Part 4/7:
Moreover, Smallman and Cohen acknowledged the impressive coaching move by Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman in the fourth quarter, where he cleverly executed a trick play that extended their drive and drained Georgia’s timeouts.
The Big Ten's Rising Relevance
Adding another layer to the analysis, Smallman pointed out the significance of the Big 10’s representation in the final four teams, highlighting how two of them—Ohio State and Penn State—were able to dissolve the narrative of SEC supremacy in college football. This shift in the narrative began due to the increasing influence of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities, enabling players to access competitive environments outside traditional powerhouses.