Oklahoma’s playing Clemson in the Orange Bowl semifinal. Oklahoma got eaten and upchucked by Clemson 40-6 in last year’s Russell Athletic Bowl. Though things have changed since then, the Sooners are still able to reap motivation from the accurate things said about them on TV at the time. Such as, that they looked like a JV team and that they should’ve just asked for a running clock.
Sooners drawing Playoff motivation from that time Clemson stomped them into dust
Good morning! This is the Read Option, your wakeup newsletter of college football stuff and a reminder of previous bowl season shame.
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
“There’s a lot in that broadcast where they take shots at us,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said of ESPN commentators Mike Patrick and Ed Cunningham. “We take that as disrespect. That motivates us.”
Full disclosure: I also made fun of how OU looked in that game, as did you and all your friends and relatives.
Elsewhere, Mayfield got into it with TCU coach Gary Patterson over the quarterback’s recruitment. It’s getting so heated, the coach called out Mayfield’s dad.
Despite being cited after a single-car accident, Ezekiel Elliott will play for Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
That’s good for the self-interested television viewer, because the Fiesta Bowl might pack more talent per square inch than even the Cotton or Orange.
Bud Elliott is covering a large recruiting event, and you can follow along here and on Twitter. A few key takeaways so far, in addition to the important business:
- A Florida State QB commit touted the school’s crab legs. I said crab legs.
- An LSU four-star explained why Raising Cane’s is superior to Zaxby’s while riding a hoverboard.
- And one offensive line recruit gave an interview with his leg behind his head.
Why are there so many bowl games? Hey, here’s an example. Duke’s minor bowl drew more TV viewers than Duke’s overtime basketball thriller with archrival UNC.
YESTERDAY’S BOWLS: We made it through arguably the weakest day of bowl season. Celebrate with an icy treat.
- No. 21 Navy earned its school-record 11th win, and QB Keenan Reynolds added to his lengthy list of records and whatnot in his last game. Then a Pitt fan showed up in the comments to declare Navy unworthy of playing Pitt.
- Bored ref hollers, “THERE IS NO ACTION ON THE FIELD” during the Quick Lane Bowl, and we couldn’t agree more.
- Minnesota’s conquest of Central Michigan means the 5-7 teams went 3-0 in bowls. Pass that info along to all low down haters you encounter today.
- Iowa State continued its years-long streak of not losing bowls.
TODAY’S BOWLS: Don’t want to alarm you, but the good games kind of start today (All times ET)
- The wandering Sonny Dykes and his frustratingly improved Cal Bears take on an Air Force that just gets after you. (2 p.m., ESPN)
- The bombed-out remains of No. 17 Baylor have to try and keep up with No. 10 UNC. (5:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Two Mountain West teams are playing each other in a bowl that’s barely on TV, and yet Bill Connelly previewed even that game! (7:30 p.m., ASN)
- Les Miles survived a coup. Now can he survive a team that beat Arkansas, which beat No. 20 LSU? (9 p.m., ESPN)
UCLA’s problem has been identified. It’s food, per lifelong Bruin Rick Neuheisel.
This photo is good.
Still going through photos from Foster Farms Bowl. Noticed this nice assist from @ccarter_11 on the #Huskers TD. pic.twitter.com/X5I7cZhuef
— Michael Bruntz (@michaelbruntz) December 28, 2015 See More:
