2012 NCAA Semifinal-Florida-27, Oregon-24

Barner's huge day couldn't save the Ducks (US Presswire)

December 29, 2012

Weather-65 degrees, 10 mph NW

Gainesville, FL-Florida jumped out to a 21-0 lead, then withstood an Oregon comeback to hold on, 27-24. The Gators used an opening drive touchdown, a solid punt return, and a fumble recovery to take a 3 touchdown lead before the Ducks could manage a first down. Oregon slowly climbed back into the game, mostly due to the all-around brilliance of Kenjon Barner. Barner gained 246 yards from scrimmage and scored all 3 Ducks TDs. Oregon had a chance to tie it at the gun, but Rob Beard's 53-yard attempt fell short.

Oregon Ducks...(13-2)-0-10-7-7-24
Florida Gators.(14-1)-21-0-3-3-27

UF-Gillislee 4 run (Sturgis Kick)
UF-Burton 2 run (Sturgis Kick)
UF-Burton 69 run (Sturgis Kick)
Ore-Beard 36 FG
Ore-Barner 1 run (Beard Kick)
UF-Sturgis 47 FG
Ore-Barner 40 run (Beard Kick)
Ore-Barner 60 run (Beard Kick)
UF-Sturgis 46 FG

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
Ore-Barner-28-171-3 (331-2,165-28), Mariota-11-16-0 (140-706-5), Thomas-4-3-0 (117-788-13), Marshall-2-3-0 (95-465-4)
UF-Burton-6-92-2 (43-339-6), Gillislee-27-77-1 (316-1,478-14), Jones-5-18-0 (62-313-3), Brown-1-1-0 (26-103-0), Driskel-14-(-4)-0 (153-434-4)

Passing
Ore-Mariota-36-21-280-0-0 (383-263-3,132-30-6)
UF-Driskel-19-11-141-0-0 (277-172-1,961-11-3)

Receiving
Ore-Barner-4-75-0 (26-329-1), Addison-4-41-0 (29-331-3), Huff-3-42-0 (37-589-7), Lowe-3-26-0 (29-354-3), Hawkins-2-22-0 (29-250-3), Lyerla-2-14-0 (29-421-6), Murphy-1-23-0 (20-204-1), Brown-1-20-0 (3-62-0), Thomas-1-17-0 (44-417-4)
UF-Hammond-3-50-0 (29-414-3), Dunbar-3-26-0 (41-478-4), Gillislee-2-31-0 (19-193-1), Reed-1-17-0 (47-593-3), Hines-1-11-0 (24-253-0), Jones-1-6-0 (4-16-0)

2012 NCAA Semifinals

Here are the semifinal matchups.

2012 NCAA Semifinals

Saturday, December 29, 2012
4:30 EST-#4 Oregon (13-1) at #3 Florida (13-1)
8 pm EST-#12 Florida State (13-2) at #2 Alabama (14-1)

Two of the final four are from the SEC, with a chance to have an All-SEC Championship Game. Can Alabama earn a chance at a repeat? We will soon find out.

2012 NCAA Quarterfinal-Alabama-59, Texas A&M-0

Lacy gained 179 from scrimmage and scored 3 TD (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

December 22, 2012

Weather-56 degrees, 5 mph SSW

Tuscaloosa, AL-The Crimson Tide avenged their only loss of 2012 by overwhelming Texas A&M, 59-0. Johnny Manziel's first visit to Tuscaloosa made him the front runner in the Heisman race, but this trip was miserable. Manziel's offense could manage only 188 yards and 9 first downs in the shutout.

The Alabama offense was hitting on all cylinders. T.J. Yeldon led the ground attack with 158 yards rushing, and Eddie Lacy added 110 rushing and another 69 receiving. A.J. McCarron was excellent, throwing for 251 yards and 3 TD. The Crimson Tide will host Florida State in the NCAA Semifinals next weekend, as the road to the NCAA Championship now goes through Tuscaloosa.

