BoBA ISML 2020 Predictions: Diamond Match Day 6

 ARENA 1 [[Sakurajima Mai - 1]] [[Yuigahama Yui - 6]] [[Emilia - 8]] [[Isshiki Iroha - 4]] [[Megumin - 3]] [[Hayasaka Ai - 5]] [[Takanashi Rikka - 2]] [[Fujiwara Chika - 7]]

Over/Under: 100000
Over

ARENA 2 [[Tachibana Taki - 2]] [[Saitama - 4]] [[Archer - 3]] [[Ayanokōji Kiyotaka - 7]] [[Okabe Rintarō - 5]] [[Levi - 8]] [[Natsuki Subaru - 1]] [[Kamado Tanjiro - 6]]

Over/Under: 100000
Over

ARENA 3 [[Aoyama Nanami - 3]] [[Sawamura Spencer Eriri - 8]] [[Kasumigaoka Utaha - 5]] [[Amano Hina - 7]] [[Shiro - 2]] [[Shokuhō Misaki - 4]] [[Saten Ruiko - 6]] [[Izumi Sagiri - 1]]

ARENA 4 [[Takasu Ryūji - 4]] [[Edward Elric - 6]] [[Satō Kazuma - 1]] [[Natsume Takashi - 5]] [[Otosaka Yū - 7]] [[Izumi Masamune - 2]] [[Itsuka Shidō - 3]] [[Yato - 8]]

Over/Under: 100000
Over

ARENA 5 [[Yuzaki Nasa]] Nishikino Maki [[Yuzaki Tsukasa]] Yazawa Nico

by >=200
Over/Under: 15000
Over

ARENA 6 [[Yuna]] Kumai Natsu [[Fina]] Amayadori Machi

by >=200
Over/Under: 15000
Over

ARENA 7 [[Kotozume Yukari]] Fujiwara Zakuro

by >=200
Over/Under: 15000
Over

ARENA 8 [[Nami]] Nico Robin

by >=200
Over/Under: 15000
Over

ARENA 9 Sol Badguy [[Ragna the Bloodedge]]

by >=200
Over/Under: 15000
Over

ARENA 10 [[Mugen]] Dandy

by >=200
Over/Under: 15000
Over

ARENA 11 Saten Ruiko [[Schwi Dola]] [[Kafū Chino]] Shirai Kuroko [[Izumi Sagiri]] [[Saber]] [[Nishimiya Shōko]] [[Kasumigaoka Utaha]] Aoyama Nanami Sawamura Spencer Eriri [[Index L. Prohibitorum]] [[Amano Hina]] Takagi [[Azusagawa Kaede]] Ōmae Kumiko Kasugano Sora Nakano Azusa [[Aisaka Taiga]] Miyamizu Mitsuha Hirasawa Yui Makinohara Shōko Illyasviel von Einzbern

Over/Under: 300000
Over

ARENA 12 Edward Elric [[Natsume Takashi]] [[Emiya Kiritsugu]] [[Otosaka Yū]] Itsuka Shidō Yato Takasu Ryūji [[Lancer]] Gilgamesh [[Eugeo]] [[Willem Kmetsch]] Izumi Masamune Akabane Karma [[Shiota Nagisa]] Akasaka Ryūnosuke [[Fukube Satoshi]] Eren Yeager [[Ishida Shōya]] [[Kyon]] Edogawa Conan Tomioka Giyū Lelouch Lamperouge

Over/Under: 300000
Over

Voter Id: c6c778eb-1248-5e55-b8c6-2a5119cdbe06

Alabama: 2020 College Football Playoff National Champions

No. 1 Alabama has returned to the top of the college football mountain, rolling to the 18th national title in program history with a dominant 52-24 win over No. 3 Ohio State in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship. Undefeated at 13-0 and unchallenged through much of the season, the Crimson Tide put themselves in a special light even among the program's six national championship-winning teams to play for Nick Saban.

The departures of multiple stars put the spotlight on an offense that had plenty to replace, but quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris and especially Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver Devonta Smith more than answered the call as they led one of the best offenses in Alabama history and showed out for the biggest game of the year with 621 yards of total offense. Their 52 points are the most ever scored by Alabama in a national title game and the most in a Crimson Tide bowl game since 1953. 

Smith was nearly unstoppable, pulling in 12 catches on his first 13 targets for 215 yards and three touchdowns before leaving the game with a hand injury. Jones got banged up a little bit as well but still finished with 464 yards and five touchdowns on 36-of-45 passing.

Harris, who like Smith was one of the few current Alabama players to be on the team during its last national title run, was an all-purpose machine with 178 yards from scrimmage (79 rushing, 79 receiving) and three total touchdowns.

Ohio State entered the game with a chip on its shoulder fermented through weeks of doubt regarding its status as one of the best teams in the country. Playing less games than those in the ACC and SEC brought out plenty of criticism and nitpicking from the Buckeyes' body of work, but most of those questions were silenced in a dominant win against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal to book a spot in Monday night's title game. There were notable setbacks, like starting running back Trey Sermon leaving the game after one drive with an injury and having numerous players unavailable (some a result of COVID-19 protocol), but the lopsided result was more a reflection of Alabama's distance from the rest of the sport int his 2020 season. 

Keep on reading for takeaways from the 2021 CFP National Championship.

1. Ohio State's absences were notable, not game-changing

Even prior to Sermon's injury, the Buckeyes had starting nose tackle Tommy Togiai, starting defensive end Tyreke Smith and starting kicker Blake Haubeil among the 13 players listed as out on their availability report. Having two starting defensive linemen wouldn't have helped the mismatches Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian drew up for Smith in the first half, but those are key pieces to what has been an elite run defense and important bodies in a rotation that was needed as Alabama's play count continued to tick up in the second half. 

Sermon, who had set a school record with more than 500 rushing yards across two outings in the Big Ten Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl, suffering an injury in the first quarter and was unable to reenter the game. His replacement, Master Teague, was strong enough though, scoring two touchdowns.

The final total may not reflect it, but this was a two-score game midway through the third quarter and could have been a terrific comeback if the Buckeyes could get some stops. A couple Tide touchdowns later, the rout was back on and the result was not in doubt. 

