XVI: Season Recap (The Contenders)

The Larkspur Bowl Playoffs, pared down to just four teams for the first time ever, saw a pair of quality matchups involving three teams that have hoisted the silver chalice multiple times before: #4 Phoenix (4x champions), #2 Hill Valley (2x champions), and #1 New Jersey (2x champions), as well as an original franchise in #3 Savannah playing in their second Larkspur Bowl semifinal (having made it this far back in LBIX) and hoping to make their first title game.

The paths to this point varied:

#4 PHOENIX (10-6) 3rd in Champions Division
MVP: QB JOE BURROW

The Uprising's final three losses of the season each by less than 3 points, and had things broken differently, might have been a coulda, woulda, shoulda scenario. Instead, they get in by the skin of their teeth and have a fighter's chance of making their seventh Larkspur Bowl final (after missing the last six) but they'll have to defeat the defending champions to get there.

#3 SAVANNAH (10-6) 1st in Challengers Division
MVP: RB BIJAN ROBINSON

The Petes came back from a 1-4 start (three of those losses by single digits) to just dominate down the stretch and force their way into this four team tournament by winning their division. They scored the second most points in the league this year (while facing the second most points against) and earned every bit of this matchup, a rematch with the McFlys that narrowly ousted them in a high scoring week one matchup.

#2 HILL VALLEY (11-5) 2nd in Champions Division
MVP: QB LAMAR JACKSON

But for a four game losing streak late in the season, Hill Valley had a charmed run, scoring the most points, and rarely dropping below 200 on a weekly basis. They rebounded from the monthlong sink to drop 296 on New Jersey and 257 on Phoenix in the final weeks, coming into the playoffs nearly as hot as their Svannah opponents.

#1 NEW JERSEY (12-4) 1st in Champions Division
MVP: RB SAQUON BARKLEY

The Crew, with two trophied in the their locker and looking for a third in just their fifth season in the league, were the class of the league this season, starting 4-2 and then winning eight in a row before resting their starters in the final two weeks with their playoff spot secure. They face Phoenix, whom they have defeated twice already this season- can they make it three in a row?