Assuming we win out, making it to Dallas for the Big12 Championship game would be a pinnacle achievement for this program, but could we be in an equal or better situation even if we don't? Let me play devils advocate here. The Alamo Bowl or Camping World would be fantastic, but we are potentially in line for a NY6 if the chips fall our way. That could be better than making it to Dallas and getting bounced out of the Top 12. (happened to TCU last year)
Caveats: We win out (if not, this is all for moot)
Let me play out this scenario.
1. We win out and sit at 8-3 after KState. Creep up to somewhere between 10 and 14 in the CFB Playoff ranking.
2. #5 OU loses to #7WVU, ensuring a rematch a week later in Dallas. OU drops to #8-10, WVU climbs to #6
3. ISU pummels Incarnate Word to sit at 9-3 before "selection sunday". Primed to sit at around #10
Top 12 competition pool:
(SEC - Georgia, UF, UK, Alabama, LSU)
-UF, UK, and LSU likely win out and position themselves all in Top 12/14. I'm assuming Bama takes care of Miss. St
(Big 10 - Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State)
-Penn State could win out (home vs. Wisconsin) and be sniffing around Top 12 as well.
(Big 12 - OU, WVU, ISU)
- ISU hanging around Top 10. One of WVU or OU likely get bounced from Top 12.
(ACC - Clemson........lots of knock out rounds in next few weeks for Syracuse & BC)
-Clemson only realistic Top 12 shot at this point imo. Assumes ND beats Syracuse and BC loses to Clemson.
(Pac 12 - WSU)
-Will be Top 6 if they win out. Otherwise empty cupboards in Pac 12. Washington could make up some ground though.
Notre Dame
UCF
-touch match-ups left vs. Cincy, @USF, and AAC Champ game.
That's ~15 teams for 12 spots in New Year's 6 bowls.
We need to root hard for a couple of things to clear the path:
1. UCF to lose so they don't steal a NY6 spot. (This is most important imo) Edit. Scratch this. Top Group of 5 is guaranteed a NY6 spot.
2. UF and/or UK to drop lower than us in the CFP rankings tomorrow. 5 SEC in final Top 12 would be excessive.
3. WSU to get knocked out by CU or Arizona. We want them to beat UW, so they don't sneak up.
If that pans out, we could potentially have a Peach/Fiesta/Sugar/or .........dare I say Rose Bowl birth (if no Pac 12 option). If UCF is out, the field is full of appealing SEC and Big10 foes.
That would be a dream scenario and maybe even a better outcome than making it to Dallas and getting bounced by OU. (If we win out and win the Big12 Champ, we're obviously in the same spot, but much harder road to hoe) The fact that these scenarios are possible and quite realistic is incredible to me.
What an awesome time to be alive as a Cyclone! In the meantime, let's crush Baylor! Never Forget 71-7!
Caveats: We win out (if not, this is all for moot)
Let me play out this scenario.
1. We win out and sit at 8-3 after KState. Creep up to somewhere between 10 and 14 in the CFB Playoff ranking.
2. #5 OU loses to #7WVU, ensuring a rematch a week later in Dallas. OU drops to #8-10, WVU climbs to #6
3. ISU pummels Incarnate Word to sit at 9-3 before "selection sunday". Primed to sit at around #10
Top 12 competition pool:
(SEC - Georgia, UF, UK, Alabama, LSU)
-UF, UK, and LSU likely win out and position themselves all in Top 12/14. I'm assuming Bama takes care of Miss. St
(Big 10 - Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State)
-Penn State could win out (home vs. Wisconsin) and be sniffing around Top 12 as well.
(Big 12 - OU, WVU, ISU)
- ISU hanging around Top 10. One of WVU or OU likely get bounced from Top 12.
(ACC - Clemson........lots of knock out rounds in next few weeks for Syracuse & BC)
-Clemson only realistic Top 12 shot at this point imo. Assumes ND beats Syracuse and BC loses to Clemson.
(Pac 12 - WSU)
-Will be Top 6 if they win out. Otherwise empty cupboards in Pac 12. Washington could make up some ground though.
Notre Dame
UCF
-touch match-ups left vs. Cincy, @USF, and AAC Champ game.
That's ~15 teams for 12 spots in New Year's 6 bowls.
We need to root hard for a couple of things to clear the path:
1. UCF to lose so they don't steal a NY6 spot. (This is most important imo) Edit. Scratch this. Top Group of 5 is guaranteed a NY6 spot.
2. UF and/or UK to drop lower than us in the CFP rankings tomorrow. 5 SEC in final Top 12 would be excessive.
3. WSU to get knocked out by CU or Arizona. We want them to beat UW, so they don't sneak up.
If that pans out, we could potentially have a Peach/Fiesta/Sugar/or .........dare I say Rose Bowl birth (if no Pac 12 option). If UCF is out, the field is full of appealing SEC and Big10 foes.
That would be a dream scenario and maybe even a better outcome than making it to Dallas and getting bounced by OU. (If we win out and win the Big12 Champ, we're obviously in the same spot, but much harder road to hoe) The fact that these scenarios are possible and quite realistic is incredible to me.
What an awesome time to be alive as a Cyclone! In the meantime, let's crush Baylor! Never Forget 71-7!
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