2. The 2020 Tide join the debate for best team ever

One year after Joe Burrow and LSU made all of college football wonder where the Tigers ranked among the best offenses and best teams in college football history, Alabama has immediately added an entry into that debate. The season totals won't match the Tigers with three less games, but the averages and accolades are comparable.

Smith has been unique in ways that may exceed a team-wide comparison, but so was Burrow during his similarly transcendent season. The two teams will be debated and compared for years to come, but what follows will be a tiebreaker for fans in the SEC West. Alabama may see an NFL Draft exodus on par with LSU's a year ago -- it is similarly losing a top offensive coach with Sarkisian off to Texas -- but it would be out of character to see a significant step back following this return to the top of the sport. Saban has embraced modern offense and winning by overwhelming your opponent with skill position talent. When the greatest coach in college football history has gone all in on innovation, that's a wrap for pretty much everyone else in the sport for a few years. 

3. Ohio State leaving points on the board may have cost it

Of the many "what-ifs" for Ohio State fans will be a few situational decisions by the Buckeyes during the Alabama onslaught that was the first half. Ohio State punted from the Alabama 44-yard line down 14-7 early in the second quarter, but it was bailed out by Jones' subsequent fumble, giving the Buckeyes an opportunity to score anyway. Later, they settled for a field goal from the 6-yard line at the end of a nine-play drive instead of going for a game-tying touchdown. Following that, Ohio State had back-to-back three-and-outs before finishing the half by running out the clock.

The lack of stops by the Buckeyes defense combined with Smith's incredible first-half stat line dominated the conversation, but there were points where it seemed like Ohio State could have taken a few more risks offensively and been in a better position when it mounted a comeback effort in the third quarter. 

4. A record-setting evening

Alabama finished out the season averaging 48.5 points per game, the most in SEC history, and Smith rounded out SEC records for the most receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in a single season along with the SEC career receiving yards record. Jones not only holds several Alabama records already but after the game he solidified a new FBS record for completion percentage (77.4%) and his 464 passing yards are the most in a championship game in the BCS/CFP era. Adding to the ridiculous records to either be extended or fall tonight was Najee Harris tying the SEC record for most career touchdowns (57) and setting the new single-season touchdowns mark (30). 

Perhaps even more impressive is that Nick Saban now holds the solo record for most national championships in the poll era, and the fact that of those seven title-winning teams only two were undefeated at the end of the year. The first was 2009, his first title with the Tide, and the other is the 2020 team that re-claimed the crown Monday night. This was a special team and its mark will be left on Alabama, and college football, forever. 

BoBA ISML 2020 Odds: Diamond Match Day 6

Bedlam On Baltic Avenue

2020 International Saimoe League

Diamond Necklace Odds

Mai Sakurajima 1-5

Yui Yigahama 30-1

Emilia 50-1

Iroha Isshiki 10-1

Megumin 7-1

Ai Hayasaka 25-1

Rikka Takanashi 5-1

Chika Fujiwara 40-1

Bedlam On Baltic Avenue

2020 International Saimoe League

Diamond Pendant Odds

Taki Tachibana 6-1

Saitama 20-1

Archer 10-1

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji 30-1

Rintarou Okabe 20-1

Levi 40-1

Subaru Natsuki EVEN

Tanjiro Kamado 30-1

Bedlam On Baltic Avenue

2020 International Saimoe League

Diamond Bracelet Odds

Nanami Aoyama 10-1

Eriri Spencer Sawamura 50-1

Utaha Kasumigaoka 30-1

Hina Amano 45-1

Shiro 5-1

Misaki Shokuhou 20-1

Ruiko Saten 35-1

Sagiri Izumi EVEN

Bedlam On Baltic Avenue

2020 International Saimoe League

Diamond Ring Odds

Ryuuji Takasu 10-1

Edward Elric 25-1

Kazuma Satou 1-5

Takashi Natsume 15-1

Yuu Otosaka 30-1

Masamune Izumi EVEN

Shidou Itsuka 6-1

Yato 70-1

FFXIV: Honoring Yolvi Suntail

#FFXIV

FFXIV: Love Is My Answer

#FFXIV #kaguyasama #italodisco

ISML 2020: Kaguya, Miyuki Favorites To Win Election

ISML 2020: Kaguya, Miyuki Favorites To Win Election

By Jo-Ryan Salazar

The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue

January 9, 2021

The husband-and-wife team of Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane will be tipped to win the Saimoe Prime Minister and Deputy's Saimoe Prime Minister's seats, respectively, following Match Day 5 of the 2020 International Saimoe League Diamond Period. In the Female Division, Shinomiya defeated Mikoto Misaka 4964-4583, Mai Sakurajima romped past Asuna Yuuki 4516-4044, Iroha Isshiki prevailed over Rin Tohsaka 3910-3649, Ai Hayasaka got past Kuroko Shirai 4140-3652, Shiro defeated Sagiri Izumi 4019-3693, Schwi Dola raced past Chino Kafuu 4092-3816, Kurisu Makise eased past Saber 3576-3401 and Mio Akiyama bommed past Ruiko Saten 4153-3685.

Wrapping up Female Division play, Mashiro Shiina smashed Chika Fujiwara 4662-3286, Rikka Takanashi rocked Yui Yuigahama 4466-3938, Emilia flew past Misaki Shokuhou 3931-3604, Shouko Nishimiya defeated Index Prohibitorum 4028-3656, Nao Tomori overran Hina Amano 4276-3057, Nanami Aoyama won a 3632-3575 barnburner over Utaha Kasumigaoka, Megumin exploded past Eriri Spencer Sawamura 4175-3161 and Yukino Yukinoshita shot down Kurumi Tokisaki 4213-4041.

In the Male Division, Shirogane routed Riku Dola 4569-3239, Touma Kamijou broke Levi 3908-3534, Subaru Natsuki defeated Shirou Emiya 3663-3395, Kazuma Satou cruised past Sorata Kanda 3967-3046, Saitama punched Yuu Otosaka 3865-3269, Rintarou Okabe dominated Shidou Itsuka 4041-2874, Takashi Natsume thumped Yato 3632-2937 and Edward Elric rolled past Kiritsugu Emiya 3603-3139.

