Mid-Week NY6 Addendum

 It's not every season that a ranked matchup gets scheduled with 2 days notice. Especially one with some fascinating post-season possibilities! Yet, 2020 gives us a gift!

HUGE accomplishment to Coastal Carolina and BYU! I'm sure there were behind-the-scenes talks since things started getting questionable for Liberty. And while I wish the best for the Flames, I cannot contain my excitement for this "upgrade" of a matchup.

With this in play, what are the stakes?

BYU

BYU is currently ranked 13th by the CFP Committee; Coastal Carolina is 18th. The Committee, based on their public remarks, seems to like the look of BYU - but just cannot put them any higher due to a lack of marquee win. Their best win - a road domination of Boise State - gets somewhat dismissed because the Broncos were not at full strength.

With a win AT the Chanticleers - and on such short notice - BYU can give the Committee something tangible to justify a more substantial jump in the rankings. I don't think the more rational minds are really thinking Playoffs; but the New Year's Six is definitely in play!

By contrast, the AP and Coaches Poll have the Cougars firmly in at-large range - both polls ranking them at #8. The teams ahead in the CFP?

• 8 Georgia (2 losses, both blowouts)
• 9 Iowa State (2 losses)
• 10 Miami (1 loss, a blowout, and several unimpressive wins)
• 11 Oklahoma (2 losses)
• 12 Indiana (1 loss, and no wins over winning-record teams)

I have to think this cluster of teams is pretty similarly-viewed. And if BYU can get a good win, we'll see if it's enough for the committee to match the AP/Coaches. Top 11 should be pretty safe to secure the at-large (with only the PAC-12 Champ being the only foreseeable lower-ranked team bound for the NY6).

Coastal Carolina

I was hoping the Committee would treat the Chanticleers kinder than they have. After all, wins over Louisiana and App State are good, solid wins. And it was clear watching the Kansas game that they were just as impressive against the Jayhawks as the Big 12 contenders have been (though I'll grant that CCU may have let off the gas a little soon, making the score look closer than the game was).

Even so, a Chanticleers win can open up their own path. 

One possibility is a Cincy/Tulsa split in the final 2 weeks. With a set of wins over App State; BYU; and TWO wins over Louisiana, a perfect Sun Belt champ very well could be ranked ahead of an imperfect American Champ. Especially if Tulsa loses, then wins to become a 2-loss champ!

The other possibility is the at-large path. It would require some help from above - assuming Cincy wins out. But it's not impossible to rise those 7 spots - with 2 more quality wins - to land in the Top 11. Some of these are likelier than others; and others might not even be what the committee does.  But hey, it's a chance!

• Big 12 Championship Game loser (would have 3 losses)
• 12 Indiana (could lose a couple without their QB)
• 13 BYU (pass with a win)
• 14 Northwestern (if Ohio State succeeds in playing them in the CG)
• 15 Oklahoma State (who knows what the committee's thinking with them??)
• 16 Wisconsin (can someone else trip up the Badgers?)
• 17 UNC (pass with a win)

However this plays out, I cannot wait to see it unfold! And with ESPN College Gameday in Conway, I'm sure it'll be quite the event (even if it has to be in this unfortunate fan-free season)!