College football’s preeminent competition will kick off under the most ideal of conditions. No. 2 Michigan will take on No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl inside comfy State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
The game is the first semifinal in this year’s College Football Playoff, and it carries some intrigue. On the line is a berth in the national championship game — a contest neither school has been able to reach since a title game was instituted.
MORE: Sporting News Coach of the Year: TCU’s Sonny Dykes spearheads quick turnaround
The Wolverines (13-0) have been a buzzsaw this season, going through opponents week by week. That includes their 22-point beatdown of archrival Ohio State in The Game.
The Horned Frogs (12-1) have strung together one of the finest years in program history. Quarterback Max Duggan was the Heisman runner-up after a 30-touchdown, four-interception season. It’s hard to imagine that he has faced a front seven as daunting as Michigan’s, though.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from Michigan vs. TCU in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Follow below to keep up with the action as the Fiesta Bowl takes place in Glendale.
MORE: Watch the College Football Playoff live with fuboTV (free trial)
Michigan vs. TCU score
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
| Michigan |
0 |
6 |
3 |
– |
– |
| TCU |
14 |
7 |
14 |
– |
– |
Michigan vs. TCU live score, updates from College Football Playoff semifinal
(All times Eastern)
6:50 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! You get a score, you get a score! McCarthy finds pay dirt with a 20 yard scamper.
The scoring seems like it’s at an untenable pace. Then again, you never know with college football.
Two point conversion goes awry. Still, things are getting spicy at the Fiesta Bowl.
TCU 34, Michigan 22
6:40 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! What a performance by Dee Winters! The cornerback adds to his growing legacy with yet another pick six against McCarthy, the Horned Frogs second score on a McCarthy miscue.
TCU 34, Michigan 16
6:35 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! TCU gets it back in blood! Demercado caps off a seven-play, 75 yard drive with a one yard score to push the Horned Frogs lead that much further.
Demercedero’s TD was nice, but the pivotal play of the drive was its first. Duggan hit Johnston with a 46-yard dot to put TCU in position to bag yet another score on the first play from kickoff.
TCU 28, Michigan 16
6:30 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Another bit of trickery for the Wolverines. This one works out, though, with McCarthy hitting Bell on the flea flicker to finally get the Wolverines into the end zone.
TCU 21, Michigan 16
6:28 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! The Wolverines notch a huge turnover, snagging a pick after the ball ricochets off a receiver’s chest. Time to make it count.
6:18 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Moody hits the chip shot, his third kick of the day.
TCU 21, Michigan 9
6:17 p.m.: Another red zone trip, another field goal attempt. The Horned Frogs defense is balling.
6:15 p.m.: McCarthy hits Ronnie Bell with a 43-yard dime, bringing the Wolverines into the red zone for the third time today. Let’s see if they can finally punch it in.
6:09 p.m.: Duggan opens the third with a gaudy QB draw, grabbing 14 yards in the process.
5:45 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Moody boots it in from 59 yards out, cutting TCU’s lead to 15. Impressive kick by the former Lou Groza Award winner.
TCU 21, Michigan 6
5:43 p.m.: A defensive pass interference gives the Wolverines a chance at kicking the field goal before halftime. Gotta make it count.
5:40 p.m.: Dylan Horton forces the ball loose after sacking McCarthy. However, it spins harmlessly out of bounds.
Not looking great for the Wolverines with a little over 20 seconds left.
5:38 p.m.: Big sack will give the Wolverines a chance to cut into TCU’s lead before the end of the half.
5:35 p.m.: Emari Demercadero, who came in for the ailing Miller, combines for 23 yards on two carries to kick off TCU’s latest drive.
Could get worse for Big Blue here.
5:30 p.m.: Johnny Hodges and company putting Michigan’s offensive line on notice. Wonderful display by the Navy transfer, who played a pivotal role in shutting down the Wolverines’ last drive.
Ball headed back to TCU.
5:27 p.m.: Michigan has to get something going quickly. Four minutes left in the quarter and the Wolverines are in desperate need of a touchdown, especially given the fact that they’re set to kick the ball back off to TCU.
5:22 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Duggan rolls out to the right, biding his time before slipping a pass to Taye Barber. The senior does the rest, waltzing in from six yards out to add to TCU’s lead.
TCU 21, Michigan 3
5:20 p.m.: TCU really finding its rhythm on this drive. First, Duggan lofts a pass to a wide open Quentin Johnston for 32 yards. Then, Miller nabs a first with a furious run through the tackle. First and goal loading for the Horned Frogs.
5:18 p.m.: Although Duggan’s passing hasn’t quite been up to snuff, he has shown off his wheels. Another huge gain via the ground for Duggan, who is already up to six carries for 33 yards so far.
5:15 p.m.: It has been a rough passing day for both hurlers so far. Duggan is 4/10 with an interception. McCarthy hasn’t been much better, tossing a pick while completing just six of his 10 attempts so far.
If fans wanted an battle of high-powered offenses, it seems you might have come to the wrong place.
5:10 p.m.: For all of Michigan’s struggles on the offensive side of the ball, its defense is keeping things tight. Gets TCU off the field with a four-play stop. Doesn’t get much better than that.
5:03 p.m.: FUMBLE! Kalel Mullings muffs the handoff! The ball is headed back to the Horned Frogs. What a turn of events!
5:01 p.m.: McCarthy airs it out, finding Roman Wilson for 50 yards! U-Mich is at TCU’s one-yard line!
4:59 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! Duggan sees his throw slip through his target’s hands, falling into the grateful mitts of Michigan safety Rod Moore. Huge break for the Wolverines defense.