Wrapping up Male Division play, Sakuta Azusagawa overcase Yuu Ishigami 4226-3907, Taki Tachibana won a 3534-3492 thriller over Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, Tanjiro Kamado prevailed over Yuuta Togashi 3562-3505, Tomoya Okazaki impaled Gilgamesh 3467-3398, Archer Dominated Saika Totsuka 3680-3311, Yuzuru Otonashi shot down Lancer 3630-3315, Masamune Izumi scored the Upset of the Round, a 3520-3156 scalp of Eugeo and Ryuuji Takasu roared past Willem Kmetsch 3791-3085.

The husband-and-wife team of Nasa and Tsukasa Yuzaki will be the favorites to win the Couples Tournament after a 4542-2494 rout of Heiji Hattori and Kazuha Touyama. Their opponents will be Maki Nishikino and Nico Yazawa, who defeated Kyouko Sakura and Sayaka Miki 3967-2956. In another exhibition, Kino won the closest race of the round, a 3016-2999 nailbiter over Celty Sturluson.

A number of eliminated participants will be in the hunt for consolation prizes in the Male and Female Division. In the Female Division, making the cut were Taiga Aisaka (36441.4), Aqua (35010.9), Kaede Azusagawa (41782.4), Gray (33773), Yui Hirasawa (36200.1), Illyasviel von Einzbern (35939.5), Sora Kasugano (38602.9), Tamako Kitashirakawa (33870.6), Shouko Makinohara (36152.8), Mitsuha Miyamizu (36411.4), Azusa Nakano (38593.9), Miku Nakano (34270.1), Kumiko Oumae (41167.9), Ram (34163.6), Haruhi Suzumiya (33746.6) and Takagi (42806.8). 

And in the Male Division, making the cut were Karma Akabane (34899.6), Ryuunosuke Akasaka (33258.7), Kousei Arima (29252.2), Conan Edogawa (31600.6), Eren Yeager (32356.9), Satoshi Fukuber (32597.4), Isaac Foster (29677), Shouya Ishida (32218.8), Ken Kaneki (29562.3), Joutarou Kuujou (28823.8), Kyon (31871.2), Lelouch Lamperouge (30389.1), Hodaka Morishima (29194), Nagisa Shiota (34611.6), Giyuu Tomioka (30808.5) and Naruto Uzumaki (29075.5).

Match Day 6 of the 2020 International Saimoe League Diamond Period is scheduled for January 12, 2021. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

BoBA ISML 2020 Predictions: Diamond Match Day 5

ARENA 1 Shinomiya Kaguya [[Misaka Mikoto]]

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 2 [[Sakurajima Mai]] Yūki Asuna

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 3 [[Tōsaka Rin]] Isshiki Iroha

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 4 [[Hayasaka Ai]] Shirai Kuroko

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 5 Izumi Sagiri [[Shiro]]

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 6 [[Schwi Dola]] Kafū Chino

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 7 [[Makise Kurisu]] Saber

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 8 [[Akiyama Mio]] Saten Ruiko

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 9 Yukinoshita Yukino [[Tokisaki Kurumi]]

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 10 [[Shiina Mashiro]] Fujiwara Chika

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 11 [[Takanashi Rikka]] Yuigahama Yui

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 12 Emilia [[Shokuhō Misaki]]

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 13 [[Nishimiya Shōko]] Index L. Prohibitorum

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 14 Amano Hina [[Tomori Nao]]

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 15 [[Kasumigaoka Utaha]] Aoyama Nanami

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 16 [[Megumin]] Sawamura Spencer Eriri

by <=300
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 17 Shirogane Miyuki [[Riku Dola]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 18 [[Kamijō Tōma]] Levi

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 19 Emiya Shirō [[Natsuki Subaru]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 20 Kanda Sorata [[Satō Kazuma]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 21 Otosaka Yū [[Saitama]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 22 [[Okabe Rintarō]] Itsuka Shidō

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 23 [[Yato]] Natsume Takashi

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 24 Edward Elric [[Emiya Kiritsugu]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 25 Ishigami Yū [[Azusagawa Sakuta]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 26 [[Ayanokōji Kiyotaka]] Tachibana Taki

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 27 Kamado Tanjiro [[Togashi Yūta]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 28 [[Okazaki Tomoya]] Gilgamesh

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 29 Totsuka Saika [[Archer]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 30 [[Lancer]] Otonashi Yuzuru

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 31 Izumi Masamune [[Eugeo]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 32 Willem Kmetsch [[Takasu Ryūji]]

by >=100
Over/Under: 13000
Under

ARENA 33 Kino [[Celty Sturluson]]

by <=100
Over/Under: 10000
Under

ARENA 34 [[Yuzaki Nasa]] Hattori Heiji [[Yuzaki Tsukasa]] Tōyama Kazuha

by >=200
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 35 [[Nishikino Maki]] Sakura Kyōko [[Yazawa Nico]] Miki Sayaka

by >=200
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 36 [[Aisaka Taiga]] [[Aqua]] [[Asada Shino]] [[Azusagawa Kaede]] [[Doma Umaru]] [[Gray]] [[Haibara Ai]] [[Hirasawa Yui]] [[Honma Meiko]] [[Illyasviel von Einzbern]] [[Jibril]] [[Kamado Nezuko]] [[Kaname Madoka]] [[Kanna Kamui]] [[Karuizawa Kei]] [[Kasugano Sora]] [[Kitashirakawa Tamako]] [[Kuriyama Mirai]] [[Makinohara Shōko]] [[Mikasa Ackerman]] [[Misaki Mei]] [[Miyamizu Mitsuha]] [[Miyazono Kaori]] [[Nakano Azusa]] [[Nakano Miku]] [[Ōmae Kumiko]] [[Ram]] [[Suzumiya Haruhi]] [[Takagi]] [[Tōru]] [[Yukinoshita Haruno]] [[Zero Two]]

Over/Under: 200000
Over

ARENA 37 [[Agatsuma Zen'itsu]] [[Ainz Ooal Gown]] [[Akabane Karma]] [[Akasaka Ryūnosuke]] [[Arima Kōsei]] [[Dazai Osamu]] [[Dio Brando]] [[Edogawa Conan]] [[Eren Yeager]] [[Fukube Satoshi]] [[Isaac Foster]] [[Ishida Shōya]] [[Joseph Joestar]] [[Kaneki Ken]] [[Kasugano Haruka]] [[Kingu(Enkidu)]] [[Kūjō Jōtarō]] [[Kuroba Kaito]] [[Kyon]] [[Lelouch Lamperouge]] [[Merlin]] [[Monkey D. Luffy]] [[Morishima Hodaka]] [[Nishikata]] [[Saiki Kusuo]] [[Sakata Gintoki]] [[Shiota Nagisa]] [[Tomioka Giyū]] Uchiha Itachi [[Uchiha Sasuke]] [[Uzumaki Naruto]] [[Waver Velvet]]

