I know we JUST got college football to expand their playoffs from four to 12 teams, and that won’t happen until the 2024-25 season. But, I can’t help but take a mile after asking for an inch. It’s still pointless for Group of Five teams to think they can compete for a National Championship. That’s why I’ve been a fierce advocate of these schools breaking off and forming their own organization ever since realignment started raiding these conferences left and right. I still think that a Group of Five playoff would be rad, and just to sell you on the idea, I have written an entire tournament (fictional, of course – I am NOT clairvoyant).
The Group of Five Playoffs
- (1) Tulane
- (2) Troy
- (3) UTSA
- (4) Fresno State
(5) UCF vs. (12) Toledo – Toledo is going to be that team that gets into the tourney and it pisses everyone off because it takes a spot away from someone more deserving (Western Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, Marshall), but the reality is that the MAC isn’t always as down as it was this year. This isn’t a regular thing, folks. Calm down. UCF is winning this one.
(6) Cincinnati vs. (11) Air Force – Oh man…this is a big thick and juicy match-up right here. Gut says the Bearcats would ultimately take it, but if this Air Force team is on, it can run with anybody at the Group of Five level. You know what? I’ll do it. There’s going to be an upset somewhere. This is it.
(7) South Alabama vs. (10) Liberty – South Alabama quietly won 10 games in a competitive Sun Belt. Forget this Liberty team that stumbled down the stretch. They may surprise and win the whole damn thing!
(8) Boise State vs. (9) James Madison – JMU was a nice story in Year 1 at the FBS level, and while the Broncos did just get beat by Fresno State, they are still clearly the better team here.
Quarter-Finals
(1) Tulane vs. (11) Air Force – The upset story was nice, but this Green Wave team is on a mission to win a National Championship. The most complete team in this tournament shows us why they’re the favorites.
(2) Troy vs. (8) Boise State – Boise State wants badly to prove they still belong among the Group of Five’s elite, but they just can’t solve that stifling Trojans defense.
(3) UTSA vs. (7) South Alabama – These Jags are battle-tested and while UTSA does have an inflated record, that’s due in large part to a putrid C-USA this season. There’s a little bit of ‘fraud’ to their game and South Alabama exposes them here!
(4) Fresno State vs. (5) UCF – Oddsmakers might call this an upset, but I’m going to say Fresno State continues to ride the wave with Jake Haener back and healthy!
Semi-Finals
(1) Tulane vs. (7) South Alabama – It’s been a nice run for the Jaguars, but this Tulane team is no joke. The Green Wave defense completely shuts South Alabama down.
(2) Troy vs. (4) Fresno State – The red hot Fresno State run cools off big time thanks to the vaunted Troy defense.
Championship: (1) Tulane vs. (2) Troy – The Trojans defense gets a scoop and score on the one critical error the Green Wave makes. Jon Sumrall wins a Go5 National Championship in his first season at Troy, and rides off to take the Mississippi State job after they surprisingly fire Mike Leach.
Tell me you wouldn’t watch the shit out of that. Tell me! There’s no sane college football fan that wouldn’t! That is a script that would sell a hundred million at the box office!
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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