DALLAS, Texas – Good morning, y’all. The first-ever College Football Playoff is mere hours away from crowning its first champion.
Before the game kicks off at 5:30 p.m., catch up with all the pregame storylines from Emerald reporters Hayden Kim, Joseph Hoyt and Justin Wise.
– The Heisman winner vs. the third stringer: Marcus Mariota and Cardale Jones is a matchup jam-packed with talent.
– Oregon and Ohio State in the national title game? This has happened before, on the hardwood in 1939, to be exact.
– The Helfrich way: A “mark” defined by commitment and culture.
– “Trust the process” has been the buzz-phrase with Oregon all year. What does it mean?
– Rick Bay, a former Oregon and Ohio State athletic director, couldn’t score a ticket to the national championship. Find out more in Hayden Kim’s Q&A with the former AD.
– Freshmen Tony James and Jeff Bieber key a “phenomenal” offensive scout team.
– Senior corner Dior Mathis is Oregon’s “Hype man,” writes Justin Wise.
– Injured Oregon wide receiver Devon Allen: “I’m 20 years old. I’m young. I’ll come back from rehab.”
– Darren Carrington and Ayele Forde failed drug tests and didn’t travel with the team to Dallas.
– Carrington’s suspension hurts, but Oregon still has options – limited at that.
– Thomas Tyner will be key in the National Championship, writes Hayden Kim.
– What’s it like to be at the national championship? Emerald sports reporters asked some of the players for their thoughts.
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @JoeJHoyt