Similarities between '98 Rose Bowl and 2024 CFP Championship

Submitted by SBayBlue on January 13th, 2024 at 12:26 PM

I can't help but notice the similarities between the 1998 Rose Bowl and the 2024 CFP Championship:

-Both games were between Michigan and a team from the State of Washington. (Washington State and Washington)

-Both Washington teams had Heisman QB finalists (Ryan Leaf and Michael Penix Jr.) Let's hope Penix has a better NFL career than Leaf.

-Both Washington teams were held to under 70 yards of rushing in the game.

-Both Washington teams featured a high flying passing offense and both Michigan teams had a top notch defense with an excellent D line.

-Both Washington teams lost their head coach to Alabama (Mike Price in 2003 and Kalen DeBoer in 2024)

(You may remember that Price was fired soon after starting after he visited a strip club in Pensacola, FL and an unknown woman charged $1,000 to his hotel room.)

-Both games were the last year before a change was made to a playoff system (BCS in 1999 and the 12 team CFP in 2024)

-And of course Michigan clinched the national title (split in 1998) and outright this year based on the end result.

Any other similarities to add for those that can remember the '98 Rose Bowl?

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98 tose bowl 24 cfp deboer price leaf penix

BostonWolverine

January 13th, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^

Two *similar* Michigan big plays served as defining moments (Griese to Streets x2, Edwards x2) 

Both Washington opponents were held under 1/2 of their season average in points. 

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M-Dog

January 13th, 2024 at 1:24 PM ^

The joke is on us.  The 1998 Rose Bowl has been considered by us to be the ultimate Lloyd-ball obsolete dinosaur game.  Run the ball over and over, punt and play defense.  You can't win championships like that anymore.

And yet . . . every single Michigan touchdown in the 1998 Rose Bowl was a long pass down the field.  It is actually the current 2024 National Championship game that is the epitome of "obsolete dinosaur manball,"  70+% runs.  Not a single touchdown pass.  Won the game on shut down defense after punting over and over (and over).

Who'd a thunk it? 

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WolverineHistorian

January 13th, 2024 at 1:44 PM ^

There was a sense of, "wow, where was that all year?"  I know Tai Streets was working through some injuries but most of Griese's passes all season were play action, the rare times we did throw.  I really can't think of time that year where he even attempted a bomb.  The second touchdown in the Rose Bowl, I think he just threw it as hard as he could.  

Joined: 08/10/2009

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TCW

January 14th, 2024 at 7:50 AM ^

I always thought Griese was a work in progress that whole season.  He continually improved, and adding the deep ball came late in his development.  The Brian Griese who started the season would not have been drafted, but he developed into a 3rd round draft pick, and he kept developing in the NFL to the point where he made the pro bowl one season.  

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EGD

January 13th, 2024 at 1:33 PM ^

Both of those players had statistically disappointing seasons prior to the big breakout plays in the postseason too. Edwards’ struggles have been well-documented. But Streets was playing hurt most of ‘97 and didn’t really have the kind of season Michigan was used to getting from previous WR1s like Desmond, Alexander, Toomer, et al. Yet, like Edwards, he made up for it with those two long TDs in the championship game.

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nmwolverine

January 13th, 2024 at 12:47 PM ^

The WSU run game was hobbled by injury to its running back, probably second quarter.  Similar to injury to D Johnson.  One difference: our defense was challenged early, then tightened up later.

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Team 101

January 13th, 2024 at 1:06 PM ^

1998 Rose Bowl we had to come back from behind; 2024 CFP we led the whole game.

1998 Rose Bowl went to the final second; 2024 turf was well in hand

1998 Rose Bowl on grass; 2024 CFP on turf

1998 we had to wait for people to vote; 2024 the trophy was instantaneous

Washington State had a loss; Washington was undefeated

Washington State entered the game #8; Washington #2

1998 we had Keith Jackson; 2024 Keith lives only in our threads

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TruBluMich

January 13th, 2024 at 1:14 PM ^

I know what wasn't similar, we didn't line up for a 47 yard FG.  Then proceed to direct snap it to our kicker to punt the ball with a 5 point lead and less than a minute on the clock. A kicker who would go on to play 14 years in the NFL.

It was a hell of a 23 yard punt by Feely though, arguably the greatest 23 yard punt of all time as WSU came up 26 yards short of winning.  Albeit with the help of some of the worst officiating I have ever seen.

https://youtu.be/y-9fWwuUIuI?t=2065

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WolverineHistorian

January 13th, 2024 at 1:55 PM ^

The MSU game in 1997, when Charles Woodson made the Superman interception, something we'll probably never see in football again, Lloyd called three running plays up the middle which got 5 yards and Kraig Baker did a field goal attempt...which was wide left.  Lloyd later admitted that even his own wife questioned him on those calls. 

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M-Dog

January 13th, 2024 at 1:16 PM ^

I have always had fond memories of the 1997 Michigan National Championship.  But it has been in a faded, sepia-toned way.  There is no relevance to today, I thought.  Just fond memories of a bygone era, like the glamour and elegance of air travel.

You can't win National Championships like that anymore, by running the ball and relying on your defense.  Manball is long dead.  National Championship teams need to look like 2019 LSU - phenomenal QBs passing the ball all around the house.

But by damn, if Michigan didn't win a NATONAL CHAMPIONSHIP by playing Lloyd-ball, running the ball 70+% of the time and relying on a shut-down defense.  I never thought this would be possible again.

Was it an anachronism drawing one last breath?  Or will we look back on it as a historical inflection point in the way the game is played going forward? 

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