Emari Demercado Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; TCU Horned Frogs running back Emari Demercado (3) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines defensive back Rod Moore (19) in the second quarter of the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
College FootballBy Arthur Weinstein on

The TCU Horned Frogs and Michigan Wolverines went into halftime of their CFP Semifinal looking like normal football teams.

The players came out in the third quarter looking like Marvel superheroes.

TCU led Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl 21-6 after a generally uneventful first half. But the third quarter brought insanity, and the craziest quarter in CFP history. The numbers tell the story:

  • The two teams combined for 44 points, the most ever in a CFP game, topping the 2016 championship game where Alabama and Clemson combined for 40 points in the fourth quarter. The over-under for the entire game at BetMGM was 58.5 points.
  • The two teams combined for 420 yards.
  • There were 16 first downs.
  • There were big scoring plays, including this pick-six by Dee Winters’, TCU’s second interception return for a TD in the game.

 

There were huge plays that didn’t score, like this incredible 69-yard run by TCU running back Emari Demercado.

College football fans were stunned by what they had seen.

“TCU and Michigan have combined for 44 points in the 3rd quarter. No drive has lasted longer than 4:09. This game is off the rails,” tweeted Adam Copeland.

“Is it just me or has TCU and Michigan played in the longest 3rd quarter in the history of football?” tweeted Eric Baity.

“44 total points in the 3rd quarter. INSANE,” tweeted Coach Matt Alvarez.

Chris Long tweeted, “Wild third quarter there between TCU and Michigan?!??!?! I thought TCU’s pick-six to make it 34-16 was ballgame. It came with 2:52 left in the quarter. … 21 points were scored between then and 0:00.”

Eric Kelly tweeted, “The third quarter between Michigan and TCU had more combined points in it than the: Music City Bowl, Cure Bowl, Fenway Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, LA Bowl, Myrtle Beach Bowl, Boca Raton Bowl, Independence Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Military Bowl, Mayo Bowl, had in four quarters.”

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.

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