2 Big Ten teams lose in College Football Playoff semifinals; USC should be optimistic about the future

We never did get a matchup between USC and Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl.

 If the Trojans had beaten Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game,

we probably would have had that matchup since TCU lost in the Big 12 Championship Game to Kansas State.

TCU would have played Georgia in the other playoff semifinal.

Because the USC-Michigan matchup never did happen,

I didn’t want to talk about the pairing heading into the Pac-12 Championship Game.

 I did think USC had a great chance to beat Michigan if the two teams did meet in the Fiesta Bowl.

We all saw why this past Saturday, when the Wolverines lost to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

Saying “USC coulda taken Michigan!” (or any other team) in a playoff semifinal might seem like empty boasting

, especially since USC fell so far short of even getting to the playoff.

What it actually was: an attempt to underscore a simple point.

Michigan and all other teams in college football this season aren’t elite teams.

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A missed opportunity for Michigan football, yes, but keep perspective -