ORLANDO (AP) — Brigham Young University may be disappointed to miss out on a College Football Playoff invitation, and the Cougars could let that disappointment carry over into the postseason.
Instead, the No. 12 Cougars (12-2) fought back from an 11-point second-half deficit and beat No. 24 Georgia Tech 25-21 in a minor bowl game on Saturday.
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BYU and Georgia Tech take their roles in the Tart Bowl seriously, and it shows. The Cougars rallied to take the lead with two minutes left against the Yellow Jackets, then Evan Johnson caught a pass from Georgia Tech’s Haynes King in the end zone with less than 10 seconds left.
The Cougars put Johnson on their shoulders and took him to the bench to celebrate the win.
BYU and Georgia Tech (9-4) showed that this game matters, even if it’s not a playoff game, and the festivities included sacrificial pastry mascots and shirts that tongue-in-cheek read “People’s National Champions.”
“It just so happened that we didn’t make it (to the playoffs), and that didn’t matter,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I like the maturity of our guys. We earned another opportunity to compete and these guys came in here with a great attitude and were very appreciative and appreciative of being invited to the Pop-Tarts Bowl.”
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There was indeed a celebration, although Sitake was taciturn as he ate his postgame snacks. Bowl games are getting ridiculous.
But there’s still one football game left – one of only three between teams outside of the playoffs that ranks in the final CFP standings. And, both programs have a role to play.
Both teams want to be in this game. Neither team has reported opt-outs due to NFL draft preparation or the transfer portal.
These programs are trying to make their mark in their respective conferences. The only way is to play. They are hungry and ready to compete.
“Competitors are going to compete no matter where, when, when or who we play,” Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said. “We’re always going to have a team of competitors. I’m a competitor. That’s what we do. I don’t understand the narrative over the past few years that these games don’t matter.”
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The Yellow Jackets have plenty of opportunities — their first 10-win season since 2014 and 10th in school history. Obviously, it’s disappointing that they came up a little short, blowing an 11-point lead in the second half and getting intercepted in the end zone in the final seconds of the game.
Both teams may be too frustrated to end the season in a bowl game. Instead, the team completed a historic season. It gives these bowl games a little meaning, even if it’s not the ultimate prize.
Sitake said he believes last year’s Alamo Bowl win helped prepare the team for a breakout season. He believes this win will have the same impact next season.
“That’s the way things are done in life,” Sitake said. “If it’s not the way you want it to be, that’s okay. Your reaction is what everyone will use to define you.”
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