Crowning a champion in our 64-team college football tournament
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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Writer
Welcome to the super conference version of ESPN’s 2024 mock NCAA football tournament.
Of the teams making it to the Sweet 16, 11 are in either the Big Ten or SEC.
All four No. 1 seeds are still alive, and the lowest remaining seed is No. 5 Louisville. In this new era of college football, several transfer players have already made huge contributions, and three new coaches — Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Arizona’s Brent Brennan and Michigan’s Sherrone Moore — have their teams in the Sweet 16.
To recap, the original seeds were based to some degree on ESPN’s latest SP+ projections entering the 2024 season, not that seeds really mean much at this point.
Let’s finish football’s version of the 64-team tournament, where we didn’t need an endless procession of meetings with commissioners and other administrators to determine the format.
South Regional
Semifinals
(1) Georgia 35, (4) Utah 14: Georgia keeps losing great defensive players to the NFL, but other great players keep emerging from those shadows. C.J. Allen and Jalon Walker are next in line to be the kind of hard-hitting linebackers the Dawgs have featured in recent years. They combine for five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles against the Utes, and Georgia never trails.
(2) Notre Dame 34, (3) Missouri 33: It’s back and forth between two teams that have shown their resiliency all season. Cornerback Benjamin Morrison gives Notre Dame the lead heading into the fourth quarter with a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown. Missouri answers with a Brady Cook 1-yard touchdown plunge a few minutes later, but Mitch Jeter, a grad transfer from South Carolina, boots a 49-yard field goal on the game’s final play to win it in thrilling fashion for the Irish.
Regional final
(1) Georgia 30, (2) Notre Dame 27: Notre Dame plays its best game of the tournament, and Riley Leonard has the kind of success against Georgia’s secondary that few quarterbacks have experienced. The Irish take a touchdown lead into the fourth quarter, but that’s when Glenn Schumann’s defense settles in and forces three straight three-and-outs. The final one sets up a short field for Georgia, leading to 240-pound Roderick Robinson running over defenders for a 12-yard touchdown run.
How we got here
First round: (1) Georgia over (16) UNLV, (2) Notre Dame over (15) Northwestern, (3) Missouri over (14) Appalachian State, (4) Utah over (13) BYU, (12) Rutgers over (5) Miami, (6) USC over (11) South Carolina, (10) Liberty over (7) Auburn, (8) Virginia Tech over (9) Memphis
Second round: (1) Georgia over (8) Virginia Tech, (2) Notre Dame over (10) Liberty, (3) Missouri over (6) USC, (4) Utah over (12) Rutgers
East Regional
Semifinals
(1) Texas 35, (4) Arizona 28: Brennan and Arizona continue to be one of the best stories in the tournament. Noah Fifita outplays Quinn Ewers for much of the game in a matchup of uber-talented quarterbacks. But the difference is that Texas is better able to protect Ewers, especially on the left side, where tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is a one-man shield and gives Ewers the time he needs to rally the Longhorns in the second half.
(3) Ole Miss 38, (2) Alabama 35: In four tries against Nick Saban and Alabama, Lane Kiffin came up short as Ole Miss’ coach. But Kiffin and the Rebels break through against the Kalen DeBoer-coached Crimson Tide. It’s a close game the whole way. Jalen Milroe runs for two touchdowns and passes for another, and Alabama is on the brink of advancing to the Elite Eight. Kiffin then decides to go for it on fourth-and-7 from his own 32, and Tre Harris catches a pass over the middle and turns it into a game-winning 68-yard touchdown. Afterward, Kiffin pledges to give up social media.
Regional final
(1) Texas 41, (3) Ole Miss 38: It’s an instant classic with two coaches — Steve Sarkisian and Kiffin — who worked together at USC under Pete Carroll and know each other extremely well. The first big play of the game comes on defense when Ole Miss defensive end Jared Ivey sacks Ewers, forcing a fumble that Princely Umanmielen returns 24 yards for a touchdown. Ewers bounces back to throw two second-half touchdown passes, but stands in there and takes a wicked shot to the ribs on the final one. In a Hollywood-type ending, Arch Manning comes off the bench in the final minutes to steer the Longhorns to the win over the alma mater of his father, grandfather and uncle.
