It wasn’t supposed to be just another matchup between the two top-ranked teams in the country. It was a game against a team that went undefeated all season, and the powerful Crimson Tide. It was more anticipated than perhaps any national title game in the last five years. It wasn’t supposed to be just another title game. But it ended the same way as three in the last four years have. With Alabama crushing their opponent with a final score of 42-14.

Even fans who had had the date marked on their calendar all year long were searching for the remote when in the second quarter, the Crimson Tide were already leading 35-0. Fans didn’t need to break out into the “SEC! SEC!” chant to let everyone know the game was over; but they did anyway. Notre Dame had an outstanding year, but they just can’t compete with the very powerful schools just yet; and being the clear underdog didn’t seem to help them any.

The Fighting Irish actually didn’t put in a bad showing, with quarterback Everett Golson finishing his first season as starter going 21 of 36 for 270 yards, and scoring a touchdown. The problem Notre Dame had was largely on the ground, with their running game being held to just 32 yards. But even with their lagging play, Notre Dame did not lose this game because they’re a bad team. Alabama’s just that good.

It was the Tide’s second consecutive national title, after defeating LSU in the big bowl game last year. It was their third in the last four years. Eddie Lacy took the game’s offensive MVP award after the game, and for good reason. He was the reason for two of the Tide’s touchdowns in the first half, and he managed to slither and slide his way out of any situation involving any member of the Irish. He finished with 140 yards on 20 carries, and his best performance of the year when his team needed it the most. His 181 rushing yards were also a career high for him.

But as much as people are talking today about how good Alabama is, they’re also talking about how good head coach Nick Saban is. It’s clear that after winning his last three out of four titles, and four of his eight years as a college coach, Saban is building himself a dynasty in Alabama. And it’s one that’s likely going to reign for some time.

The Music City Bowl is going to be held, where else, in Nashville, Tennessee on December 31 and this year it sees an unlikely going up against a team that is looking to win its fourth straight bowl. Add in some coach drama, and the Music City Bowl is one great way to ring in the New Year!

While it’s North Carolina State’s first time to Nashville, they did go to Charlotte last year and in 2010 showed up to play in Orlando, Florida for another bowl game. After N.C. State’s head coach Tom O’Brien was fired, offensive coordinator Dana Bible will step in as interim head coach for the big bowl game.

On the other side of the ball, Vanderbilt has been to Nashville to play in the Music City Bowl game, back in 2008; and they have made it to bowl games within Tennessee lines the past three consecutive years. But they’ve only made six bowl appearances in history; and it’s the first time they’ve ever played bowls in back to back years. And while N.C. State may be looking to fix their coaching problems, Vanberbilt’s James Franklin just had his contract extended thanks to the two most recent bowl berths.

N.C. State is definitely going to be a challenge for Vanderbilt. But the Wolfpack also has some serious fire in its belly and the Commodores might just be Vanderbilt needs for people to finally start taking them as seriously as they should.

Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson led his team to a 29-26 victory against the Pittsburgh Panthers after a hard-fought triple-overtime battle in South Bend Saturday night. With this win, the Fighting Irish currently stand undefeated at 9-0 and the team’s winning combination of a strong offense and defense make the old blue-and-gold seem unstoppable this season.

Golson started after initially being benched, and the kid was on fire during Saturday’s game–throwing for 227 yards, rushing for 74 yards, and ultimately scoring three touchdowns. That’s not to say that his performance was flawless. Golson was responsible for throwing a late-fourth-quarter pick, which he also quickly recovered from, with Notre Dame holding firm ground into the first OT.

What followed was a test of wills for the players, with matching field goals in the first overtime, a missed 33-yard field goal attempt by Pittsburgh in the second, and finally the Irish’s fateful field goal that put them over the top in the third.

Players and fans alike leapt in celebration after Golson emerged from the pile of bodies victoriously. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly even advised his team earlier this season that every team they would encounter this year would be bringing their A-game, and that they couldn’t relax for a moment or risk losing unexpectedly to an underdog team. Pittsburgh played fantastic, holding its own against the Irish, but in the end it just wasn’t enough.

Now, as Golson and the rest of the team look ahead to the next challenge on the field, they can relax for a moment to revel in their currently flawless record.