Over/Under: 200000
Over

Voter Id: de15143e-7bdf-5317-8099-3b62296e4ed2

ISML 2020: Diamond Match Day 4 Results

ISML 2020: Diamond Match Day 4 Results

By Jo-Ryan Salazar

The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue

January 6, 2021

Match Day 4 of the 2020 International Saimoe League Diamond Period is in the books. In the Female Division, Emilia scored the Upset of the Round, a 4846-3644 thumping of Yukino Yukinoshita, Rikka Takanashi won the closest race of the round, a 4415-4384 nailbiter over Mashiro Shiina, Chika Fujiwara routed Index Prohibitorum 4798-3238, Yui Yuigahama hammered Utaha Kasumigaoka 4583-2915, Nao Tomori defeated Shouko Nishimiya 4293-3567, Misaki Shokuhou throttled Eriri Spencer Sawamura 4754-3048, Megumin exploded past Hina Amano 4500-3538 and Kurumi Tokisaki shot down Nanami Aoyama 5346-4201.

Wrapping up Female Division action, Mikoto Misaka blew past Ai Hayasaka 5815-2922, Asuna Yuuki slashed past Rin Tohsaka 5486-2884, Mai Sakurajima romped past Shiro 6154-2648, Iroha Isshiki crushed Kurisu Makise 4634-3017, Schwi Dola prevailed over Sagiri Izumi 4420-4345, Mio Akiyama boomed past Kuroko Shirai 4400-3727, Ruiko Saten rocked Chino Kafuu 4732-4551 and Kaguya Shinomiya annihilated Saber 5374-2819.

In the Male Division, Sakuta Azusagawa impaled Gilgamesh 4837-3264, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji defeated Yuuta Togashi 3839-3587, Saika Totsuka toasted Taki Tachibana 3801-3536, Tanjiro Kamado eased past Eugeo 3970-3067, Archer dominated Lancer 3680-3458, Tomoya Okazaki punished Ryuuji Takasu 3820-3297, Yuzuru Otonashi defeated Willem Kmetsch 3472-3249 and Yuu Ishigami mowed down Masamune Izumi 4815-2741.

Wrapping up Male Division play, Riku Dola rocked Sorata Kanda 4302-3155, Touma Kamijou broke Subaru Natsuki 3918-3551, Saitama punched Levi 3855-3621, Shirou Emiya defeated Takashi Natsume 3693-3470, Rintarou Okabe roasted Yuu Otosaka 4876-2863, Kazuma Satou ripped Kiritsugu Emiya apart 3826-3435, Edward Elric defeated Shidou Itsuka 3777-3492 and Miyuki Shirogane flew past Yato 5077-2630.

In Couples Tournament action, frontrunners Nasa and Tsukasa Yuzaki routed Shinka Nibutani and Sanae Dekomori 5081-2850, Heiji Hattori and Kazuha Touyama defeated Chizuru Ichinose and Kazuya Kinoshita 4127-3251, Maki Nishikino and Nico Yazawa prevailed over Elaina and Saya 3995-3742 and Kyouko Sakura and Sayaka Miki got past Kyousuke and Kirino Kousaka 4086-3652.

Match Day 5 of the 2020 International Saimoe League Diamond Period, the final round robin match day of the tournament, is scheduled for January 7, 2021. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

DeVonta Smith: 2020 Heisman Trophy Winner

DeVonta Smith became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991.  The 6-1, 175-pounder is the first non-quarterback-or-running back to win the Heisman since cornerback Charles Woodson won in 1997.

Smith, a fourth-year senior, was named the 2020 SEC Offensive Player of the Year while joining teammate Mac Jones in leading Alabama to the SEC title and the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

Smith led the country with 98 receptions and 1,511 receiving yards while his 17 TD catches and 137.4 receiving yards per game were both second-best. His 8.9 receptions per game tied for second best. He posted four games with 11 or more receptions, including a career-best and SEC title-game record 15 against Florida, 13 at Mississippi and 11 each against Georgia and Mississippi State. He recorded seven games with over 100 yards receiving (all with at least 144 yards), including 231 yards on eight catches at LSU, 203 against the Bulldogs (which included a season-high four TDs) and 184 yards against the Gators. He had six games with at least two TD receptions, three coming at LSU and two in the SEC title game. Smith also returned a punt for a TD for the first time in his career, going 84 yards at Arkansas in the regular-season finale. He holds the SEC and Alabama career record for receiving touchdowns with 40 and has the most 200-plus yard receiving performances in Alabama history with four.

Born on Smith hails from Amite City, Louisiana, where he starred at Amite High Magnet School .

Number of electors: 927 - Announced: January 5, 2021.

  Player Class Position School 1st 2nd 3rd Total Points

1 DeVonta Smith SR WR Alabama 447 221 73 1,856

2 Trevor Lawrence JR QB Clemson 222 176 169 1,187

3 Mac Jones JR QB Alabama 138 248 220 1,130

4 Kyle Trask SR QB Florida 61 164 226 737

5 Najee Harris JR RB Alabama 16 47 74 216

6 Breece Hall SO RB Iowa State 6 10 26 64

7 Justin Fields JR QB Ohio State 5 6 21 48

8 Zach Wilson JR QB Brigham Young 3 6 21 42

9 Ian Book SR QB Notre Dame 5 5 13 38

10 Kyle Pitts JR TE Florida 0 7 10 24

Three points are awarded for first place on a ballot, with two points for second place and one point for third place. Finalists in bold.

Share

HEISMAN VOTING BY REGION

Heisman voters are spread out across six regions, with roughly 145 per region.