4:56 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Jake Moody splits the uprights from 42 yards out, giving Michigan its first points of the ballgame.
TCU 14, Michigan 3
4:55 p.m.: Conservative play call by Harbaugh fails to make a dent, as the Wolverines are stuffed on a third-down run play. Field goal unit is trotting on the field.
End of first quarter: TCU 14, Michigan
4:51 p.m.: Once more, with feeling.The McCarthy-Loveland connection nets 16 yards for the Wolverines, who once more find themselves deep in Horned Frogs territory.
4:49 p.m.: McCarthy fires a ball past outreached arms to reach his wideout for the first. Showing signs of life.
4:48 p.m.: AJ Henning stuffed well behind the line of scrimmage. Really good start by the Horned Frogs’ defense.
4:44 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Duggan bungles it in from short distance, extending TCU’s lead to 14.
TCU 14, Michigan 0
4:42 p.m.: Duggan stuffed at the line of scrimmage. However, looks like forward progress granted him the advantage. A new set of downs on the goal-line for the Horned Frogs.
4:40 p.m.: Giving Duggan time in the pocket is a dangerous strategy. The Heisman runner-up finds time and space before firing a dart to Jordan Hudson on the sideline.
4:39 p.m.: Great presence of mind by Duggan, who took advantage of the free play to move the chains for the first down on the ground.
4:35 p.m.: Kendre Miller breaks open a 14-yard gain to open the drive for TCU.
4:35 p.m.: The Horned Frogs defense has come to play early. Stunts another Wolverines drive en route to a three-and-out.
4:28 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! McCarthy fails to see Bud Clark lurking behind his wideout. Clark snaps up the errant throw before taking it to the house to open the scoring in this year’s Fiesta Bowl.
That’s only McCarthy’s fourth-ever interception.
TCU 7, Michigan 0
4:24 p.m.: Wolverines defense holds strong, forcing a three-and-out from Duggan and company. A shorter-than-ideal punt will put Big Blue in decent starting position for its second possession.
4:21 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS! The Horned Frogs snuff out the lateral play, pinning Colston Loveland behind the line of scrimmage to deny the Wolverines a score. Impressive stuff by the TCU front seven.
4:17 p.m.: McCarthy with a wonderful effort, evading pressure before rumbling towards the end zone. He got pushed out just short of the goal-line, presenting Jim Harbaugh with a decision to make on fourth down.
4:15 p.m.: JJ McCarthy completes his first pass of the day, finding wideout Roman Wilson for a nine-yard gain. That puts Michigan in a goal-to-go situation.
4:13 p.m.: The first play from scrimmage is a big one! Donovan Edwards races through the TCU front seven for 54 yards, brining the Wolverines on the brink of the end zone. That’s one way to make an opening impression.
4:11 p.m.: The opening kickoff lands in the end zone for a touchback. Michigan will start with the ball.
3:59 p.m.: Boyz II Men singing the national anthem. Didn’t have that on my bingo card.
3:30 p.m.: Cool gesture here by Fiesta Bowl organizers, who hosted virtual fans from both Phoenix and Michigan Children’s Hospitals for Saturday’s game.
3:15 p.m.: Slide to the left, slide to the right…
3:00 p.m.: Ambitious prediction by this TCU fan. One way or another, this take is sure to get some attention.
2:40 p.m. — Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is making the rounds pregame
2:30 p.m.: …And here comes the Horned Frogs!
1:25 p.m.: The Wolverines are in the building …
11:45 a.m.: Hours before game time, the hype videos are teed up. Time to get the blood pumping:
Michigan vs. TCU start time
- Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT)
Kickoff for Michigan vs. TCU is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 31. It is the first of the two Playoff games, with the Peach Bowl between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Ohio State kicking off at 8 p.m. ET.
What channel is Michigan vs. TCU on today?
- TV network (national): ESPN
Michigan vs. TCU will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Todd Blackedge (color commentator) will call the game in the booth, while Molly McGrath and Tiffany Blackmon will report from the sidelines.
ESPN is also rolling out its Megacast for the College Football Playoff, once again providing alternate broadcasts across its family of networks.
| Telecast |
TV channel |
| Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show |
ESPN2 |
| Command Center |
ESPNU |
| Skycast |
ESPN News |
| Spanish-language |
ESPN Deportes |
How to live stream College Football Playoff games
- Live streams: ESPN App, fuboTV
Both College Football Playoff semifinals will be available to stream live on all of the network’s digital platforms, including ESPN.com and the ESPN App.
Cord-cutters have several live streaming options, including fuboTV, which offers a free trial:
| Streaming option |
Cable subscription needed? |
Free? |
Cost |
Free trial? |
| ESPN.com/ESPN App |
Yes |
Yes |
– |
– |
| Yahoo! Sports App |
No |
Yes |
– |
– |
| fuboTV |
No |
No |
$60/month |
Yes |
| AT&T TV Now |
No |
No |
$55/month |
Yes |
| Hulu Plus Live TV |
No |
No |
$55/month |
Yes |
| Sling TV |
No |
No |
$35/month |
No |
| YouTube TV |
No |
No |
$65/month |
Yes |
College Football Playoff schedule
| Date |
Bowl |
Matchup |
Time (ET) |
TV |
| Dec. 31 |
Fiesta Bowl (CFP semifinal) |
No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU |
4 p.m. |
ESPN, fuboTV |
| Dec. 31 |
Sugar Bowl (CFP semifinal) |
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State |
8 p.m. |
ESPN, fuboTV |
| Jan. 9 |
CFP National Championship Game |
TBD vs. TBD |
8 p.m. |
ESPN, fuboTV |
