Now suddenly, we’re shocked that what we thought going into the College Football Playoff semis was right?

Admit it. The percentage of people who two weeks ago thought TCU was the third-best team in America, and had a real shot to play for the Natty, was only a slight bit higher than the number of Horned Frog mascots in sports.

But outside of Alabama holdouts and SEC loyalists who believed a two-loss Tide team somehow deserved a spot, most folks weren’t terribly upset the almost-unbeaten school of Slingin’ Sammy Baugh got invited to the dance, and a No. 3 seeding.

Couldn’t very well have a Big Ten rematch of the Buckeyes and Wolverines in the semis. Besides, earning the right to play in a conference championship game, and losing for the first time in 2022 by failing to give your best player (Mad Max) the ball two straight downs at the goalline in overtime, shouldn’t DQ TCU.

New Year’s Eve, we all agreed, greatest semifinal round ever. TCU stunned Michigan 51-45, Georgia rallied past Ohio State 42-41. The Yankee teams were vanquished, and that plays especially well in these parts.

Upstart TCU was getting its shot. A 13-point underdog had 52 percent of fans in an ESPN poll picking the Hypnotoads. Explain that logic – the fan poll, or the Hypnotoads.

Then the extremes weren’t considered and the extremes erupted Monday night.

Extreme 1: TCU outlasted Michigan – but the Horned Frogs snagged not one, but TWO pick-sixes, which happens about as often as Congressional concurrence.

Extreme 2: You saw it. Well, some of it. No need to watch much. It was all but over before a closing two-TD rush vaulted Georgia up 38-7 at halftime. Kirby Smart’s biggest challenge afterward was deciding when to pull Stetson Bennett for a curtain call. Dawgs 65, Frogs 7.

There’s been what old Texans call a frog strangler going on out on the Left Coast for the last several days. There was definitely a Frog strangler that played out – fast –  at SoFi Stadium Monday night.

And that angered people?  Why, I do not understand. TCU was heroic in its semifinal win, and the Frogs were freaky. Again, TWO pick-sixes. Offensively, scoring 37 on the nation’s No. 3 defense. Those teams could play 10 times and Michigan probably takes eight. Might allow 30 points, once or twice.

So TCU earned its way to LA. Despite “all the doubters” – puhleeze, defending national champion and unbeaten Bulldogs, nobody was surprised Georgia was back for another crown – and despite the late-game drama in the semis, Georgia was clearly deserving of its trip west.

Then Smart dawg-cussed at his boys in the locker room before kickoff, urged them to play “aggressive,” and they peaked at the right time. Bennett said it was “brutal perfection” how well they played.

The Horny Toads were overwhelmed. Simple things were not simple. They looked better suited for the Jimmy Kimmel Bowl, not the ultimate game.

It happens. Not many championship games are classics. We just want them to be.

Not many championship games are blowouts. But some are.

I grew up an avid NFL fan. Somehow before I was 10 I knew all about the 1958 NFL Championship Game, with Shreveport’s living legend, Leo Sanford, Louisiana Tech’s finest, snapping the ball despite a busted-up knee so the Baltimore Colts could kick a field goal to force overtime in their battle in Yankee Stadium against the New York Giants. Still considered by many the most significant game, and even the greatest game, in NFL history, because by going into overtime, the Colts prevailed before a big Sunday evening national audience.

I also knew all about the 1940 NFL Championship game. Bears 73, Redskins 0. Look it up.

I lived through the 1977 LHSAA Class 2A championship game, the last game staged in decaying Tulane Stadium. John Curtis 45, Jonesboro-Hodge 0. Completely unexpected by both teams. (8-0 two minutes before the half, BTW. A sad story for a cloudy day).

All these years later, I still think if we played 10 times, my Tigers would win five.

I think the Frogs might win one in 10 against them Dawgs. But they earned the chance. They don’t deserve to be dissed, even now.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com