Far West

  Player Points

1 Smith 292

2 Lawrence 200

3 Jones 195

4 Trask 122

Southwest

  Player Points

1 Smith 355

2 Lawrence 181

3 Jones 169

4 Trask 143

Midwest

  Player Points

1 Smith 308

2 Lawrence 199

3 Jones 178

4 Trask 104

South

  Player Points

1 Smith 324

2 Jones 232

3 Lawrence 167

4 Trask 155

Northeast

  Player Points

1 Smith 293

2 Lawrence 188

3 Jones 184

4 Trask 104

Mid-Atlantic

  Player Points

1 Smith 284

2 Lawrence 252

3 Jones 172

4 Trask 109

Love Is My Answer

 

There's something you told me once.

It's stayed with me all this time:

"Why don't you come back just one more time?"

Got a special feeling for you.

There's something I want you to know.

Cause now I'm a different man.

Just give me a second chance,

And you'll see, see how much all I can give.

Love is my answer

And the reason to change my mind now.

Your passion makes me feel alive.

Love is the rhythm.

Two hearts beating together.

Love is the reason I'm alive.

I'm flying high tonight.

There's somewhere I wanna go.

I wanna show you my world.

Let's get together and make it work.

Why don't you open your heart?

Love is my answer

And the reason to change my mind now.

Your passion makes me feel alive.

Love is the rhythm.

Two hearts beating together.

Love is the reason I'm alive.

I'm flying high tonight.

Love is my answer.

A reason I live for.

That's the reason why I change my mind.

I'm flying high tonight.

Love is my answer.

A reason I live for.

That's the reason why I change my mind.

I'm flying high tonight.

BoBA ISML 2020 Predictions: Diamond Match Day 4

ARENA 1 [[Yukinoshita Yukino]] Emilia

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 2 Takanashi Rikka [[Shiina Mashiro]]

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 3 [[Fujiwara Chika]] Index L. Prohibitorum

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 4 Kasumigaoka Utaha [[Yuigahama Yui]]

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 5 [[Tomori Nao]] Nishimiya Shōko

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 6 Sawamura Spencer Eriri [[Shokuhō Misaki]]

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 7 [[Megumin]] Amano Hina

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 8 Aoyama Nanami [[Tokisaki Kurumi]]

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 9 Hayasaka Ai [[Misaka Mikoto]]

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 10 [[Yūki Asuna]] Tōsaka Rin

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 11 [[Sakurajima Mai]] Shiro

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 12 Makise Kurisu [[Isshiki Iroha]]

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 13 Izumi Sagiri [[Schwi Dola]]

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 14 [[Shirai Kuroko]] Akiyama Mio

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 15 [[Kafū Chino]] Saten Ruiko

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 16 [[Shinomiya Kaguya]] Saber

by >=300
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 17 [[Azusagawa Sakuta]] Gilgamesh

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 18 Togashi Yūta [[Ayanokōji Kiyotaka]]

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 19 [[Totsuka Saika]] Tachibana Taki

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 20 [[Kamado Tanjiro]] Eugeo

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 21 [[Archer]] Lancer

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 22 [[Takasu Ryūji]] Okazaki Tomoya

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 23 [[Otonashi Yuzuru]] Willem Kmetsch

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 24 Izumi Masamune [[Ishigami Yū]]

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 25 Kanda Sorata [[Riku Dola]]

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 26 Natsuki Subaru [[Kamijō Tōma]]

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 27 [[Levi]] Saitama

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 28 [[Emiya Shirō]] Natsume Takashi

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 29 Otosaka Yū [[Okabe Rintarō]]

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 30 [[Emiya Kiritsugu]] Satō Kazuma

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 31 Itsuka Shidō [[Edward Elric]]

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 32 [[Shirogane Miyuki]] Yato

by <=800
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 33 [[Yuzaki Nasa]] Nibutani Shinka [[Yuzaki Tsukasa]] Dekomori Sanae

by >=300
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 34 Hattori Heiji [[Ichinose Chizuru (Mizuhara Chizuru)]] Tōyama Kazuha [[Kinoshita Kazuya]]

by >=300
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 35 Elaina [[Nishikino Maki]] Saya [[Yazawa Nico]]

by >=300
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 36 [[Sakura Kyōko]] Kōsaka Kyōsuke [[Miki Sayaka]] Kōsaka Kirino

by >=300
Over/Under: 8000
Over

Voter Id: 948ea880-5de0-5724-9477-3b53be55ca91

Texas A&M: 2021 Orange Bowl Champions

A sturdy, reliable axe is an effective tool to cut through obstructions.

But Achane-saw can slice through blockage with lightning speed.

That was demonstrated in the fourth quarter of Texas A&M’s electrifying 41-27 Orange Bowl victory over North Carolina on Saturday night.

The 13,737 at Hard Rock Stadium watching freshman Devon Achane saw the Aggies’ present and the future race to the end zone in a dead heat and stop the upset-minded Tar Heels stone cold.

In a span of just over two minutes, Achane — the fabulously fleet-footed freshman from Fort Bend Marshall — scored on a 76-yard touchdown explosion and a powerful 1-yard touchdown to turn Aggie lamentations into celebrations.

"He’s got a chance to be a very special player,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said in an obvious understatement.

He already is.

Frankly, the No. 5 Aggies (9-1) did not play well for most of the first three quarters.

The offensive line uncharacteristically struggled to protect quarterback Kellen Mond. A plague of penalties nullified several big plays and an end-zone interception. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell frequently found holes in the A&M secondary. He threw three touchdown passes.

That resulted in A&M trailing 27-20 after Howell threw a 75-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. The Aggies answered to tie the game at 27 on a Kellen Mond touchdown run, but they were forced to punt on their following possession.

The Tar Heels (8-4) had momentum. A&M starting running back Isaiah Spiller was sidelined with a foot injury. Less than five minutes remained. And a potential lead for the Aggies was a long 76 yards away.

Then, in a flash, everything A-changed.

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Achane rushed for 140 yards and was named Orange Bowl MVP.

Mond handed off to Achane, who swept around the left end on a counter. He picked up a block from pulling tight end Jalen Wydermyer but seemed to trip over Wydermyer’s foot.

However, Achane regained his footing, shrugged off a tackle, accelerated like a rocket and blazed down the sideline, leaving Tar Heel tacklers in the dust.

Just like that, A&M surged to a 34-27 lead with 3:44 remaining.

