Vote - WHAT IF - 1998 College Playoff

[OrangeAfroMan]

It's early December, 1998.  After a few top teams lose, here's the playoff matchups we're left with:
1 Tennessee vs 4 Ohio St
2 FSU vs 3 Kansas St

Who wins it all?
The teams:

#1 Tennessee, 12-0, SEC Champions
19th in scoring offense
8th in scoring defense
26th strength of schedule
The Vols faced five ranked teams in 1998, and needed some luck in two of them to attain their perfect season.  A 1-point win @ 17 Syracuse to open the season was followed by a win vs #2 Florida by a FG.  They easily won at #7 UGA before two close wins vs #10 Arkansas and in the SECCG vs #23 Miss State.
Following Peyton Manning's departure, UT went with a run-first offense, featuring RB Lewis.  He got hurt and was replaced by two Travises - Henry and Stephens.  All 3 RBs were effective in moving the chains, and new QB Martin was a rushing threat near the endzone (7 rush TD).  He was an efficient passer and had 3 good WRs to throw to, led by Price (920 yds, 10 TD).  Martin's job was to limit mistakes, and his 6 INT were few enough that it didn't cost the team any wins.
The defense, like the offense, keyed on the running game. Teams struggled to run on the Vols' big, active DL (under 100 ypg, 2.7 ypc).  However, teams found success passing on them, over 200 yards per game.
The strengths of the special teams were Price's KR and Hall's FG kicking (80%).  
-
#2 FSU, 11-1, ACC Champions
29th in scoring offense
3rd in scoring defense
5th strength of schedule
The Noles began the year with a win over #14 A&M before an uncharacteristic conference loss @ unranked NC State.  Then FSU went on a run of 10 straight wins, including over #18 USC by twenty, at #20 GT by 27, and blowing out #12 UVa by 31.  A season-ending win vs #4 Florida solidified FSU as a playoff team.
QB Weinke was an efficient passer, with only 6 INTs all season, but he barely connected on half his throws.  His #1 target was WR Peter Warrick (1200+ yds, 12 TD).  The running game was supplied by a pair of RBs, neither of which carried the ball for even 5 ypc.  
This FSU team was reliant on its defense and special teams.  You couldn't pass on these Noles (41% completion percentage, 135 ypg).  You couldn't run on them, either (80 ypg rushing, 2.3 ypc).  Only one team all year (NC State) was able to score more than 2 TDs in a game).  With a team like that, you hope your special teams can take advantage of field position, but all 4 aspects of FSU's special teams were very strong.
WR Coles KR, all 3 PRs had great averages, Janikowski's kicking (84%, 27 FG made), and Cottrell's punting (42 yd avg) - there were no hidden yards to eek out.
-
#3 Kansas State, 11-1
1st in scoring offense
9th in scoring defense
41st strength of schedule
K-State spent the entire season in the top 5.  The season was back-loaded, as the Wildcats only faced #14 Colorado before November's gamut of ranked foes.  Wins vs #11 Nebraska and at #19 Mizzou were offset in the BigXIICG loss to #10 A&M.  The loss in the finale didn't cost KSU a spot in the playoff, however.
KSU had a big offense, scoring 31+ points in every game except the win vs CU.  It was a very balanced offense (253 ypg passing, 225 ypg rushing) and explosive.  QB Bishop nearly won the Heisman, throwing and running the ball effectively (159 pass rating, 700+ yards rushing - 37 total TD).  RB Hickson had 900 yards himself and 9 TD. Most passes were hauled in by 2 WR:  McDonald (1000+ yds) or Lockett (928 yds).  
The defense was stingy against both run and pass.  Teams completed only 43% of their passes and couldn't average 100 yards rushing on the Wildcats.  Nine of the first ten opponents couldn't score even 10 points on KSU.
Like FSU, KSU's special teams were special.  Good KR averages, great kicking game (K-Gramatica), and perhaps the best punt returner ever in David Allen (4 PR TD in '98, 22 yds per return for the season)!
-
#4 Ohio State, 10-1, Big Ten Co-Champs
12th in scoring offense
2nd in scoring defense
21st strength of schedule
A John Cooper-led squad that actually beat Michigan, the Buckeyes' only slip-up was against the other team from that state - unranked MSU, by 4.  OSU handled all the ranked teams on its slate - at #11 WV, #21 Mizzou, #7 Penn State, and #11 Michigan, by 15 points.  There weren't any close calls.
OSU had a big offense in 1998, averaging nearly 300 yards passing AND 200 yards rushing per game!  QB Germaine was efficient and didn't turn the ball over much, and RB Wiley picked up where George and Pearson left off (1200+ yds, 10 TD).  Backup RB Montgomery even averaged better than 6 ypc and had 7 TD himself.  WRs Boston (1400 yds, 13 TD) and Miller (900 yds) caught passes for the dynamic offense.
The defense had stars aplenty on the back end, holding opponents to 48% completion percentage.  DBs Plummer, Moore, and Clement held the back end up as the run D halted opponents to under 70 yards per game.  
Aside from Boston's PR, the special teams were very average.
-
-
-
The marquee players:
QB Michael Bishop, Kansas St - O'Brien Award, All-American
CB Antoine Winfield, Ohio St - Thorpe, AA
K   Sebastian Janikowski, FSU - Groza, AA
HC Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee - AFCA, Robinson, Home Depot Coach of the Year
HC Bill Snyder, Kansas St - AP, Bryant, Camp Coach of the Year
WR Peter Warrick, FSU, AA
OL Rob Murphy, Ohio St - AA
KR David Allen, Kansas St - AA
LB Jeff Kelly, Kansas St - AA
LB Al Wilson, Tennessee, AA

