After an extended medical hiatus for yours truly, the protest playoff finally returns!
The 2018 College Football Playoff 16-team field will be unveiled at noon Sunday.
Today, I have just a “few” tables for your digestion. Below, you will find:
Final playoff bracket and game results
What the final AP Poll might have looked like after this playoff
The top 5 winners and losers from expanding the 4-team field into a 16-team field (IMHO)
A running tally of real and mythical champions and national runners-up, for comparisons
Appearances and win-loss records of all conferences (both current-year and 2022-2024 alignments), coaches, seeds, and teams in the Protest Playoff (all cumulative)
If there’s anything else you’d like me to track in these, just let me know!
Final Playoff Bracket and Results
Final 2019-20 Associated Press Poll (with final game result)
LSU (17-0) — beat Clemson 38-13 in the National Championship
Clemson (16-1) — lost to LSU 38-13 in the National Championship
Ohio State (15-1) — lost to Clemson 41-38 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal
Alabama (12-3) — lost to LSU 55-48 in overtime in the Peach Bowl semifinal
Oklahoma (12-2) — lost to Alabama 45-38 in the CFP first round
Georgia (12-3) — lost to Alabama 37-24 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal
Oregon (12-3) — lost to Clemson 41-38 in the Orange Bowl quarterfinal
Florida (11-3) — lost to LSU 41-28 in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal
Penn State (11-3) — lost to Ohio State 43-24 in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal
Minnesota (11-2) — beat Texas A&M 31-24 in the Outback Bowl
Baylor (11-3) — lost to Penn State 30-17 in the CFP first round
Notre Dame (10-3) — lost to Ohio State 34-13 in the CFP first round
Iowa (10-3) — beat USC 49-24 in the Holiday Bowl
Utah (11-3) — lost at Oregon 55-13 in the CFP first round
Wisconsin (10-4) — lost to Florida 37-20 in the CFP first round
Auburn (9-4) — lost at Georgia 26-7 in the CFP first round
Memphis (12-2) — lost at LSU 55-35 in the CFP first round
Michigan (9-4) — lost to Tennessee 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl
Appalachian State (13-1) — beat UAB 31-17 in the New Orleans Bowl
Navy (11-2) — beat Kansas State 20-17 in the Liberty Bowl
Cincinnati (11-3) — beat Boston College 38-6 in the Birmingham Bowl
Air Force (11-2) — beat Washington State 31-21 in the Cheez-It Bowl
Boise State (12-2) — lost to Washington 38-7 in the Las Vegas Bowl
UCF (10-3) — beat Marshall 48-25 in the Gasparilla Bowl
Texas (8-5) — beat California 38-10 in the Alamo Bowl
Top 5 Winners of 16-Team CFP over 4-Team CFP/New Year’s 6
Alabama: Instead of beating Michigan in a somewhat meaningless Citrus Bowl, the Tide get to make a run through the playoffs to the Final Four as a No. 13 seed. That is way more fun!
Minnesota: How did an 11-2 Big Ten team not make it into the playoff? Probably name brand. Freaking selection committee, man…
The AAC: Memphis is only the second current AAC team to make it in, after Tulane in 2022.
The Pac-12: After having zero playoff teams in 2020, the dead league bounces back with 2.
The P2: The SEC’s current composition would have had six (6) teams in this playoff, while the current Big Ten would have had five (5). The Big 12 and ACC combine for just three (3).
Top 5 Losers of 16-Team CFP over 4-Team CFP/New Year’s 6
Notre Dame: Instead of a nice bowl win, the Irish eat a tough road loss to open the playoffs.
Oklahoma: The Sooners avoid the embarrassing loss to LSU but I’m not sure being upset at home by a double-digit seed is an improvement. Not making it to the Final Four is a bit sad.
Georgia/Oregon/Florida/Penn State: All won a playoff first-round game, but due to the nature of the playoff (only one team can win), all end up taking an additional loss this year.
The Big 12: Whether it’s Oklahoma or Utah, the league only secures two bids and, in all simulations, finishes this playoff 0-2. Not a great showing against the SEC dominance.
The ACC: It’s even worse for the ACC, which only gets one in (although Clemson does advance all the way to the championship game for the second straight simmed season).