“Jalen Wydermyer made a great block,” Achane said. “I was just following my block. They made it easy for me to do my job. I was tripping, and I almost fell. When I broke the tackle and looked up, there wasn’t nobody there. I knew, ‘Yes, this is a touchdown. Ain’t nobody catching me.’”

Nobody did. But in reaction to Achane’s spectacular sprint, the A&M defense seemed to catch some of that lightning.

“It gave us a boost,” sophomore defensive end DeMarvin Leal said. “We were trying to fight and fight and fight for that energy. As soon as that happened, you could feel that energy. Energy is so contagious. You could just feel that energy go through everybody. It was an amazing outcome.”

The Aggies defense gave up a 9-yard run on the first play of North Carolina’s ensuing possession. They did not allow a yard on the next three plays.

On fourth-and-1, freshman safety Antonio Johnson and senior tackle Jayden Peevy stopped North Carolina running back Josh Henderson for no gain.

A&M took over at the North Carolina 34-yard line. Achane immediately ran for 10 yards. Then for 23. On the next play, he scored from the 1-yard line with 1:38 remaining.


That was two touchdowns — and a two-touchdown lead — in just over two minutes.

The Aggie defense made it hard on Sam Howell late in the contest.

The defense then smothered Howell, sacking him twice for 18 yards in losses, to close out A&M’s eighth consecutive victory and seventh straight by a double-digit margin.

Of course, some still won’t be impressed. The national media, which has consistently dismissed A&M’s accomplishments, will argue the win was tainted because four North Carolina starters opted out.

That doesn’t matter, though. The Aggies could finish as high as No. 3 in the final national rankings. A No. 4 finish would be their highest final ranking since winning the 1939 national championship.

That’s the past. Aggies should focus more on the future.

A&M made amazing strides in its third season under Fisher. All indications are that the Aggies will continue trending upward.

Their big-play threats are underclassmen. Ainias Smith caught six passes for 125 yards. He’s a sophomore. So is Wydermyer. So is Spiller, who scored the Aggies' first two touchdowns and passed the 1,000-yard mark for the season on his fourth carry of the game.

Spiller might have been in the game in the fourth quarter had he not sustained a foot injury earlier.

“He was banged up a little bit,” Fisher said of Spiller. “We put (Achane) in, and then he hit it really good two or three times. I said, ‘He's doing pretty good,’ so we kept it him in.”

Fisher might have a problem when the Aggies open next season. Spiller is a reliable, effective running back. He’s like a razor-sharp axe.

Achane is a machine. Achane-saw. How will carries be shared? How will Fisher maximize all the big-play ability at his disposal?

“I’ll take care of that,” Fisher said. “It’s a good problem to have.”

Iowa State: 2021 Fiesta Bowl Champions

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The weight of disappointment and failure has gotten heavier just about every year for the better part of a century. Yes, there were moments of success and glimmers of hope, but, for the most part, year after cursed year, the Iowa State football program added to its collection of miseries.

Given 100 years to accumulate, the heap of losses and humiliations buries a program in rubble that blots out the light toward a path out and starves the oxygen needed to endeavor toward an escape, if one could even be seen.

Iowa State football spent something close to 100 years as an unsolvable problem, its own history weighing it down from finding a new future. Even if someone could start to maneuver a way out, to clear a path, how long would it take to unburden all of failure?

It took Matt Campbell five years.

Twelfth-ranked Iowa State defeated Oregon 34-17 on Saturday to win the Fiesta Bowl, cement the 2020 season as the best in program history and deliver on Campbell’s promise to change the culture of Cyclone football from laughingstock to national relevance.

“We're always going to have to go up the rough side of the mountain at Iowa State, just because that's who we are. That's how the program is,” Campbell said. “And yet, when you have elite character, elite leadership, great things can happen. And that's really what we've been able to develop now in our fifth year.”

The team’s 9-3 record matches the most wins in a season in program history, while the victory over the Ducks represents the program’s first win in its first appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game. All while managing the COVID-19 pandemic that has cost and upended lives across the globe and turned college sports into even messier beast to tame than it typically is.

“As coach (Matt) Campbell said, we were the laughingstock of the Big 12 at one point,” All-American running back Breece Hall said. “Just envisioning what coach Campbell thought that we could do here. That's the reason why I came here. To see what we accomplished today, it's Iowa State history.”

"History" is a tortured word at Iowa State, where a first bowl appearance didn’t happen until 1971 and the trophy case remains without a conference championship since 1912. Recent history was just as troublesome as the ancient, when Campbell took over a program in 2015 that had won eight games combined the previous three seasons. It didn’t get better when Campbell hit the recruiting trail after his first Cyclone team went 3-9.

Then, though, they began to break through.

This year’s senior class beat top-five teams and won the Liberty Bowl in 2017. The Cyclones went to bowl games and flirted with contending atop the conference in 2018 and 2019. Then, in 2020, it all came together in a way never before seen at Iowa State.

“We recruit all these guys with a hope and a dream,” Campbell said. “And then all of a sudden, we're 3-9 (in) Year 1. And I think it's so fitting that, as we leave here, and this senior class leaves here now 9-3, they really flipped the script the entire way. 

“Maybe for some programs, that's easy to do; but (people) know the history of this program for the last 100-plus years. It's not real easy to do here. And this group did it. This group literally rewrote the history books.”

Although Campbell sold players on a “home and a dream,” it was a well-articulated one.

“When he called me and said hey, ‘We're playing Big 12 football, we've got tools,’” quarterback Brock Purdy, an Arizona native, said. “It's not already made, but I wanted to help that out and get it to where it needed to be. And so that was really our conversations when he was recruiting me. 

“So here we are back at home in the Fiesta Bowl, and I think we're able to take the next step as a program. And we did that today.”

Five years in the making. No skipped steps. No instant success. Just consistent improvement with one historic reward at the end.

“This team literally became the best version of itself it could be,” Campbell said. “This 2020 Iowa State football team reached its full potential. There's not one regret. There's not one, man, woulda, coulda, shoulda. 

“This group's literally reached its full potential and become the best version of itself it can be.”

After a century, Iowa State has emerged from the debris of defeats and the wreckage of wretchedness. And they are standing not hobbled by the challenge, but strengthened by it. 

