truly become? What happened to Alabama? How good is the Big Ten? (We’re looking you squarely in the eyes, SEC.) And, most importantly, is it a valid marriage if a Cheez-It officiates the wedding?

Yes, we’re being just a bit ridiculous here, but that’s the nature of both bowl season and The Carla and Crappy Show. (You knew that already.)

The four College Football Playoff quarterfinal games were not ridiculous, however, unless you’re referencing Cam Skattebo’s MVP effort in the Peach Bowl. The New Year’s Four bowls certainly did not disappoint, and they’ve caused us to set our sights on something somewhat unthinkable at the beginning of it all: An all-Big Ten national title game. But before we get ahead of ourselves (OK, who are we kidding? We’re definitely getting ahead of ourselves.), there are two semifinal games to sort out which teams will be the final two standing.

Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame (7:30 ET Thursday, ESPN): The Penn State ground game stood out in the Fiesta Bowl, although Ashton Jeanty still got his 100-yard game. The creativity on offense (minus a couple of dumb decisions) must continue in the semis. (Also, yes, keep hitting that Tyler Warren button.) While Notre Dame’s offense was not spectacular against Georgia, its defense held Travis Etienne to 30 yards rushing. That’s … not a lot. Combine that with the Irish’s return game, and the Nits will have their hands full.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State (7:30 ET Friday, ESPN): Ohio State has looked like a team possessed in the playoff. They’ve steamrolled Tennessee and Oregon and now take on a Texas team that nearly (and maybe should have) lost to Arizona State. It’s essentially a home game for the Horns, but do they have what it takes to slow down that Bucks offensive right now? Texas has not played a complete game yet this season.

We conclude with a reminder of the other national title games happening this week, including the DIII Stagg Bowl: Mount Union vs. North Central (8 ET Sunday, ESPN) and the FCS national title game between No. 2 North Dakota State and No. 1 Montana State (7 ET Monday, ESPN).

And so, yes, if the all-Big Ten national championship becomes a thing, you can expect to hear AJ as the host of our final playoff show next week … because Carla and Crappy may not be speaking to each other. (We kid. Kind of.) Enjoy all of the college football you can, boys and girls. The season is coming to an end. Cheers.