ARLINGTON, Texas – Cincinnati can blame LSU for this. Or Auburn.
Both teams had opportunities in November to hand Alabama a loss that could have knocked the defending national champion out of the College Football Playoff picture. They let the Crimson Tide wriggle off the hook.
Or blame Georgia. The Bulldogs played like the nation’s best team for three months, but when they had the chance to plant a knockout punch on Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, the Crimson Tide trampled them.
That left plucky underdog Cincinnati to face the ultimate blueblood in the playoff semifinals.