Ole Miss: 2021 Outback Bowl Champions

TAMPA, Fla. — Lane Kiffin ended his first season as Ole Miss coach with an exclamation point.

Ole Miss held off a late Indiana comeback to win the Outback Bowl, 26-20 on Saturday. The Rebels led by as many as 14 points before No. 11 Indiana (6-2) came back to tie the score, but quarterback Matt Corral led the Rebels on a quick scoring drive with under five minutes left to regain the lead. The defense forced a late turnover on downs to end the Hoosiers' late rally try.

Ole Miss finishes the season 5-5.

Here are five takeaways from the Rebels' win.

Where’s this defense been?

Ole Miss entered the game allowing more yards per game than any FBS team. This wasn’t a defense that looked comfortable slowing down winless Vanderbilt, let alone a top-25 opponent. But the Rebels did just that Saturday, holding Indiana to 20 points and 4.3 yards per play.

"I think we really limited explosive plays and made them drive the length of the field,"  Kiffin said. "We forced a long field goal and did a good job that way."

Sure, Indiana started a backup quarterback. But that same backup quarterback scored 14 points against Wisconsin, which owned the nation’s No. 1 total defense.

Ole Miss held Indiana to a paltry 141 yards and three points in the first half and intercepted one pass in the red zone to end a Hoosiers scoring threat. Though the tackle-for-loss and sack numbers weren’t high, the Rebels supplied consistent pressure off the edge, especially from senior Sam Williams. 

Oh, that defense

Ole Miss allowed more than 100 points across nine fourth quarters this season. Naturally, Indiana started scoring in bundles in the fourth quarter of this one. Ole Miss led by 14 points when the third quarter ended. By the time there were six minutes left in the game, the score was tied.

The Ole Miss defense still deserves some credit for playing the best three quarters it had all season to start the game. But for a team that has struggled to finish games all season, this was the worst possible scenario for a game to end.

Until it wasn't. The defense got the stop when it needed to in the final minutes, going back to the way it played in the first three quarters just like Kiffin advised them to in the huddle before the drive began.

"That's what we wanted," linebacker Jacquez Jones said after his 13-tackle performance. "We knew it was going to come down to us. That's what we wanted and I feel like we got. Big Sam (Williams), Ced (Johnson), all them boys rushing the quarterback, they couldn't block them boys."

No weapons, no problem

Corral played Saturday without most of his favorite targets. Wide receivers Elijah Moore and Braylon Sanders, tight end Kenny Yeboah and running back Jerrion Ealy all missed Saturday for various reasons. But Corral still managed to spread the ball well, picking apart the Indiana drop-eight zone and completing passes to eight different receivers. 

"We said 'Look around the country,' " Kiffin said. "'There are some teams that are stepping up with players out and there are teams that are making excuses.' We wanted to be that team that stepped up. It was awesome to see."

Corral struggled against drop-eight zone early in the season, particularly against Arkansas when he threw six interceptions. But Saturday, Corral used his check down options and short, timing throws to navigate the zone properly and slice without mistakes through an Indiana defense that led college football in interceptions this season.

Getting creative

Everyone notices when backup quarterback John Rhys Plumlee plays slot receiver. Plumlee caught five passes for 73 yards, ran once for four yards and completed a 4-yard pass.

But Ole Miss used a number of other converted or less-heralded players in creative ways Saturday, and all season. Converted running back Tylan Knight forced a third-quarter fumble and tight ends Casey Kelly and Chase Rogers caught nine passes after catching two combined in the first nine games. 

"These are guys that haven't played a lot, just like John at receiver, and they want to play more," Kiffin said. "Now they get a chance to play and they made plays today. It was awesome to see."

Fix the kicking

Kicker Luke Logan had one of his better games on the year, hitting two first-half field goals. But those field goals were from 26 and 24 yards out. He got another try from 37 yards to put Ole Miss up two scores in the fourth quarter but he couldn’t connect. Logan didn’t make a kick longer than 40 yards in either of the last two seasons despite being Ole Miss’ primary kicker.

Logan is a senior who can come back because of the NCAA’s eligibility rules for 2020-21. But Ole Miss needs an upgrade at that position if it wants to feel comfortable with leads.

Kentucky: 2021 Gator Bowl Champions

Despite its best efforts to give the game away down the stretch, Kentucky held on for its third straight postseason victory of the Mark Stoops era. UK withstood a series of self-inflicted errors to overcome N.C. State 23-21 in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Senior A.J. Rose rushed for a career-high 148 yards on just 12 carries, but 10 penalties for a total of 103 yards — including a trio of them in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter with UK clinging to a 16-14 advantage — kept the Wolfpack within striking distance throughout the second half after the Cats built a 13-0 lead before the break.

An interception off a deflected pass by Jamin Davis — his third of the season — gave way to a 26-yard touchdown run by Chris Rodriguez with 2:55 left. His second score more or less put the game out of reach for N.C. State, which was able to answer that touchdown with 1:10 remaining but couldn’t recover an onside kick.

“We just wanted to refuse to lose the game, honestly,” Davis said of the moments leading up to his interception. “We just wanted to keep our backs against the wall and let nobody take it from us. That’s the same thing that we’ve been preached to do all year, if the ball is in the air then it’s our ball. That was my mindset, to keep playing and ice the game.”

Terry Wilson, likely starting his final game as UK’s quarterback, finished 12 of 20 for 99 yards. He rushed for 14 yards on six carries.

Kentucky finished its season 5-6, and won a third bowl game in as many seasons for just the second time in school history (2006-2008 was the other time). This was its first postseason victory amid a pandemic, of course.

“It’s unfortunate that the season is over, but it felt good to end on that win like we did,” said Rose, who was named Kentucky’s MVP for the game. “… It’s been a long year, a tough year, due to these COVID restrictions and everything that’s going around, but I feel like we managed and did a great job of keeping players safe and keeping those around us safe.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

Kentucky’s first drive ended in three points after it converted a fourth-and-1 on a Rodriguez rush to N.C. State’s 14-yard line. Wilson started 4-for-4 passing before missing short on a throw to Josh Ali in the end zone for a would-be touchdown right after that conversion, and the Cats eventually settled for a Matt Ruffolo field goal.

Brandin Echols quickly gave Kentucky the ball back after recording his first interception of the season and returning it to midfield. The Cats were unable to convert on fourth-and-1 this time, though, and turned the ball over to the Wolfpack at their own 29.