How we got here
First round: (1) Texas over (16) Fresno State, (2) Alabama over Illinois (15), (3) Ole Miss over North Carolina (14), (4) Arizona over UCLA (13), (5) Clemson over (12) Colorado, (11) West Virginia over (6) Wisconsin, (10) Nebraska over (7) N.C. State, (8) Iowa State over (9) Washington
Second round: (1) Texas over (8) Iowa State, (2) Alabama over (10) Nebraska, (3) Ole Miss over (11) West Virginia, (4) Arizona over (5) Clemson
Midwest Regional
Semifinals
(1) Ohio State 42, (5) Louisville 21: First it was Bill O’Brien; then it was Chip Kelly. Ryan Day was looking for a proven playcaller to take over those duties, and he eventually turned to Kelly, his old coach at New Hampshire, when O’Brien left in February for the Boston College head coaching job. Kelly has no shortage of dynamic playmakers to work with, and TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins and Emeka Egbuka take turns scoring touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ blowout win.
(3) Oklahoma 24, (2) Michigan 20: All the talk entering this game centers around a potential Ohio State-Michigan matchup for an Elite Eight berth. Brent Venables and Oklahoma have other ideas. The Sooners’ experience on defense shows and is a reminder of how important it was to get back their two best defenders, linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman, for the 2024 season. Each time the Wolverines seem to be putting together a drive, Stutsman or Bowman is there to make a big play.
Regional final
(1) Ohio State 37, (3) Oklahoma 24: The Sooners’ deep and impressive run in the tournament comes to an end. Sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold illustrates why he will be one of the top returning quarterbacks in the nation in 2025 with his talent and toughness, but the Buckeyes’ defense keeps him on the run for much of the game. Moreover, Oklahoma isn’t able to get its running game going, allowing Ohio State defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau to tee off on Arnold.
How we got here
First round: (1) Ohio State over (16) Miami (Ohio), (2) Michigan over (15) Arkansas, (3) Oklahoma over (14) South Florida, (4) LSU over (13) Georgia Tech, (5) Louisville over (12) Boise State, (6) Texas A&M over (11) Minnesota, (10) Maryland over (7) Iowa, (8) Florida over TCU (9)
Second round: (1) Ohio State over Florida (8), (2) Michigan over (10) Maryland, (3) Oklahoma over (6) Texas A&M, (5) Louisville over (4) LSU
West Regional
Semifinals
(1) Oregon 42, (4) Tennessee 35: Oregon recruited Nico Iamaleava hard and finished second to Tennessee for the talented quarterback from California. Iamaleava’s first season as the Vols’ starter is a testament to why he was so heavily recruited. But as good as he is in this game, he’s the second-best quarterback on the field as Dillon Gabriel throws for 390 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Ducks a step closer to playing for the national championship.
(3) Florida State 28, (2) Penn State 24: Think the Seminoles and everybody around that program are still fuming over being left out of the playoff last season? That’s why we have a 64-team field, and there’s no doubt Florida State is playing with a chip on its shoulder. There was a time back in January that some in FSU’s administration thought they might be losing Mike Norvell to Alabama. Those fears now seem like a fleeting memory as the Seminoles hold the Nittany Lions scoreless in the fourth quarter and hang on for the win.
Regional final
(3) Florida State 31, (1) Oregon 30: DJ Uiagalelei has traveled the college football map from Clemson to Oregon State and now Florida State. It’s a journey he and the Seminoles will never forget. A year ago, Uiagalelei’s touchdown pass accounted for Oregon State’s only score in a 31-7 loss to rival Oregon. But this time, with the stakes even higher, he throws three touchdown passes, and FSU surges into the Final Four, which is where Seminoles fans everywhere will tell you they belonged a year ago.
