Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
The Road To Inglewood
The road to the 2034 National Championship is officially set—and for West Virginia, it ends in heartbreak once again.
Back in 2007, the Mountaineers were on the cusp of glory. Ranked #2 with a 10-0 record, they appeared destined for a BCS National Championship berth. But a shocking 13-9 loss to bitter rival Pittsburgh shattered their hopes.
This year, the story was eerily similar. Behind Heisman contender quarterback George Douzable, West Virginia stormed to another 10-0 start, knocking off long-time nemesis Syracuse, as well as Miami and Pitt. The Mountaineers looked every bit like championship contenders—until it all unraveled.
A stunning 35-21 loss to 3-9 Boston College derailed their momentum and dropped WVU to the 8th seed heading into the ACC Championship. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Mountaineers needed a win to secure an automatic berth.
Instead, Georgia Tech delivered a crushing blow. The Yellow Jackets mounted a dramatic comeback, outscoring West Virginia 21-7 in the second half—including a decisive 14-0 run in the fourth quarter—to win 35-31. The Mountaineers' title dreams were dashed once more.
West Virginia finishes the season ranked 12th in the nation, but it wasn't enough. With automatic bids in play, Colorado State of the Mountain West leapfrogged them to claim the final playoff spot.
The ripple effects were felt beyond Morgantown. Ohio State, which missed the Big Ten Championship Game, also found itself on the outside looking in. Had WVU won, Illinois would have claimed the fifth automatic bid, and the Buckeyes would have comfortably secured the 12th spot. Instead, Illinois vaulted into a top-four seed and earned a first-round bye, paving the way for Colorado State—previously ranked 19th—to crash the playoff party.
The Rams’ Cinderella story may be short-lived, however, as they face the surging Syracuse Orange in the first round. The winner will advance to the Rose Bowl to take on Pac-12 Champion Arizona, who defeated Oregon twice this season to clinch the title.
Elsewhere in the bracket:
Oregon and Georgia will square off in a high-stakes matchup, both looking to rebound from disappointing conference championship game performances. The winner moves on to the Sugar Bowl to face SEC Champion Oklahoma.
Texas travels to Happy Valley to take on Penn State, with the victor earning a spot against Big Ten Champion Illinois in the Orange Bowl.
In a potential David-vs-Goliath clash, Army will try to shock the nation against a powerhouse Alabama team. The winner earns a date with Big 12 Champion Ball State in the Cotton Bowl.
For West Virginia, it's another chapter in a long history of "what ifs." Despite an electric season and elite talent, the Mountaineers will be watching the playoffs from home.
The Road To Inglewood
The road to the 2034 National Championship is officially set—and for West Virginia, it ends in heartbreak once again.
Back in 2007, the Mountaineers were on the cusp of glory. Ranked #2 with a 10-0 record, they appeared destined for a BCS National Championship berth. But a shocking 13-9 loss to bitter rival Pittsburgh shattered their hopes.
This year, the story was eerily similar. Behind Heisman contender quarterback George Douzable, West Virginia stormed to another 10-0 start, knocking off long-time nemesis Syracuse, as well as Miami and Pitt. The Mountaineers looked every bit like championship contenders—until it all unraveled.
A stunning 35-21 loss to 3-9 Boston College derailed their momentum and dropped WVU to the 8th seed heading into the ACC Championship. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Mountaineers needed a win to secure an automatic berth.
Instead, Georgia Tech delivered a crushing blow. The Yellow Jackets mounted a dramatic comeback, outscoring West Virginia 21-7 in the second half—including a decisive 14-0 run in the fourth quarter—to win 35-31. The Mountaineers' title dreams were dashed once more.
West Virginia finishes the season ranked 12th in the nation, but it wasn't enough. With automatic bids in play, Colorado State of the Mountain West leapfrogged them to claim the final playoff spot.
The ripple effects were felt beyond Morgantown. Ohio State, which missed the Big Ten Championship Game, also found itself on the outside looking in. Had WVU won, Illinois would have claimed the fifth automatic bid, and the Buckeyes would have comfortably secured the 12th spot. Instead, Illinois vaulted into a top-four seed and earned a first-round bye, paving the way for Colorado State—previously ranked 19th—to crash the playoff party.
The Rams’ Cinderella story may be short-lived, however, as they face the surging Syracuse Orange in the first round. The winner will advance to the Rose Bowl to take on Pac-12 Champion Arizona, who defeated Oregon twice this season to clinch the title.
Elsewhere in the bracket:
Oregon and Georgia will square off in a high-stakes matchup, both looking to rebound from disappointing conference championship game performances. The winner moves on to the Sugar Bowl to face SEC Champion Oklahoma.
Texas travels to Happy Valley to take on Penn State, with the victor earning a spot against Big Ten Champion Illinois in the Orange Bowl.
In a potential David-vs-Goliath clash, Army will try to shock the nation against a powerhouse Alabama team. The winner earns a date with Big 12 Champion Ball State in the Cotton Bowl.
For West Virginia, it's another chapter in a long history of "what ifs." Despite an electric season and elite talent, the Mountaineers will be watching the playoffs from home.
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