NCAAF

(5) Texas 39, (4) Arizona State 31

There are wild games, and then there are strangely wild games. Texas, despite being significantly outgained, was in control for most of this contest, striking with big play after big play. That was until, of course, Arizona State began capitalizing on its yardage and time of possession advantages.

Quinn Ewers played one of his better games in this win, finishing 20-of-30 for 33 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Steve Sarkisian put Ewers in some difficult situations with his aggressive play calling, but the junior quarterback performed well enough to overcome it.

Isaiah Bond, quizzically, gets the most buzz among Texas’ wideouts, but Matthew Golden has been Ewers’ go-to receiver for most of the season. That connection was at full functionality in this victory, as Golden recorded seven receptions for 149 yards and a score.

The Longhorns’ offense will need to maintain effectiveness in the semifinal versus Ohio State. There’s plenty to discuss regarding that heavyweight matchup, including the health of Texas’ tackles, Kelvin Banks and Cameron Williams. Williams, in particular, will be needed to face red-hot pass rusher Jack Sawyer.

As good as Texas’ offense is, its defense is unquestionably better. It didn’t look like it yesterday, though. Plenty of credit should go to an outstanding Arizona State gameplan, but the Longhorns’ stop unit — like their offense — will need to regroup for Ohio State. Pete Kwiatkowski’s players can, however, build off Trey Moore and Colin Simmons’ successes as a edge rushers in this tilt. The duo combined for three sacks.

Okay, enough about the Longhorns. Arizona State obviously lost this game, but the Sun Devils were the bigger story. Look no further than the fact that Cam Skattebo won the game’s MVP award. Arizona State’s star running back was hampered and battered all afternoon, yet he still rumbled 30 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

Skattebo didn’t stop there, though. The senior also threw for a score and caught eight passes for 99 yards. Running backs struggle to consistently stand out as needle movers, but Skattebo is a different breed. He truly is the heartbeat of this Sun Devils squad.

Sam Leavitt is also a critical piece for Kenny Dillingham’s program, but he started a bit slow yesterday. The signal-caller looked lost at times, chased down over and over again by a menacing Texas front. Something clicked, however, as the contest dragged on and grew tighter; the playmaker in Leavitt came out. It wasn’t enough, but the freshman did enough to impress, finishing 24-of-46 for 222 yards an interception.

The margins were so thin in this double-overtime contest. Perhaps the final result would’ve flipped had Jordyn Tyson been healthy. Regardless, Kenny Dillingham has the Sun Devils on a strong upward trajectory.

(8) Ohio State 41, (1) Oregon 21

If you don’t feel bad for Oregon, you probably at least feel like the Ducks got screwed. Oregon, save for a shaky first few games, was excellent all season, roaring its way to a 13-0 mark heading into the playoff. It didn’t matter. Not when the unbeaten Ducks drew the best team in the country in the quarterfinals. There are several ways the 12-team playoff can improve its seeding format, any of which would’ve benefited Oregon this season.

The best team in the country I was referring to, of course, is eighth-seeded Ohio State. The Buckeyes dropped two tilts this year, but the team is loaded with talent all over the roster. That excellence, more than at any other point this season, was on display versus Tennessee and Oregon.

For Ohio State, it starts with Will Howard. The signal-caller isn’t anywhere close to being Ohio State’s best player, but he’s having a great season, spearheaded by improved accuracy and elite leadership. The senior had another precise performance last night, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns, most of which came in the first quarter.

The biggest beneficiary of Howard’s big game was Jeremiah Smith, but let’s be real, Howard is probably a bigger beneficiary of Smith than vice versa. The freshman dominated Oregon’s defensive backs in this win, grabbing seven receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Good luck to those who are tasked with covering Smith at the college level for two more years.

Ohio State’s stop unit boasts veteran stalwarts at every level — multiple of them, in fact. It’s only right to highlight Cody Simon for this game. The senior was all over the place for Jim Knowles’ defense, tallying 11 tackles and two sacks. I can’t wait to see this defense challenge Texas. We’ll certainly see what Quinn Ewers is made of.

