Could a team finish third in conference and win the Natty?

Nitt1300

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2021
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I have not tried to understand the workings of the 12-team playoff, but it seems to me that this is possible. Am I missing something?
 

TheBigUglies

Well-known member
Oct 26, 2021
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Of course. Heck, a team could theoretically finish 4th or 5th in conference and win it.
This is what is going to make the playoffs fun to watch!! Not left up to voters, put the ball down and settle it on the field!! (Of course it is somewhat influenced by the voters on who gets into the playoffs but ....)
 

LionJim

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2021
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I'm old, but somehow that diminishes it for me. And yeah, I know the wildcards in pro sports do the same thing.
You don’t know that. You don’t know how diminished a Penn State championship would feel to you. Villanova basketball finished 3rd in the Big East the year they beat Georgetown in the final. Nobody devalues that championship. The fact that Georgetown was the best team that year doesn’t show up in the history books.
 

Nitt1300

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2021
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You don’t know that. You don’t know how diminished a Penn State championship would feel to you. Villanova basketball finished 3rd in the Big East the year they beat Georgetown in the final. Nobody devalues that championship. The fact that Georgetown was the best team that year doesn’t show up in the history books.
I deserve better
 
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Woodpecker

Well-known member
Oct 7, 2021
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I'm old, but somehow that diminishes it for me. And yeah, I know the wildcards in pro sports do the same thing.
Remember, conferences have so many teams now that many simply don't play head-to-head. Two teams could simply not play a third that, by the vagaries of scheduling, ends up undefeated. Who's to say if those second and third place teams couldn't beat that champion if they slugged it out on the gridiron?
 

Grant Green

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2021
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Penn State will finish either 2nd or 3rd in the conference and they have a chance to be champions.
I know they could have a better record than the CCG loser, but in my mind, they will still end up being 3rd. So, yeah, I think it's great that a 3rd place team could win it all!
 

Nits1989

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2021
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Why not? Just because you lost to a team once doesn't invalidate a subsequent win over the team in the playoffs. Georgia did it in 2021. Lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship, then beat Alabama in the playoff championship game.
 

CVLion

Well-known member
Oct 13, 2021
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Not according to some on this board, they don't.
Would those people be happier with Penn State not having a chance to be champions, or having a chance but blowing it? Which of those would provide the greatest level of Debbie Downer validation?
 
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psuro

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2021
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Would those people be happier with Penn State not having a chance to be champions, or having a chance but blowing it? Which of those would provide the greatest level of Debbie Downer validation?
Oh that is easy....

The football program simply gets cancelled.
 

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