[ELA]

Buckeyes over the Noles.

Here's my other thought, first time in this exercise that the 4 included teams were also the 4 best teams.

[MaximumSam]

Is Chris Weinke hypothetically healthy

[FearlessF]

Buckeyes over the Noles.

Here's my other thought, first time in this exercise that the 4 included teams were also the 4 best teams.

if Cooper's team actually beat Michigan, it had to be a great team

[OrangeAfroMan]

Is Chris Weinke hypothetically healthy

No, he's out.  Didn't play in the Fiesta Bowl, so he's not playing in the playoff. 
FSU beat Florida with Outzen, and lost to Tennessee.

[Brutus Buckeye]

It wouldn't have been the Wolverines. 

[FearlessF]

4 votes for the Noles?

[MarqHusker]

Torry Holt not impressed.   He owned the Noles in his career.  I digress. 

[OrangeAfroMan]

That's what proved how great Holt was - he burned an all-time great pass D.
To put it in perspective:
'98 OSU's pass D was genuinely elite, allowing 190 ypg and a 48.3 comp %.
What was '98 FSU's numbers for those?  Try 135 ypg and a 41.2 comp%.
-
Much, much better than an elite pass D.  Wow, all around.

[MarqHusker]

I remember Holt scoring 5? TDs in the wild game they had in '97 vs FSU,  the '98 game when they won 24-7,  I recall Peter Warrick caught a TD bomb from Wienke right away, but the NCST controlled the game,  Holt ran back a punt and then scored another long TD to put it away.   That was a 3:30 window, I recall Nebraska was playing at Cal, Solich's first road game (24-3), back when you needed to order GamePlan to watch that ACC game.

[OrangeAfroMan]

I like the votes in which all 4 teams get support. 

Ohio State was probably better than Tennessee, but I'd assume the Vols luck their way to a win, like they did vs Syracuse and Arkansas.  I think Michael Bishop was good enough to give a great FSU defense fits - he'd pass enough to make room for some running, and he'd run enough to create some passing windows.
After that, Tennessee's offensive style of run it right at you would be a disaster vs the K-State defense.  

[MarqHusker]

As with 96,  this is fascinating.  I could see all four of these guys winning this and wouldn't peg any one as a clear favorite .

[Cincydawg]

Do we have a compendium of our theoretical winners versus who actually "won"?

[OrangeAfroMan]

I'm keeping track of it.....let's just say Tom Osborne could open his own jewelry store if there had always been a playoff.