Sweet 16: Hypothetical 16-team College Football Playoff
By Brad Weiss
The Western Michigan Broncos came into their Sweet 16 matchup with the Clemson Tigers full of confidence, after ripping off 13 straight victories during their perfect regular season. The game between the two teams featured the two best wide receivers in college football, who both should go very early in next April’s draft. Corey Davis and Mike Williams would both put their stamps on this game, but Clemson would prove to be in another class than the Broncos in this one.
Clemson got the scoring started early, and they kept their foot on the gas pedal throughout. Deshaun Watson hit Mike Williams for a 40-yard strike to open the scoring on their opening drive, as Williams beat Darius Phillips on a go-route. Western Michigan hung in early against the Tigers, as Zach Terrell connected with Davis for a score late in the first quarter to pull the Broncos to within seven at 14-7. The Broncos would not score again until the fourth quarter, as the Tigers move the ball up and down the field against an overmatched Broncos defense.
Running back Wayne Gallman rushed for 135 yards in the game, finding the end zone three times for the Tigers. Williams caught eight balls for 122 yards and a score, outshining Davis, who hauled in seven catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Like college basketball, a No. 15 beating a No. 2 is extremely rare, and the quality of play in this one was pretty lopsided throughout. The game proved to be the last for P.J. Fleck at Western Michigan, as he signed on with the University of Minnesota a week after his team’s loss.