2021 NCAA Final Four and Championship Preview
The 2021 NCAA Final Four is a tournament stage that every student-athlete dreams of reaching. A common trend in this tournament is the major programs stealing all the fun away from the smaller schools. The big programs like USC, UCLA, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, and Penn State have all been to multiple NCAA Final Fours over the past decade. However, that narrative has changed in the past few years.
Last year, Santa Clara broke through and won their second-ever title and is in search of going back-to-back for a third. This year BYU is joining them, meaning two teams from the WCC are in the NCAA Final Four, increasing the conference’s profile by a wide margin. In addition, Rutgers is making their second Final Four appearance, with Florida State making their eye-popping 15th appearance. These four teams will fight for the right to be called national champions. Here’s how the 2021 NCAA Final Four and Championship game might go for any of these four teams.
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#1 Florida State Seminoles vs. #1 Rutgers Scarlet Knights on December 3 at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT on ESPNU
Florida State and Rutgers both handled their business in the Elite Eight. The Seminoles needed just one goal to get past Michigan, whereas Rutgers survived in penalties against Arkansas after a 2-2 thriller in regulation.
This is big for Rutgers’ program as a part of the Big 10; it speaks to the strength of their conference. Amirah Ali is certainly headed for bigger and better things, and she’ll have to play at a high level for the Scarlet Knights to upset Florida State.
Rutgers has played top-tier competition, but this Florida State team might be the cream of the crop. Among Jaelin Howell, Yujie Zhao, Clara Robbins, and Gabby Carle, this team is stacked with NWSL draft picks and future European club players. Plus, they remember the heartbreak from last year.
Rutgers has to play the perfect game to beat the Seminoles, which most likely won’t happen.
Prediction: Florida State advanced 2-1
#4 BYU Cougars vs. Santa Clara Broncos on December 3 at 9:30 PM ET/6:30 PM PT on ESPNU
The WCC, as mentioned above, has two of its biggest programs going head to head. Not too long ago, these two teams faced each other, with the Broncos beating the Cougars 1-0.
In the 73rd minute of the match, Kelsey Turnbow scored, meaning the teams were fairly even up until the deciding goal. Expect more of the same with fewer goals because of the familiarity these two teams have with playing each other year after year. This will come down to which team’s best player can get them over the line.
Turnbow is the real deal and headed to the Chicago Red Stars next year. The same goes for Mikayla Colohan, a draft pick of the Orlando Pride. Whoever can produce that moment of magic will be able to advance.
Santa Clara is hungry to repeat as champions–a feat which hasn’t been done since 2008 and 2009 by North Carolina. The experience of last year should help them in this game as well, having been here before. Santa Clara should win again, setting up an amazing rematch with Florida State in the final.
Prediction: Santa Clara advances on PKs (3-2)
#1 Florida State Seminoles vs. Santa Clara Broncos, Date/Time TBD (most likely Sunday, December 5)
A rematch from last year’s final seems too good to be true, but based on how these two teams are playing, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Santa Clara would be the first school other than North Carolina to win back-to-back titles in NCAA history and catapult their program to even bigger heights. Florida State, on the other hand, is definitely thinking about the loss in PKs last year.
They were 6+ minutes away from being crowned national champs and have done nothing but march their way back impressively.
This was another year filled with upsets, but Santa Clara doing it back-to-back years doesn’t seem as likely as this super-talented Florida State getting the job done and exacting revenge.
Prediction: Florida State wins 2-1
Featured image via @ruwsoccer on Instagram
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