Ohio State defeated Oregon 42-20 last night to win the inaugural CFP National Championship, and ESPN’s Chris Fowler set the scene from AT&T Stadium at the top of the broadcast: "The first of its kind and no other big event really feels quite like this. A far less corporate crowd than we usually see. This is college football – passionate fans in here tonight.” ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit: “You can feel a buzz in the air. You know something special is about to occur.” Fowler estimated that Ohio State fans made up "perhaps 70 percent" of the crowd. After the game, CFP Exec Dir Bill Hancock presented the trophy to Ohio State coach Urban Meyer "on behalf of the conferences and schools that manage this awesome new event" ("Ohio State-Oregon," ESPN, 1/12).
Columbus Dispatch, front page, “Undisputed Champions” ... Dayton Daily News, front page, “The National Champions” ... Akron Beacon Journal, front page, “O-H, OH Yeah!” ... Portland Oregonian, A1, “History Lesson” ... Salem Statesman Journal, above the fold: “O, No” ... N.Y. Times, below the fold, “Ohio State Leaps Past Oregon” ... Wall Street Journal, below the fold, “Ohio State Defeats Oregon 42-20”
REACTIONS TO ESPN COVERAGE: Dallas Morning News' Barry Horn tweeted, "Kirk Herbstreit may be the first national broadcaster in history to mention AT&T Stadium is not in North Texas or Dallas but Arlington." SI's Richard Deitsch: "Since I know ESPN suits are monitoring: Near-uniform agreement: People really like Film Room, but small box on coaches; big on game." SI's Doug Farrar: "Hey, NFL -- watch this. Get a bunch of coaches in a room and have them watch Super Bowl All-22 live. Please." Bleacher Report's Matt Miller: "Was excited about ESPN2 film room, but live game screen is way too small. Had to switch to ESPN feed."
AT&T PRESENCE: Chicago Tribune's Ed Sherman: "How much did AT&T pay to be on the screen for entire game?" ESPN's Darren Rovell: "Between stadium naming rights, headsets & presenting sponsorship of game, AT&T is getting $46.7M in value tonight, says @FRAnalytics."
A LIGHTER BUZZ: In perhaps the most buzzed-about tweet of the night (14,000 retweets at presstime), comedian Bob Newhart posted, "In regards to my new career as head ref for #OSUvsORE - Hey, I don't have a series any more - I had to do something. #OSUvsORE"