How we got here
First round: (1) Oregon over James Madison (16), (2) Penn State over (15) Wake Forest, (3) Florida State over (14) Washington State, (4) Tennessee over (13) Duke, (12) UCF over (5) Kansas State, (6) Oklahoma State over (11) Oregon State, (7) Kansas over (10) Texas Tech, (9) Kentucky over (8) SMU
Second round: (1) Oregon over (9) Kentucky, (2) Penn State over (7) Kansas, (3) Florida State over (6) Oklahoma State, (4) Tennessee over (12) UCF
Final Four
(1) Texas 31, (1) Georgia 24: If you love offense vs. defense, it doesn’t get any better than this semifinal affair with Steve Sarkisian matching wits with Kirby Smart. Ewers returns from his injury in the regional final win over Ole Miss and looks as good as new. He and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck put on a passing exhibition with key third-down completions, deep balls and throws into tight windows. The Bulldogs tie the game on a Beck 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oscar Delp, but Ewers finds his own tight end, Alabama transfer Amari Niblack, on a 12-yard touchdown pass to win it and snap Georgia’s 17-game winning streak.
(1) Ohio State 38, (3) Florida State 21: Ohio State has looked as strong as anybody in this tournament, and that doesn’t change against a Florida State team that runs out of gas after an inspiring run that eases some of the pain of a year ago. The Buckeyes score more than 30 points for the fifth straight time in the tournament and get a defensive touchdown when cornerback Denzel Burke takes one back 91 yards with the Seminoles driving late in the third quarter.
National championship
(1) Texas 41, (1) Ohio State 37: For the second straight season, Ohio State reaches the national championship game in our tournament. The Buckeyes are due for a title, too, after last winning one in 2014. The Longhorns are even more due. Their last title came in 2005. In his fourth season on the Forty Acres, Sarkisian has his best and most balanced team. As many as 28 future NFL draft picks take the field in this game.
Ohio State has momentum on its side in the fourth quarter, but Texas’ Ethan Burke and Anthony Hill Jr. take down a scrambling Will Howard on a game-changing sack. The Buckeyes are forced to punt, and Oregon State transfer Silas Bolden leaves a vapor trail down the left sideline on a 73-yard punt return for the winning touchdown. As the final seconds tick down, Bevo appears on the field sporting some serious Horns Up bling and a burnt orange sign that reads, “Texas is back!”
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Daniel Oyefusi
FRISCO, Texas — Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders said Saturday he is unsure if he will throw at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis next month.
Sanders is attending the East-West Shrine Bowl but will not participate in practice or in the game Thursday. He was at the West team’s first practice at the University of North Texas on Saturday morning but stood on the field, watching the other prospects.
While Sanders won’t conduct any on-field work at the Shrine Bowl, he reiterated his belief that he’s worthy of being the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft. He has been training in the Dallas area with former Miami‘s Cam Ward, another top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft.
“We changed the program at Jackson [State University],” Sanders said. “We went to Colorado, changed the program. And we did everything people didn’t think we were able to do. So, that’s why I know I’m the most guaranteed risk you can take.”
Sanders met with multiple teams Friday, including the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, who hold the first three picks in the draft, respectively. The Titans met with Sanders for 45 minutes.
“I like that I’m able to get in the forefront of everything and they’re able to understand me and ask me whatever questions they want,” Sanders said. “I’m not ducking. I ain’t hiding. I’m right here, live in the flesh and able to answer whatever questions are out there.”
While Sanders is confident in his worthiness as the first overall pick, he said he would be “thankful for whatever situation and whoever drafts me. I know I’ll be able to change their program.”
Asked what he will bring to a team, Sanders smiled and said, “A lot of wins.”
Shedeur’s older brother Shilo, a safety, is also in Texas for the game. Colorado is also represented by wide receivers Will Sheppard, LaJohntay Wester, Jimmy Horn Jr. and cornerback Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig.
ESPN’s Turron Davenport contributed to this report.
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Jorge Castillo
NEW YORK — The New York Mets held their first winter event for fans in five years at Citi Field on Saturday, and there was one notable absence. Pete Alonso wasn’t in attendance because, for the first time since the 2016 draft, he isn’t a member of the Mets’ organization.
