Super Bowl 51 was a good entertainment product and competitive event. The outcome has crippled society and rent garments from coast to coast, but the first-ever overtime Super Bowl produced more than enough drama and memories to qualify as one of our best title games in any sport ever.
Super Bowl 51 would’ve been improved by college football’s overtime rule
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But it could’ve been even better if the NFL had college football’s overtime rule.
First: No, I’m not complaining about this because I’m a Falcons fan. I said the same thing about last year’s Packers-Cardinals playoff game. Even while watching, I didn’t think, “This is unfair.” As soon as Atlanta failed to square up for a field goal in the fourth quarter, I knew deep down that we deserved to eventually lose.
But! Even the uninvested viewer would’ve had something to gain from seeing not just Tom Brady plowing through an exhausted defense, but also Matt Ryan having a chance to equalize.
In case you’re unfamiliar: CFB OT means both teams trade possessions until one of them can’t keep up with the other on the scoreboard, starting at the 25. Starting in the third overtime, two-point conversions are mandatory. That’s pretty much it.
The Falcons still would’ve faced longer odds, considering the condition of their defense at that point and the condition of Brady’s Brady-ness, but the ending would’ve felt like less of a foregone conclusion than was allowed by Hey, The Greatest QB Ever Won The Coin Toss.
I don’t know how to convince you I’m saying this out of general goodwill and not because of pouting, but that’s fine.
More college football
- Bill C’s 130-team projected rankings for 2017 are already out, lol.
- Also, Bill’s 130-team preview series begins with Coastal Carolina, the teal-field team with the CEO coach.
- Ah, here’s a new and bad Baylor headline.
- The very wide range of people who apply for head coaching jobs, from those who send in books to those who nominate Jerry Glanville to those who promise to work for snacks.
- After winning yet another Super Bowl, Bill Belichick said something that reminded us of his buddy Nick Saban.
- Don’t judge your new coach too much by his first recruiting class. The second one is the telling one.
- This Signing Day’s biggest surprises and disappointments.
- Throw another $208 million on the pile of money the NCAA’s paying out to former players.
- Signing Day sensation and All-Name Team captain Kobe Buffalomeat hit the big time, doing Jimmy Kimmel’s show.
- This video of a croot committing to Oregon will give you warm vibes.
- How Austin Peay had FCS’ best recruiting class, which is kind of like Kansas having FBS’ best class.
- Anyway, as of this very second, Kansas has a top-10 class for 2018.
- “Brady Hoke to Tennessee” feels like an internet joke, but it’s not that bad of an idea.
- Still shouting with laughter at Tennessee’s DOT making a video about road salt to make fun of Lane Kiffin.
- Look at FSU’s honey-fried chicken and commit. That’s what No. 1 DT Marvin Wilson did.
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