Texas A&M Aggies..........(11-3)-0-0-0-0-0
Alabama Crimson Tide.(14-1)-10-21-14-14-59

Ala-Cooper 12 pass from McCarron (Shelley Kick)
Ala-Shelley 37 FG
Ala-Jones 10 pass from McCarron (Shelley Kick)
Ala-Norwood 4 pass from McCarron (Shelley Kick)
Ala-Lacy 1 run (Shelley Kick)
Ala-Yeldon 62 run (Shelley Kick)
Ala-Lacy 39 run (Shelley Kick)
Ala-Drake 11 run (Shelley Kick)
Ala-Lacy 3 run (Shelley Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
TAM-Manziel-21-41-0 (227-1,271-19), Malena-15-22-0 (162-914-9), Williams-8-12-0 (75-361-4), Michael-4-4-0 (99-490-13)
Ala-Yeldon-15-158-1 (185-1,273-14), Lacy-22-110-3 (224-1,353-19), Drake-9-48-1 (54-337-7), McCarron-9-10-0 (64-3-1), Hart-1-4-0 (22-92-0)

Passing
TAM-Manziel-20-12-109-0-1 (437-296-3,669-26-9)
Ala-McCarron-25-17-251-3-0 (339-229-3,310-33-4)

Receiving
TAM-Evans-6-40-0 (85-1,108-7), Nwachukwu-3-50-0 (28-494-6), Swope-2-4-0 (68-836-7), Johnson-1-15-0 (31-354-1)
Ala-Norwood-5-57-1 (35-563-6), Lacy-3-69-0 (26-317-2), Bell-3-62-0 (22-512-4), Cooper-2-26-1 (58-1,000-10), Jones-2-22-1 (30-383-5), Williams-1-10-0 (25-217-4), Yeldon-1-5-0 (11-136-1)

2012 NCAA Quarterfinal-Florida State-33, Notre Dame-9

Thompson ran for 123 and 2 TD (Chris O'Meara/AP)

December 22, 2012

Weather-26 degrees, 12 mph WSW

South Bend, IN-For the second consecutive week, the Seminoles went on the road and pounded a top 5 team, this time hammering the top-ranked and previously unbeaten Fighting Irish, 33-9. Florida State RB Chris Thompson was dynamic in victory, rushing for 123 yards on 16 carries and scoring twice. His 47-yard TD off right tackle gave the Seminoles a lead they would never relinquish. Notre Dame struggled to run the football and Everett Golson was unable to convert in the passing game. They had only one trip to the red zone all afternoon.

Florida State will either travel to Florida or Alabama for an NCAA Semifinal next weekend.

Florida State Seminoles.(13-2)-10-3-7-13-33
Notre Dame Fighting Irish..(13-1)-0-6-3-0-9

FSU-Thompson 47 run (Hopkins Kick)
FSU-Hopkins 27 FG
FSU-Hopkins 34 FG
ND-Brindza 34 FG
ND-Brindza 46 FG
ND-Brindza 46 FG
FSU-Wilder 37 run (Hopkins Kick)
FSU-Hopkins 31 FG
FSU-Thompson 3 run (Hopkins Kick)
FSU-Hopkins 28 FG

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
FSU-Thompson-16-123-2 (124-954-9), Wilder-11-67-1 (122-675-13), Freeman-4-7-0 (109-683-8), Manuel-13-(-4)-0 (127-255-3)
ND-Riddick-20-99-0 (222-1,101-5), Wood-10-38-0 (136-884-6), Golson-20-(-42)-0 (124-282-5)

Passing
FSU-Manuel-32-15-204-0-2 (407-272-3,544-23-12)
ND-Golson-35-17-164-0-0 (343-195-2,440-12-5)

Receiving
FSU-Shaw-4-70-0 (33-580-3), Benjamin-4-64-0 (38-593-4), Greene-3-31-0 (58-775-5), O'Leary-2-22-0 (25-283-3), Dent-1-14-0 (25-327-2), Thompson-1-3-0 (24-282-1)
ND-Riddick-4-54-0 (42-461-2), Jones-4-29-0 (50-626-4), Daniels-3-20-0 (30-422-0), Toma-2-27-0 (28-298-0), Goodman-2-22-0 (10-187-3), Eifert-1-11-0 (46-643-4), Wood-1-1-0 (6-26-0)

2012 NCAA Quarterfinal-Oregon-31, Stanford-24

Taylor's 3 TD were not enough for Stanford (Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

December 21, 2012

Weather-43 degrees, 6 mph SE

Eugene, OR-The Ducks used their solid running game to seize early control of their quarterfinal matchup against Stanford on their way to a 31-24 victory. Kenjon Barner led Oregon with 161 yards on 27 carries, scoring twice. Stanford got a big effort from RB Stepfan Taylor, who scored 3 times and gained 168 yards from scrimmage.

Oregon moves on to the NCAA Semifinals next weekend.