Tracking the National Champions
Year
Protest Playoff Champ
True Champion(s)
PP Runner-Up
True Runner-Up
Year
Protest Playoff Champ
True Champion(s)
PP Runner-Up
True Runner-Up
2024
Ohio State
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
2023
Michigan
Michigan
Washington
Washington
2022
Georgia
Georgia
TCU
TCU
2021
Georgia
Georgia
Alabama
Alabama
2020
Alabama
Alabama
Clemson
Ohio State
2019
LSU
LSU
Clemson
Clemson
Playoff Records
By Conference (Current Playoff Year Alignment)
Conference
# Bids
Avg. Bids
# Titles
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Conference
# Bids
Avg. Bids
# Titles
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
ACC
12
2.0
10-12
0.455
0-3
1-2
0-2
1-1
5-3
3-1
Big 12
12
2.0
11-12
0.478
0-1
2-2
4-2
2-3
3-2
0-2
Big Ten
22
3.7
2
24-20
0.545
8-3*
5-2*
4-3
3-4
1-4
3-4
Pac-12
12
2.0
5-12
0.294
3-3
1-5
0-2
1-2
SEC
26
4.3
4
35-22
0.614
4-6
4-5
6-2*
7-2*
6-3*
8-4*
AAC
4
0.7
2-4
0.333
0-1
2-1
0-1
0-1
C-USA
1
0.2
0-1
0.000
0-1
MAC
0
MWC
1
0.2
0-1
0.000
0-1
Sun Belt
1
0.2
0-1
0.000
0-1
Independent
5
0.8
3-5
0.375
3-1
0-2
0-1
0-1
*National Champion
By Conference (2022-2024 Alignments)
Conference
# Bids
Avg. Bids
# Titles
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Conference
# Bids
Avg. Bids
# Titles
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
ACC (2024)
11
1.8
8-11
0.421
0-3
1-2
0-2
1-1
3-2
3-1
ACC (2023)
10
1.7
8-10
0.444
0-2
1-2
0-2
1-1
3-2
3-1
ACC (2020)
14
2.3
13-14
0.481
3-3
1-2
0-2
1-2
5-3
3-2
Big 12 (2024)
15
2.5
9-15
0.375
0-1
0-1
4-3
4-5
1-3
0-2
Big 12 (2023)
16
2.7
14-16
0.467
1-1
2-2
4-2
4-5
3-4
0-2
Big 12 (2022)
12
2.0
12-12
0.500
1-1
2-2
4-2
2-3
3-2
0-2
Big Ten (2024)
29
4.8
2
29-27
0.518
8-3*
8-4*
5-6
3-5
1-4
4-5
Big Ten (2023)
21
3.5
2
23-19
0.548
7-2*
5-2*
4-3
3-4
1-4
3-4
SEC (2024)
31
5.2
4
39-27
0.591
4-6
6-7
6-2*
7-3*
8-4*
8-5*
SEC (2023)
25
4.2
3
34-21
0.618
3-5
4-5
6-2*
7-2*
6-3*
8-4*
AAC (2024)
2
0.3
0-2
0.000
0-1
0-1
AAC (2023)
3
0.5
0-3
0.000
0-1
0-1
0-1
AAC (2022)
5
0.8
2-5
0.286
0-1
0-1
2-1
0-1
0-1
C-USA
1
0.2
0-1
0.000
0-1
MAC
0
MWC
1
0.2
0-1
0.000
0-1
Pac-12 (2024)
1
0.2
0-1
0.000
0-1
Pac-12 (2023)
14
2.3
5-14
0.263
1-2
3-3
1-5
0-2
1-2
Sun Belt
1
0.2
0-1
0.000
0-1
Independent (2024)
4
0.7
5-4
0.556
3-1
0-1
2-1
0-1
Independent (2022)
6
1.0
5-6
0.455
3-1
0-2
2-2
0-1
Independent (2020)
2
0.3
0-2
0.000
0-1
0-1
*National Champion
By Seed (1st Round Only)
Seed
Record
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Seed
Record
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
No. 1 (Home)
6-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
No. 2 (Home)
6-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
No. 3 (Home)
6-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
No. 4 (Home)
4-2
1-0
0-1
1-0
1-0
1-0
0-1
No. 5 (Home)
5-1
1-0
1-0
1-0
0-1
1-0
1-0
No. 6 (Home)
6-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
No. 7 (Home)
3-3
1-0
1-0
0-1
1-0
0-1
0-1
No. 8 (Home)
1-5
1-0
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
No. 9 (Away)
5-1
0-1
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
1-0
No. 10 (Away)
3-3
0-1
0-1
1-0
0-1
1-0
1-0
No. 11 (Away)
0-6
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
No. 12 (Away)
1-5
0-1
0-1
0-1
1-0
0-1
0-1
No. 13 (Away)
2-4
0-1
1-0
0-1
0-1
0-1
1-0
No. 14 (Away)
0-6
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
No. 15 (Away)
0-6
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
No. 16 (Away)
0-6
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
By Seed (All Rounds)
Seed
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Seed
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
No. 1
20-2
0.909
1-1
4-0*
4-0*
3-1
4-0*
4-0*
No. 2
14-6
0.700
2-1
3-1
2-1
2-1
3-1
2-1
No. 3
14-5
0.737
1-1
2-1
3-1
4-0*
1-1
3-1
No. 4
7-6
0.538
1-1
0-1
2-1
2-1
2-1
0-1
No. 5
7-6
0.538
3-1
1-1
1-1
0-1
1-1
1-1
No. 6
10-5
0.667
4-0*
1-1
1-1
1-1
2-1
1-1
No. 7
3-6
0.333
1-1
1-1
0-1
1-1
0-1
0-1
No. 8
2-6
0.250
2-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
No. 9
5-6
0.455
0-1
1-1
1-1
1-1
1-1
1-1
No. 10
3-6
0.333
0-1
0-1
1-1
0-1
1-1
1-1
No. 11
0-6
0.000
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
No. 12
1-6
0.143
0-1
0-1
0-1
1-1
0-1
0-1
No. 13
4-6
0.400
0-1
2-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
2-1
No. 14
0-6
0.000
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
No. 15
0-6
0.000
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
No. 16
0-6
0.000
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
*National Champion
By Team
School