The homegrown star first baseman remains a free agent and, though a reunion remains possible, he might have played his last game as a Met.
Owner Steve Cohen bluntly said as much Saturday after taking the stage for a fireside chat with fans to chants of “We want Pete!”
“Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation,” Cohen explained. “I mean, [Juan Soto’s negotiation] was tough. This is worse. A lot of it is, we’ve made a significant offer. I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us. I think it’s highly asymmetric against us and I feel strongly about it.”
Alonso, along with third baseman Alex Bregman, is one of the two best position players left on the free agent market. The first baseman, who is represented by Scott Boras, originally sought a long-term deal, but he is open to returning to the Mets on a three-year contract and the Mets have been open to such a deal, according to a source. The obstacle has been money.
“I will never say no,” Cohen said. “There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have and that’s where we are.
“I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations. I don’t like what’s being presented to us. Maybe that changes. I’ll always stay flexible. But if it stays this way, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have.”
The Mets recently re-signed outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker to a one-year, $7.5 million contract and added left-handed reliever A.J. Minter on a two-year, $22 million deal. They’ve also signed Soto (15 years, $765 million), Sean Manaea (three years, $75 million), Clay Holmes (three years, $38 million), and Frankie Montas (two years, $34 million), among other moves, this winter.
Preparing for life without Alonso, the Mets recently instructed third basemen Mark Vientos and Brett Baty to work out at first base. Vientos and Baty both confirmed the organization’s request Saturday.
“We all love Pete, and we’ve said that many times,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “And I think, as we’ve gone through this process, we’ve continued to express that. We also understand that this is a business and Pete, as a free agent, deserves the right and has the right and earned the privilege, really, to see what’s out there. We also feel really good about the young players who are coming through our system who have the ability to play at the major-league level.”
Vientos, 25, enjoyed a breakout season as one of the best hitters in the National League after solidifying himself as the Mets’ every-day third baseman in May and helping fuel the team’s run to the NL Championship Series. Baty, a former top prospect, was the club’s opening day third baseman last season. He struggled after a hot start before he was demoted to Triple-A and didn’t return to the majors.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza also named veterans Jared Young and Joey Meneses, both of whom signed this winter, as other options at first base if Alonso doesn’t return.
“Pete’s been here since I’ve been here,” said Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who has starred for the franchise since 2021. “He was here before me. So, yeah, it would be different if he goes somewhere else. Yeah, it would be different. But I think he should take his time. I think he should make the best decision for himself and not feel that he’s rushed.”
Alonso, 30, became a fan favorite while becoming a franchise cornerstone over his six seasons in Queens. He’s hit 226 home runs since making his major-league debut — the second-highest total in baseball behind only Aaron Judge. His 53 home runs in 2019 set a rookie record. He’s been a reliable everyday presence; he’s never missed more than nine games in a season and played in all 178 games, postseason included, in 2024. He’s made four All-Star teams and won the Home Run Derby twice.
But he rates as a poor defender and baserunner whose offensive production has declined over the last three seasons, creating a free-agent market that hasn’t been as fruitful as projected when he declined a seven-year, $158 million contract extension in 2023.
“Listen, he’s a special player,” Hall of Famer and former Mets catcher Mike Piazza said Saturday. “Guys that can hit 40 home runs are not walking on the street. So when he’s really in his game, he’s a special player. I hope, from a personal standpoint, I hope they work something out.”
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, the longest-tenured player on the roster after debuting in 2016, signed an eight-year, $162 million contract to remain with the Mets two offseasons ago. Like Alonso, Boras is his agent. Unlike Alonso, he reached a resolution in December, not with spring training around the corner.
“I would love to see Pete back with us, but I also understand that I don’t make those decisions,” Nimmo said. “And that’s between Pete and our front office and David [Stearns] and Steve [Cohen]. And from what I understand, there’s been a lot of talks between them. I’m still hopeful that we’ll sign him.”
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