Stanford Cardinal.(12-3)-3-7-7-7-24
Oregon Ducks....(13-1)-14-7-0-10-31

SU-Williamson 40 FG
Ore-Barner 45 run (Beard Kick)
Ore-Barner 9 run (Beard Kick)
Ore-Thomas 3 run (Beard Kick)
SU-Taylor 11 run (Williamson Kick)
SU-Taylor 14 run (Williamson Kick)
Ore-Beard 35 FG
Ore-Thomas 86 punt return (Beard Kick)
SU-Taylor 3 run (Williamson Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
SU-Taylor-30-139-3 (354-1,652-16), Wilkerson-4-7-0 (54-211-1), Nunes-8-(-7)-0 (46-64-3)
Ore-Barner-27-161-2 (303-1,994-25), Thomas-12-53-1 (113-785-13), Marshall-5-14-0 (93-462-4), Mariota-14-(-22)-0 (129-690-5)

Passing
SU-Nunes-37-19-268-0-1 (323-168-2,336-13-9)
Ore-Mariota-15-10-135-0-0 (347-242-2,852-30-6)

Receiving
SU-Ertz-6-99-0 (75-996-6), Taylor-4-29-0 (48-439-3), Terrell-3-45-0 (39-566-4), Montgomery-3-43-0 (30-272-1), Young-2-22-0 (12-123-0), Patterson-1-30-0 (20-329-2)
Ore-Huff-3-67-0 (34-547-7), Lyerla-2-28-0 (27-407-6), Thomas-2-15-0 (43-400-4), Addison-1-10-0 (25-290-3), Lowe-1-9-0 (26-328-3), Barner-1-6-0 (22-259-1)

2012 NCAA Quarterfinal-Florida-19, Georgia-14

Gillislee ran for 130 and 2 TD (Daniel Shirey/US Presswire)

December 21, 2012

Weather-54 degrees, 12 mph WNW

Gainesville, FL-The Gators fought back from 14-6 down in the second half to beat Georgia and advance to the NCAA Semifinals, 19-14. Mike Gillisee scored both second half touchdowns for Florida, finishing with 130 yards on 25 carries. Georgia took early control of the game, but were unable to sustain a running attack in the second half. Florida's defense held the Bulldogs to just 47 yards on their final 21 carries.

If either Alabama or Notre Dame lose their quarterfinal, then Gainesville will play host to an NCAA Semifinal next weekend.

Georgia Bulldogs.(12-3)-7-0-7-0-14
Florida Gators..(13-1)-0-3-10-6-19

UGA-Gurley 23 run (Morgan Kick)
UF-Sturgis 21 FG
UF-Sturgis 48 FG
UGA-Bennett 3 pass from Murray (Morgan Kick)
UF-Gillislee 3 run (Sturgis Kick)
UF-Gillislee 3 run (Pass Failed)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
UGA-Gurley-22-82-1 (241-1,503-19), Marshall-8-37-0 (130-880-11), Murray-9-9-0 (78-(-77)-3)
UF-Gillislee-25-130-2 (289-1,401-13), Burton-5-18-0 (37-247-4), Driskel-15-15-0 (139-438-4), Jones-3-1-0 (57-295-3)

Passing
UGA-Murray-46-29-284-1-0 (431-283-4,165-38-10)
UF-Driskel-20-10-155-0-0 (258-161-1,820-11-3)

Receiving
UGA-Bennett-6-83-1 (34-479-6), Lynch-4-42-0 (29-516-2), Brown-4-39-0 (34-587-6), Gurley-4-31-0 (21-158-1), Wooten-3-30-0 (18-217-2), Conley-3-25-0 (24-333-5), King-3-20-0 (46-938-9), Rome-1-9-0 (13-170-2), Marshall-1-5-0 (11-65-0)
UF-Dunbar-4-64-0 (38-452-4), Hammond-3-39-0 (26-364-3), Burton-2-50-0 (20-228-1), Gillislee-1-2-0 (17-162-1)

2012 NCAA Quarterfinals

Here are our quarterfinal matchups.

2012 NCAA Quarterfinals

Friday, December 21, 2012
4:30 pm EST-#7 Georgia (12-2) at #3 Florida (12-1)
8 pm EST-#6 Stanford (12-2) at #4 Oregon (12-1)

Saturday, December 22, 2012
12:30 pm EST-#12 Florida State (12-2) at #1 Notre Dame (13-0)
4 pm EST-#9 Texas A&M (11-2) at #2 Alabama (13-1)

For the second consecutive year, four teams from the mighty SEC get to the final eight. Six of the top eight seeds remain, including the top four. Three of the four quarterfinal matchups are rematches from the regular season.

