Football

No. 3 TCU Faces No. 1 Georgia for CFP National Championship

(AP) No. 1 Georgia (14-0) vs. No. 3 TCU (13-1) at Inglewood, California, Monday, 6:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)

WHAT’S AT STAKE

TCU has two national titles to its credit (1935, 38). The Horned Frogs would be the first Big 12 team to win the CFP and the first from the conference to win a national title in football since Texas in 2005.

KEY MATCHUP

TCU’s running game against Georgia’s front seven. The Horned Frogs ran for 263 yards against Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl, even with leading rusher Kendre Miller sidelined most of the game with a knee injury. Miller is a game-time decision. RB Emari Demercado stepped up with 150 yards on 17 carries last week. Creating holes against All-America DT Jalen Carter, starting LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson and the rest of the Bulldogs’ big and athletic front seven likely will require a healthy dose of QB Max Duggan in the running game.
 
 PLAYERS TO WATCH

TCU: WR Quentin Johnston. Nagged by injuries much of the season, Johnston broke out against Michigan with 163 yards on six catches. He has the size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and speed to be the first receiver selected in the next NFL draft. 


FACTS & FIGURES

The victory against Michigan was TCU’s ninth of the season by 10 points or fewer. ... Duggan, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, has 32 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. He also has run for eight scores.