Michigan’s botched snap sends TCU to the CFP title game (0:38)
Michigan botches the snap as TCU takes over and seals their trip to the College Football Playoff championship game. (0:38)
The College Football Playoff got off to an entertaining start with the semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl between the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines and No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs.
TCU built a 21-6 lead by halftime, then things got exciting in the third quarter. The Wolverines and Horned Frogs scored 44 combined points in the frame. Michigan continued its comeback effort in the fourth, but TCU held on for the 51-45 victory.
The Horned Frogs are the first Big 12 team to play for a CFP title. For Michigan, it’s a second straight season being ousted in the semifinal round.
Here is a look at some of the huge numbers from this thrilling contest:
96: Total points scored, a record for the Fiesta Bowl. That breaks the mark set by the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Florida Gators in 1996 (86 points). This is also the third-highest-scoring CFP game and the third-highest for an AP top-five matchup.
51: The Horned Frogs’ 51 points are the most in a bowl game in school history. This is also the fifth 50-point game by a team in CFP history.
Michigan also made history. The 51 points are the second-most given up by the team in a bowl game. This is the third time a Jim Harbaugh-coached Wolverines squad allowed 50-plus points. The other two instances came against the Ohio State Buckeyes (62 in 2018 and 56 in 2019).
44: TCU and Michigan scored 44 combined points in the third quarter. That’s the most points scored in a quarter in CFP history, breaking the mark of 40 set by the Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter of the 2016 national championship game.
This is the GREATEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF GAME EVER!!!
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 1, 2023
Michigan defense is taking the day off!!!
— Tamba Hali (@TambaHali91) January 1, 2023
This game is crazy ????
— F L ⚡️ S H (@Melvingordon25) January 1, 2023
This game is outrageous!!!!
— Chief David Njoku (@David_Njoku80) January 1, 2023
This game is crazy ????
— F L ⚡️ S H (@Melvingordon25) January 1, 2023
What a freaking game!!
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) January 1, 2023
45-plus: This was the second AP top-five matchup in the poll era (since 1936) in which both teams scored 45 or more points. The other occurrence was the 2018 Rose Bowl, also a playoff semifinal, between the Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners.
1: The Horned Frogs ended a winless streak for the Big 12, as teams from the conference were a combined 0-4 in CFP games entering Saturday.
Stars offered their thoughts on the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl via social media.
Horned Frogs thrive in the desert. ????#GoFrogs #DFWBig12Team #FiestaFrogs pic.twitter.com/n6bcM97Bxe
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) January 1, 2023
ALL HAIL THE HYPNOTOAD.#FiestaFrogs | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/ejtLaOhdjO
— Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (@Fiesta_Bowl) January 1, 2023
Going to the ‘ship! #FiestaFrogs #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/wyaofwAPSO
— TCU Athletics (@TCU_Athletics) January 1, 2023
Frogs!!!!
— Andy Dalton (@andydalton14) January 1, 2023
OHHSHBSMSKSKSKSNSNSBHWJA TCU DID IT!!!! CONGRATULATIONS @TCUFootball WELL DESERVED! #GOFROGS
SEE YALL IN LA.
— TCU (@TCU) January 1, 2023
Yessss ! 1 of 2 so far… let’s go UGA!!
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 1, 2023
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 1, 2023
Yessir TCU!!!!!!! Let’s go!!!!!! Big 12 finally in the Natty!!!!!
— Tyler Lockett (@TDLockett12) January 1, 2023
Wow. Tcu!
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) January 1, 2023
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 1, 2023
Here are the sights and scenes from the game in Glendale, Arizona:
Scenes from the Fiesta Bowl
TCU added another touchdown in the second quarter courtesy of a 6-yard touchdown pass from Max Duggan to Taye Barber. Michigan kicker Jake Moody made two field goals in the frame and the Wolverines trail 21-6 at halftime.
I’m hoping TCU vs UGA ????
TCU Reppin the 12 right now! ????????????????????????— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) December 31, 2022
KNOCK KNOCK ???? pic.twitter.com/CjNP31zoyO
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 31, 2022
Good Half of Football TCU, Regroup and let’s put together another one!
— Reag (@jalenreagor) December 31, 2022
MOOD AT HALFTIME ????@TCUFootball leads Michigan, 21-6, in the @CFBPlayoff Semifinal ???? pic.twitter.com/yGSqfFMJJ7
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) December 31, 2022
???? ???? pic.twitter.com/8243CuHlUu
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 31, 2022
A strong first quarter
A pick-six by safety Bud Clark and a touchdown run by quarterback Max Duggan gave TCU a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Horned Frogs fans in the stands and on social media were thrilled about the team’s fast start.
Yessir!!!!!!! Let’s go TCU!!
— Tyler Lockett (@TDLockett12) December 31, 2022
I’m not tweeting much but you best believe I’m turnt up right now.. LFG TCU!!!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) December 31, 2022
.@TCUFootball showing my @dallascowboys how to start a playoff game!!!! 14-0
— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) December 31, 2022
TCU fans were HYPED after the pick-six ????#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/H6JRDlsCcA
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 31, 2022
A star in attendance
Team USA Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps showed up in Arizona to take in the CFP semifinal action.
Pregame huddle
Attack and dominate!#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/PyKHPLjp8q
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 31, 2022
Arrivals
The Wolverines are on location!#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/yZdhbFIroz
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 31, 2022
???? Fiesta Bowl#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/1fjstLhrMM
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 31, 2022
The arrival. #GoFrogs #DFWBig12Team #FiestaFrogs pic.twitter.com/XJi62nnQAN
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) December 31, 2022
Frogs rolling in. #GoFrogs #DFWBig12Team #FiestaFrogs pic.twitter.com/EIXsTX53ZC
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) December 31, 2022
What they’re wearing
Michigan is keeping things traditional while TCU is going with the all-white.
Fight ’em til hell freezes over, then fight ’em on the ice ⚪️⚪️⚪️#GoFrogs #DFWBig12Team #FiestaFrogs pic.twitter.com/z4CaAvvGbo
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) December 31, 2022
Looking sharp in the desert ????#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/7EkWB4A5SC
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 31, 2022
Animals making picks
If you can trust the prognostications of mongooses or rhinoceroses …
— Fort Worth Zoo (@FortWorthZoo) December 30, 2022
— Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (@Fiesta_Bowl) December 30, 2022
Fans check in
GO BLUE! WOOOOO! @UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/bKh4FB0cYT
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) December 31, 2022
TCU has alumni and seemingly all of the Dallas-Fort Worth area behind it.
Let’s go @TCU ???? pic.twitter.com/sIvYPVT2W0
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) December 31, 2022
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) December 31, 2022
Go Frogs!!! #BTHOmichigan ????⬆️
— Jim Schlossnagle (@CoachSchloss) December 31, 2022
It’s game day let’s go @TCUFootball !!!! ????????️????????
— Matt Carpenter (@MattCarp13) December 31, 2022
— DFW Airport (@DFWAirport) December 30, 2022
ESPN Stats and Information contributed to this story
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