Rose Bowl, 2 o’clock, NBC

The college football playoff semi-final game this afternoon in the Rose Bowl will feature the best of two worlds. 

Oregon and Florida State will be led by the last two Heisman Trophy winners.  Newsmaking Jameis Winston, last year’s winner for Florida State, and Marcus Mariota, who won last month for the Ducks, will use their arms and legs to try to put their teams into the first playoff finals in college history. 

Florida State,13-0, has not lost a game in two years, is defending national champion.

Oregon is 12-1, meaning both schools have powerhouse rosters.

Florida State hopes to continue one of the most impressive winning streaks in history.  “The past two years we have dominated,” Winston said this week on Media Day in downtown Los Angeles. “We can do it all.  We always have a chip on our shoulders. Our will to win is very strong.  We have 11 brothers on the field.  I have confidence in my brothers.”

Winston has had problems off the field, which just adds to the mystique of the Gator program.  “My job is to lead this football team,” Winston said.  “I can’t control what other people think.”

On the other side of the line, Mariota of Oregon appears to be the perfect student athlete.  Humble, he always seems to say the right words at the right time. 

The Pac-12 champion Ducks returned all five starting offensive line men this season, which helped pave the way for running backs Byron Marshall and Thomas Tyler and to protect Mariota.

Evenly matched, the team that holds onto the ball in key situations will advance to the championship game in Texas on Saturday, Jan 10.

Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com