Pistons 104, Celtics 103

 

The Celtics gave González only 1:47 of playing time, so they weren't really serious about winning the game last night.

However, over in Miami, the Hurricanes and the Hoosiers were both serious about winning the CFP Championship Game. Indiana faced a stiffer defense than they'd seen in the Big 10 all season, and Miami refused to roll over, twice coming back from 10 down to get within 3.  Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza made an incredible fourth-quarter TD run on a fourth-and-four on the Miami 12; it looked like he was going to be tackled for a turnover on downs at least twice on the run, but he spun and kept going until he could leap across the goal line. It's hard for any team to come back after that.

Down by six late in the fourth, Miami advanced the ball 34 yards to the Indiana 41 for a potential game-winning TD when Hurricanes QB Carson Beck threw his first interception of the game, because of course he did. Throwing INTs at crucial moments was Carson's signature move during his tenure at Georgia, and it was only fitting that this one ended the game, 27-21, and gave Indiana their first National Championship. 

And so ends the 2025 college football season, with the most unlikely of champions, only one SEC team in the final four, the team with the lineal championship belt and Georgia's 2021 and 2022 championship rings (Notre Dame) not even among the 12 in the playoffs, and a Carson Beck INT.

This is the third straight year a Big 10 team is the National Champion, and some embittered northerners are already shivering that the SEC is dead and over. Wait until next year. Georgia had a great 12-1 regular season this year, only to lose to another SEC team (Ole Miss) in the playoffs. Bulldog QB Gunner Stockton will be back after finishing in the top 10 of the Heisman voting, and despite the transfer portal and NIL deals, the Dawgs are loaded with top-tier recruits. Georgia may have lost in the quarterfinals the past two seasons, but it's never wise to bet against a Kirby Smart team. Only a fool would write off Georgia next year, not to mention Alabama, and Ole Miss and whatever Lane Kiffin cooks up at LSU. The conference took its lumps this season, I'll admit that, but they're down, not out.

Speaking of Indiana, though, the Celtics play the lowly Pacers (10-34) there tomorrow night.