In the end, though, the upcoming semifinal will be more about Ohio State’s offense against Texas’ defense. The Buckeyes’ attack has been far from elite at times this year, and that can’t be the case versus the Longhorns. Texas boasts arguably the top defense in the nation, and if Ohio State recoils and gets conservative, Texas will pin its ears back and feast. That likely won’t happen, though. The most likely outcome if that Ohio State keeps firing, and that should be enough for the Buckeyes to advance to their first national championship game since 2020.

Oregon has to be crushed. I already went over the spot in the bracket the Ducks found themselves in, and again, it was far from fair. That doesn’t change the fact that Dan Lanning still needs a meaningful late-season win on his resume. I’m going to dodge taking that topic any further for now, though.

Dillon Gabriel wasn’t as good as his stats indicated yesterday. The sixth-year senior went 29-of-41 for 299 yards and two touchdowns, but his command of the offense was less than stellar. Gabriel was lauded as a better performer than Will Howard all year, but Howard was far better in this affair.

Once Ohio State raced out of the gates, the Ducks probably weren’t winning this game under any circumstances, but the team’s attack was weakened without Evan Stewart and Jordan James. Stewart was a surprise absence due to a pre-game injury. James finished with just seven carries for 14 yards.

The real story of this game was Oregon’s defense having zero answers for Ohio State’s offense. The Ducks have less talent than the Buckeyes, but little resistance was offered over this game’s first 25 or so minutes. That did Oregon in, as a valiant push wasn’t anywhere close to enough, though Dan Lanning did opt for a cowardly punt or two in this loss.

Oregon will be back. The Ducks are a rising program with a war chest of NIL funds, a great coach and plenty of talent. Hopefully, for Oregon fans, that special combination is enough to bring the program’s first national championship to Eugene. I say it happens within the next five years.

NBA

Pistons 105, Magic 96

The 15-18 Pistons should be feeling good about where they’re at, but the franchise is surely holding its breath regarding Jaden Ivey. The rising shooting guard suffered what appeared to be a severe left leg injury in this win, a malady that puts a sizeable damper on what’s been one of the NBA’s better success stories.

Speaking of injuries, Orlando needs Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner back. The 20-15 Magic have stalled out since losing their two best players, as strong two-way play by Jalen Suggs simply hasn’t been enough to overcome the losses. Suggs recorded 24 points, four rebounds and three assists in this defeat.

Wizards 125, Bulls 107

The Wizards … won a game by 18 points? This result is obviously a surprise, but Jordan Poole is capable of getting hot with the best of them, and the erratic guard was firing away in this victory. Poole finished with 30 points on 10-of-21 shooting.

The 15-19 Bulls are treading water — just bad enough to miss the playoffs and just good enough to miss out on favorable lottery odds. That needs to change, and it can start with moving Zach LaVine when the time is right. I’d argue that time is now, and the swingman’s value likely went up yesterday on the heels of a 32-point showing.

Heat 119, Pelicans 108

Tyler Herro’s leap this season has been consequential for a few reasons, one of them being contractual. The 24-year-old inked a four-year, $130 million extension in 2022, and that deal is starting to look very tradeable for a Miami franchise potentially stuck in limbo. The Heat will probably keep Herro around for the long haul, but you never know.

It’s been a nightmare season for the 5-29 Pelicans, and it’s hard not to wonder if a reset is on the table for the franchise. Zion Williamson can’t stay healthy, the Dejounte Murray trade has been a disaster and Brandon Ingram’s free agency foray looms. That feels like a recipe for a rebuild to me. Murray, by the way, went just 5-of-13 in this game for 12 points.

Knicks 119, Jazz 103

I’ll admit it: I was wrong. I didn’t disapprove of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade for the Knicks, but I did believe the center would see his statistics drop amid a transition to a new team with more scoring around him. It’s been the opposite of that. Towns is having a career year with the Knicks, rebounding the ball at a career-best rate and taking the mantle as New York’s go-to scorer. The 29-year-old had one of his best games as a Knick last night, securing a 30-20 with 31 points and 21 rebounds.

Nets sign PF Tosan Evbuomwan to two-way contract

The Nets are in a clear rebuild, so every move made by the franchise should be with the future in mind. This signing matches that mission, as Evbuomwan is a an athletic wing that might have a chance to develop into a decent shooter. The 23-year-old averaged 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last season.

Grade: B-