Every year, I report on the results of a mock college football playoff in protest of the fact that we still don’t have one. This year, I almost didn't, because we finally have a four-team playoff. However, four teams is not enough, and so by popular demand I am releasing the full 16-team field. Enjoy.
I have bracketed and seeded the teams according to their final regular-season rankings, with some consideration given to tradition and geography. I also used the rule of no more than one team per conference in any given bracket.
Fiesta Bowl Bracket
1st seed Oregon (12-1, Pac-12) vs. 4th seed Clemson (9-3, ACC)
2nd seed Mississippi State (10-2, SEC) vs. 3rd seed Kansas State (9-3, Big 12)
Cotton Bowl Bracket
1st seed Ohio State (12-1, Big Ten) vs. 4th seed Georgia (9-3, SEC)
2nd seed Baylor (11-1, Big 12) vs. 3rd seed Arizona (10-3, Pac-12)
Peach Bowl Bracket
1st seed Alabama (12-1, SEC) vs. 4th seed Arizona State (9-3, Pac-12)
2nd seed Michigan State (10-2, Big Ten) vs. 3rd seed Georgia Tech (10-3, ACC)
Orange Bowl Bracket
1st seed Florida State (13-0, ACC) vs. 4th seed UCLA (9-3, Pac-12)
2nd seed TCU (11-1, Big 12) vs. 3rd seed Mississippi (9-3, SEC)
------------
BONUS: The "N.I.T." of College Football
As I did the past three years, I have also set up a second-tier 16-team tournament. I've included all of the conferences champions without a spot in the main tournament (American Athletic, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt), as well as the next-best available teams according to the polls.
EAST BRACKET
1st seed Auburn (8-4, SEC) vs. 4th seed Memphis (9-3, AA)
2nd seed Louisville (9-3, ACC) vs. 3rd seed Marshall (12-1, C-USA)
SOUTHEAST BRACKET
1st seed Missouri (10-3, SEC) vs. 4th seed Georgia Southern (9-3, Sun Belt)
2nd seed USC (8-4, Pac-12 vs. 3rd seed Minnesota (8-4, Big Ten)
MIDWEST BRACKET
1st seed Wisconsin (10-3, Big Ten) vs. 4th seed Northern Illinois (11-2, MAC)
2nd seed LSU (8-4, SEC) vs. 3rd seed Oklahoma (8-4, Big 12)
WEST BRACKET
1st seed Boise State (11-2, MW) vs. 4th seed Duke (9-3, ACC)
2nd seed Utah (8-4, Pac-12) vs. 3rd seed Nebraska (9-3, Big Ten)
So there you go. Start your office pools now and stay tuned: the final playoff results will be posted here sometime after January 12...
No comments:
Post a Comment