2012 NCAA First Round Playoff-Oregon-31, Oregon State-13

Barner rushed for 209 and 2 TD (Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

December 15, 2012

Weather-42 degrees, 8 mph SSW

Eugene, OR-The Ducks used their pace and ground attack to wear out their state rivals from Oregon State, 31-13. Oregon ran for 280 yards, led by Kenjon Barner's 209 yards on 28 carries. Oregon took the lead on a 14-yard run from Barner in the second corner, 10-3. Barner and De'Anthony Thomas ran for third quarter TDs that gave the Ducks a 31-6 lead.

Oregon will host Stanford in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Oregon State Beavers.(9-4)-3-3-7-0-13
Oregon Ducks......(12-1)-3-14-14-0-31

OSU-Romaine 32 FG
Ore-Beard 22 FG
Ore-Barner 14 run (Beard Kick)
OSU-Romaine 22 FG
Ore-Mariota 1 run (Beard Kick)
Ore-Barner 50 run (Beard Kick)
Ore-Thomas 3 run (Beard Kick)
OSU-Mullaney 2 pass from Mannion (Romaine Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
OSU-Woods-21-152-0 (192-974-11), Ward-5-3-0 (67-393-5), Mannion-4-(-11)-0 (22-(-96)-0)
Ore-Barner-28-209-2 (276-1,833-23), Thomas-11-46-1 (101-732-12), Mariota-17-22-1 (115-712-5), Marshall-2-3-0 (88-448-4)

Passing
OSU-Mannion-42-26-310-1-1 (352-226-2,756-16-14)
Ore-Mariota-20-14-206-0-0 (332-232-2,717-30-6)

Receiving
OSU-Wheaton-7-98-0 (95-1,305-11), Cooks-6-63-0 (70-1,183-5), Mullaney-4-53-1 (17-209-2), Hatfield-3-20-0 (12-106-2), Woods-2-41-0 (39-332-0), Cummings-2-22-0 (18-215-1), Gwacham-1-8-0 (3-20-1), Hamlett-1-5-0 (28-338-3)
Ore-Lowe-3-75-0 (25-319-3), Lyerla-3-39-0 (25-379-6), Addison-2-37-0 (24-280-3), Hawkins-2-26-0 (27-228-3), Barner-2-16-0 (21-248-1), Huff-2-13-0 (31-480-7)

2012 NCAA First Round Playoff-Florida State-40, Kansas State-13

Thompson gained 175 with 3 TD (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

December 15, 2012

Weather-48 degrees, 2 mph WSW

Manhattan, KS-The Seminoles used a 24-point second quarter to roll past Kansas State, 40-13. Florida State RB Chris Thompson gained 175 yards from scrimmage and scored 3 TD, all of which came in the second quarter. E.J. Manuel led the Seminoles passing attack with an efficient performance, completing 20 of 26 passes for 239 yards and a TD.

The Wildcats had trouble running the ball, which has been their bread and butter all season. If Florida State is to advance through the postseason, they will need more road wins like this one, since they are the second lowest seed remaining in the tournament currently.

Florida State Seminoles.(12-2)-3-24-0-13-40
Kansas State Wildcats.....(11-2)-0-3-7-3-13

FSU-Hopkins 46 FG
FSU-Thompson 84 run (Hopkins Kick)
FSU-Hopkins 45 FG
FSU-Thompson 11 run (Hopkins Kick)
FSU-Thompson 21 pass from Manuel (Hopkins Kick)
KSU-Cantele 32 FG
KSU-Hubert 2 run (Cantele Kick)
FSU-Wilder 2 run (Hopkins Kick)
KSU-Cantele 37 FG
FSU-Hopkins 46 FG
FSU-Hopkins 31 FG

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
FSU-Thompson-17-144-2 (108-831-7), Freeman-8-46-0 (105-676-8), Wilder-12-25-1 (111-608-12), Manuel-17-(-25)-0 (114-259-3)
KSU-Pease-8-88-0 (61-374-0), Hubert-16-32-1 (188-929-16), Wilson-1-(-2)-0 (7-11-1), Klein-19-(-4)-0 (213-891-22)

