For the final College Football Playoff National Championship game of the four-team era, ESPN went all out by debuting original music, composed and directed by John Williams called “Of Grit and Glory.”
The song was accompanied by a montage narrated by former college football stars, including Pitt running back Tony Dorsett, FSU wide receiver Peter Warrick, Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier, -Florida fullback Tim Tebow and others.
These players defined some of the greatest games in college football history, and tonight players like Michael Penix Jr. JJ McCarthy, Rome Odunze and Blake Corum hope to join that illustrious list.
The end of the season is an emotional moment every year, but above all it is punctuated by the end of an era. With college football in flux, facing an opt-out problem and conference realignment in addition to NIL and transfer portal conundrums that perplex the sport’s decision-makers and sometimes put off loyal fans, nostalgia for games of past championships was quite poignant.
Fans loved the theme and it certainly set the tone for the game.
Of Grit and Glory is so awesome, I’m in the zone now. go to Washington
-Drako (@drakerollans) January 9, 2024
Grit and Glory, John Williams gives me all the feels. #National Championship #Go blue
– Christmas Tree Cake Crystal (@Michicanner) January 9, 2024
If “Of Grit and Glory” doesn’t make you want to run through a wall, then what is wrong with you? #CFPChampionship
– Dustin Brewster????☠️???????? (@babyfacebrewstr) January 9, 2024
Scoring was introduced as the new theme for the CFP National Championship Game and will likely return for future iterations of the college football finale. Next year, the path to the title game will be longer, with the CFP expanding to 12 teams.
The edit leaned heavily on Houston’s connection to NASA and it’s a fitting trope because, with all the changes in college football, it almost feels like we’re exploring a new horizon. For one night, none of that matters, just the courage, the glory and the legacy one of these teams will leave behind.