N.C. State followed with a short, fruitless drive of its own before each team had slightly longer possessions that ended without points. Kentucky broke the streak with a six-play, 79-yard streak down the field capped by a 4-yard touchdown run from Rodriguez.

The Wolfpack marched 52 yards on 14 plays but were forced to settle for a field-goal try from Kentucky’s 23; safety Ty Ajian got a finger on the ball as it went up and it fell a couple yards short as a result. A couple of big gains — a 31-yard burst from Rose and a 23-yard connection from Wilson to Keaton Upshaw — set Kentucky up in the red zone but it was only able to tack on a second field goal right before halftime.

A 30-yard kickoff return by Zonovan Knight put N.C. State at its own 32, from where it traveled to 23 before an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty forced a third-and-23 try. The Wolfpack got 13 yards back but Christopher Dunn was wide right on a 43-yard kick, leaving them scoreless. Kentucky didn’t travel far on its ensuing series before punting.

UK lost Echols for the game midway through the third quarter after he and teammate Vito Tisdale collided with one another while trying to tackle an N.C. State receiver. His exit left UK without a single cornerback who started a game during the regular season; Carrington Valentine started in place of Cedrick Dort, who was “medically unavailable” on Saturday. N.C. State finally got on the board on the drive where UK lost Echols, as Bailey Hockman hit C.J. Riley for a touchdown on a fourth-and-6 pass from UK’s 9-yard line.

Kentucky stalled out at the Wolfpack’s 44 but pinned them inside the 5-yard line on Max Duffy’s next punt. They didn’t get much further before punting to Ali, who caught it at UK’s 38. UK moved into N.C. State turf on its next trip but elected to punt on fourth-and-2 from State’s 40, and it was downed at the 13.

The Cats’ offense got back to action immediately after Yusuf Corker intercepted Hockman at N.C. State’s 42. A 27-yard rush by Rose set Kentucky up at the Wolfpack’s 3-yard line but the Cats couldn’t punch it in. Ruffolo went 3-for-3 on field-goal tries with a 20-yard kick to extend the lead to 16-7 with 5:45 left.

Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and a late-hit penalty put N.C. State at UK’s 8, and Knight capitalized with a touchdown run to bring the Wolfpack within two at 16-14 less than a minute later. They halted Kentucky again but would never get closer than that margin.

ISML 2020: Rin Tohsaka Initiates Transition

ISML 2020: Rin Tohsaka Initiates Transition

By Jo-Ryan Salazar

The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue

January 3, 2021

At midnight JST on January 1, 2021, Violet Evergarden and Rimuru Tempest completed their one-year term as Saimoe and Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister, with Evergarden penning one of the tragic stories of the world, its long and arduous battle with the coronavirus pandemic. But as a general election was not held during 2020, Rin Tohsaka has been given temporary reins of government as Acting Saimoe Prime Minister until the general election takes place on the final day of the Eliminations Period of the 2020 International Saimoe League. That is a ways away however, as the Diamond Period just concluded Match Day 3. 

In a welcoming move, Sakuta Azusagawa has been named to assist with the transition process as Acting Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister. "I understand this is the very first time I have been in an office in any capacity, but due to the special circumstances that have taken place and that this government cannot continue without a leader on the male side, I will use this opportunity to get experience," Azusagawa said. "Hopefully I will earn the right to this leadership for good but I know that I have noble competition that want to be where I am right now."

In the Female Division, Mikoto Misaka routed Kuroko Shirai 4894-1774, Asuna Yuuki slahed past Sagiri Izumi 3859-3393, Mai Sakurajima bounced past Iroha Isshiki 4130-2784, Tohsaka thumped Saber 3595-2626, Ai Hayasaka trounced Ruiko Saten 4139-2758, Chino Kafuu defeated Shiro 3618-3185, Mio Akiyama scored the Upset of the Roung, a 3371-3064 scalp of Schwi Dola and Kaguya Shinomiya drilled Kurisu Makise 4674-2555.

Wrapping up Female Division play, Yukino Yukinoshita burned Misaki Shokuhou 4322-2745, Mashiro Shiina smashed Shouko Nishimiya 3905-2948, Yui Yuigahama hammered Chika Fujiwara 3748-3232, Rikka Takanashi rocked Nanami Aoyama 3774-3113, Megumin exploded past Emilia 3320-3180, Index Prohibitorum defeated Hina Amano 3490-3074, Nao Tomori eased past Eriri Spencer Sawamura 3263-2960 and Kurumi Tokisaki shot down Utaha Kasumigaoka 4007-3199.

In the Male Division, Riku Dola defeated Kazuma Satou 3280-2883, Touma Kamijou broke Yuu Otosaka 3752-2488, Levi leveled Shirou Emiya 3196-2816, Subaru Natsuki flew past Yato 3334-2312, Edward Elric won the closest race of the round, a 2877-2821 nailbiter over Sorata Kanda, Saitama punched Shidou Itsuka 3200-2398, Rintarou Okabe thumped Kiritsugu Emiya 3421-2061 and Miyuki Shirogane routed Takashi Natsume 4321-2063.

Wrapping up Male Division play, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji defeated Archer 3085-2872, Taki Tachibana took down Tanjiro Kamado 3138-2891, Yuuta togashi whipped past Masamune Izumi 3374-2419, Gilgamesh impaled Willem Kmtsch 3078-2334, Saika Totsuka toasted Yuzuru Otonashi 2969-2706, Ryuuji Takasu roared past Lancer 3209-2790, Yuu Ishigami pounded Eugeo 4273-1915 and Azusagawa rolled past Tomoya Okazaki 3867-2362.

Finally, in Couples Tournament action, Elaina and Saya thumped Yuuko Yoshikawa and Natsuki Nakagawa 3519-2318, Maki Nishikino and Nico Yazawa routed Yuzu and Mei Aihara 3708-2195, Kyouko Sakura and Sayaka Miki eased past Mikiya Kokotou and Shiki Ryougi 3382-2562 and Kyousuke and Kirino Kousaka prevailed over Nozomi Kasaki and Mizore Yoroizuka 3057-2978.

Match Day 4 of the 2020 International Saimoe League is scheduled for January 4, 2021. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.