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College Football Playoff doesn't have Alabama's Nick Saban this time, but it does have experienced coaches | Chattanooga Times Free Press
A familiar face was missing when coaches gathered last Thursday at the College Football Hall of Fame to discuss the upcoming four-team playoff. So was a guy who was supposed to be there.
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ATLANTA — A familiar face was missing when coaches gathered last Thursday at the College Football Hall of Fame to discuss the upcoming four-team playoff.
So was a guy who was supposed to be there.
For the first time since the College Football Playoff started in 2014, it won't include Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide, their chances hurt by a loss to LSU in early November and done in by a defeat at Auburn at the end of that month.
"They pack us in this little glass room for about 30 minutes before this," Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said. "To walk in there and not see him was certainly a little strange."
Riley had expected to see Ryan Day, who has Ohio State in the playoff in his first season as head coach, at the news conference in Atlanta ahead of college football's annual awards show later that night. Day was delayed by travel troubles, though, leaving an open chair.
Dabo Swinney noted the empty spot beside him — meant for Day — when asked about Saban's absence.
"We saved a seat for him," the Clemson coach quipped. "He'll be back. Don't fret for Coach Saban. He's the best to ever do it. He has an unbelievable program. He had a couple of tough games this year, but he'll be back. It's a little odd not to see him here, that's for sure. But I don't think he'll be gone very long."
Riley nodded in agreement: "He's one of the greatest to ever do it. I'm sure he'll be back."
This playoff is hardly lacking for experienced postseason coaches, though. Swinney's Tigers have made the field five out of six years and secured two national championships, including the most recent one. This is the third straight playoff appearance for Riley and fourth overall for the Sooners, though they have yet to advance past the semifinals.
The newcomers are the Buckeyes' Day and LSU's Ed Orgeron, whose program is also making its playoff debut. The Buckeyes made the field twice with Day's predecessor, Urban Meyer, winning the first national title under the four-team format during the 2014 season.
Orgeron's Tigers (13-0) won the Southeastern Conference championship and are seeded No. 1 as they prepare for their Peach Bowl showdown with No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1), the Big 12 champion. The other semifinal is also Dec. 28 and pits No. 2 Ohio State (13-0), the Big Ten champion, against No. 3 Clemson (13-0), the Atlantic Coast Conference winner, at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
For LSU and quarterback Joe Burrow, who was awarded the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night in New York, the Peach Bowl will mark a return to the city where the Tigers blew out Georgia 37-10 in the SEC title game earlier this month.
"Obviously, there will be a familiarity with the dome," Orgeron said, referring to nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium. "The guys will be staying in the same hotel. I think they'll feel comfortable. But that won't matter come game time."
For Oklahoma, this is a chance to finally break through for a shot at its first national title since the 2000 season. The Sooners lost to Clemson in the 2015 semifinals under previous coach Bob Stoops. They were knocked out the past two years with Riley at the helm, falling to Georgia in a Rose Bowl thriller and Alabama in the Orange Bowl.
When each coach was asked one word to describe his team, Riley's choice wasn't surprising.
"Hungry," he said. "There was a very strong desire to put themselves in position to accomplish the things they felt like they could."
Swinney also had an appropriate word, though the talkative coach couldn't stop there.
"Focused," he said. "They've really been focused. They've been an easy group to coach, to prepare. Every single week, they've been focused on trying to get the job done. They've not wavered all year long. I'm super proud of them."
Orgeron kept it short and sweet.
"Grit," LSU's raspy-voiced coach said.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, laughter broke out in the room.
"Hey, you said one word," Orgeron added with a big grin.
