2020 College Football Post-Season: First Look

Depending on how you look at this VERY unique college football season, you might argue that it's halfway over. 

You might argue even further, if you're a Sun Belt/American/C-USA fan whose team started in Week 1.  

You also might argue that it has just begun, if you're a PAC-12 or a MAC fan - or a Wisconsin fan.

And while the varying numbers of games these teams and conferences are playing vary greatly, one thing we can ALL agree is that this highly unusual season is going to lead to a very noteworthy postseason!

Bowl Games in General

For starters, every team is bowl-eligible, per NCAA ruling specifically for this year. Army has wasted no time in accepting their Independence Bowl bid! 

That means we might actually get a "Toilet Bowl" of winless teams, where somebody is at least assured ONE win!

It also means that Chip and I can rest assured that our Hokies are already set to extend the current NCAA-record bowl streak to 28 games (assuming they don't choose to abstain; and I've seen no such indications that they plan to at this point).

That all being said, some bowls will simply choose not to play this season. The Bahamas, Hawaii, Holiday, Redbox, and Quick Lane Bowls have already made such a determination. I imagine others will follow suit in the next few weeks. I also suspect some teams will choose to abstain due to travel concerns or pressures from their respective States.

What to Expect:
All in all, I think we'll see a lot of the same - relatively speaking.  For example, I'm not too sure that there would be enough "open" spots for a 2-8 South Carolina team after the other bowls have satisfied their conference tie-ins. 

On top of just existing for the season, the DATES are a thing to take note of.  At present (and I stress "present" as things can easily change), 7 games are scheduled between December 19 and Christmas Eve. Keep in mind, 12/19 is the date of the Conference Championships. Because of that, we should see some teams joining Army in their bowl acceptance VERY soon!

College Football Playoff

This is sparking the greatest debate - BY FAR - due to the varying number of games among teams. Without much cross-conference play (including ZERO among the non-ACC power conferences), objective metrics like comparative strength of schedule are virtually meaningless. Which suggests an even GREATER reliance on the "eye test" than in other years.  Lovely.

What to Expect:
I'll wait to see the first CFP rankings on 11/24 before I start speculating on specifics. But a couple of "unusual" prospects include:

• A potential rematch from a regular-season game (Alabama/Texas A&M/Florida, should any 2 make it) 
• A potential rubber match from TWO regular-season games (Clemson/Notre Dame, if the Tigers and Irish run the table, and Clemson wins in the ACC Championship Game)
• A non-power conference team (Cincinnati and BYU are currently in the AP Top 10; and Coastal Carolina has an argument for the CFP committee to be "kinder" than the AP has been)
• Teams such as Ohio State, Oregon, or USC that could have played 3-4 games FEWER than their ACC or SEC counterparts once all is said and done

I look forward to seeing the committee's mindset before the speculation fun REALLY begins! But at the moment, I'm glad to see the field theoretically more open than it's ever been!

New Year's Six

With this being a Rose/Sugar semifinal year, that leave the most "at-large" room open. 

What to Expect:
That particularly bodes well for non-P5 teams such as BYU, or perhaps a second Group of 5 team like Marshall or Coastal Carolina, to slide in alongside the "automatic" G5 spot that appears to be Cincy's at the moment.

It also leaves the door open for P5 teams that lost early, such as Miami, to rank high enough to earn an at-large spot if they run the table (and potentially give the ACC three NY6 teams for the first time, thanks in large part to their special one-year member).

As a reminder:

1. The Playoff is a part of the NY6. Which means that if a team like Cincy DOES make it in through the great fortune of unusual circumstances, another NY6 spot is NOT guaranteed for the G5. In other words, any other teams beyond the highest-ranked G5 champ must qualify for the NY6 as an at-large. 
2. BYU can make the NY6 in addition to the highest-ranked G5 conference champion. But not in place of. 
3. Each P5 Conference Champ is guaranteed a spot somewhere in the NY6.

Again, I'll wait for the CFP rankings to go deeper into the specific speculation. But like the Playoff itself, there is still a lot of potential for a LOT of teams!

Closing

So as we continue to be safe and mindful of this virus, hopefully college football fans reading this are able to take some joy in the unusual opportunities this season has had to offer!