Passing
FSU-Manuel-26-20-239-1-0 (375-257-3,340-23-10)
KSU-Klein-16-11-147-0-0 (288-191-2,642-15-7)

Receiving
FSU-Benjamin-5-47-0 (34-529-4), O'Leary-4-38-0 (23-261-3), Greene-3-48-0 (55-744-5), Wilder-3-35-0 (22-171-2), Shaw-2-39-0 (29-510-3), Thompson-2-31-1 (23-279-1), Haplea-1-1-0 (4-16-1)
KSU-Harper-3-30-0 (53-816-3), Lockett-2-18-0 (42-675-4), Tannahill-2-15-0 (24-294-1), Trujillo-1-43-0 (3-115-0), Thompson-1-28-0 (37-542-4), Sexton-1-12-0 (8-87-1), Hubert-1-1-0 (17-83-0)

2012 Final Standings

Here is how the 2012 NFL Playoffs will look when run in the future on THPF.

Week 17

Team...Record...Point Differential

1. Denver Broncos........(13-3)...(+192)
2. Atlanta Falcons.......(13-3)...(+120)
3. New England Patriots..(12-4)...(+226)
4. Houston Texans.........(12-4)...(+85)
5. San Francisco 49ers.(11-4-1)...(+124)
6. Seattle Seahawks......(11-5)...(+167)
7. Green Bay Packers......(11-5)...(+97)
8. Indianapolis Colts.....(11-5)...(-30)
9. Chicago Bears..........(10-6)...(+98)
10. Cincinnati Bengals....(10-6)...(+71)
11. Baltimore Ravens......(10-6)...(+54)
12. Washington Redskins...(10-6)...(+48)

-----------------------------------------------

out Minnesota Vikings.....(10-6)...(+31)
out New York Giants........(9-7)...(+85)

There was some reshuffling of the teams in the postseason, but the top 12 remained the same from Week 16 to Week 17. Here are the matchups for the Wild Card Round.

Washington Redskins at San Francisco 49ers
Baltimore Ravens at Seattle Seahawks
Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers
Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts

The top 4 get the bye. Last season, 3 different 9-win teams made the playoffs, but, this year, a 10-win team missed the playoffs.

2012 NCAA First Round Playoff-Notre Dame-33, Nebraska-0

Riddick gained 165 from scrimmage (MikeCarter/US Presswire)

December 15, 2012

Weather-46 degrees, 11 mph SSE, rain

South Bend, IN-The Fighting Irish used a stifling defense to intercept Taylor Martinez 4 times and blank the Cornhuskers, 33-0. Theo Riddick led the Notre Dame ground attack by rushing for 122 yards on 22 carries, going over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Cierre Wood added 106 yards and 2 TD for the undefeated Irish, now 13-0.

Notre Dame will host a quarterfinal game next weekend.

Nebraska Cornhuskers.........(10-4)-0-0-0-0-0
Notre Dame Fighting Irish.(13-0)-10-13-7-3-33

ND-Brindza 46 FG
ND-Wood 3 run (Brindza Kick)
ND-Riddick 20 pass from Golson (Brindza Kick)
ND-Brindza 31 FG
ND-Brindza 46 FG
ND-Wood 4 run (Brindza Kick)
ND-Brindza 28 FG

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
Neb-Abdullah-23-122-0 (242-1,211-8), Martinez-16-34-0 (191-1,007-10), Burkhead-13-33-0 (87-568-4), Heard-5-0-0 (56-343-3)
ND-Riddick-22-122-0 (202-1,002-5), Wood-16-106-2 (126-846-6), Golson-15-19-0 (104-324-5), Atkinson-1-1-0 (52-362-5)

Passing
Neb-Martinez-19-10-88-0-4 (360-222-2,755-21-14)
ND-Golson-26-12-141-1-0 (308-178-2,276-12-5)

Receiving
Neb-Enunwa-3-29-0 (43-488-1), Reed-2-16-0 (25-370-2), Abdullah-2-13-0 (26-191-2), Cotton-1-12-0 (17-182-2), Burkhead-1-11-0 (8-64-1), Osborne-1-7-0 (11-98-2)
ND-Riddick-3-43-1 (38-407-2), Jones-3-38-0 (46-597-4), Daniels-2-27-0 (27-402-0), Toma-2-19-0 (26-271-0), Eifert-1-8-0 (45-632-4), Goodman-1-6-0 (8-165-3)