# Invites
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
School
# Invites
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Alabama
6
10-5
0.667
0-1
0-1
1-1
3-1
4-0*
2-1
Arizona
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Arizona State
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Auburn
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Baylor
2
1-2
0.333
1-1
0-1
Boise State
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
BYU
2
0-2
0.000
0-1
0-1
Cincinnati
2
2-2
0.500
2-1
0-1
Clemson
4
6-4
0.600
0-1
0-1
3-1
3-1
Coastal Carolina
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Florida
2
1-2
0.333
0-1
1-1
Florida State
2
1-2
0.333
1-1
0-1
Georgia
6
13-4
0.765
2-1
1-1
4-0*
4-0*
1-1
1-1
Indiana
2
2-2
0.500
2-1
0-1
Iowa
2
0-2
0.000
0-1
0-1
Iowa State
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Kansas State
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Liberty
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Louisville
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
LSU
2
6-1
0.857
2-1
4-0*
Memphis
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Miami
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Michigan
4
8-3
0.727
4-0*
2-1
2-1
0-1
Michigan State
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Missouri
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
North Carolina
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Northwestern
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Notre Dame
4
5-4
0.556
3-1
0-1
2-1
0-1
Ohio State
6
11-5
0.688
4-0*
1-1
2-1
1-1
1-1
2-1
Oklahoma
4
2-4
0.333
0-1
0-1
2-1
0-1
Oklahoma State
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Ole Miss
3
0-3
0.000
0-1
0-1
0-1
Oregon
5
2-5
0.286
1-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
1-1
Oregon State
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Penn State
4
2-4
0.333
1-1
0-1
0-1
1-1
Pittsburgh
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
SMU
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
South Carolina
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
TCU
1
3-1
0.750
3-1
Tennessee
2
2-2
0.500
1-1
1-1
Texas
2
3-2
0.600
1-1
2-1
Texas A&M
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Tulane
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
USC
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Utah
3
0-3
0.000
0-1
0-1
0-1
Washington
2
3-2
0.600
3-1
0-1
Wisconsin
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
*National Champion
By Coach
Coach
# Invites
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Coach
# Invites
Record
PCT
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Allen, Tom
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Aranda, Dave
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Beamer, Shane
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Brohm, Jeff
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Brown, Mack
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Campbell, Matt
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Chadwell, Jamey
2
0-2
0.000
0-1
0-1
Chryst, Paul
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Cignetti, Curt
1
2-1
0.667
2-1
Cristobal, Mario
3
1-3
0.250
0-1
0-1
1-1
Danielson, Spencer
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Day, Ryan
6
11-5
0.688
4-0*
1-1
2-1
1-1
1-1
2-1
DeBoer, Kalen
3
3-3
0.500
0-1
3-1
0-1
Dillingham, Kenny
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Drinkwitz, Eliah
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Dykes, Sonny
1
3-1
0.750
3-1
Ferentz, Kirk
2
0-2
0.000
0-1
0-1
Fickell, Luke
2
2-2
0.500
2-1
0-1
Fisch, Jedd
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Fisher, Jimbo
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Fitzgerald, Pat
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Franklin, James
4
2-4
0.333
1-1
0-1
0-1
1-1
Freeman, Marcus
1
3-1
0.750
3-1
Fritz, Willie
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Gundy, Mike
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Harbaugh, Jim
4
8-3
0.727
4-0*
2-1
2-1
0-1
Heupel, Josh
2
2-2
0.500
1-1
1-1
Kelly, Brian
4
4-4
0.500
2-1
0-1
2-1
0-1
Kiffin, Lane
3
0-3
0.000
0-1
0-1
0-1
Klieman, Chris
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Lanning, Dan
3
1-3
0.250
1-1
0-1
0-1
Lashlee, Rhett
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Malzahn, Gus
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Mullen, Dan
2
1-2
0.333
0-1
1-1
Narduzzi, Pat
1
1-1
0.500
1-1
Norvell, Mike
3
1-3
0.250
1-1
0-1
0-1
Orgeron, Ed
1
4-0
1.000
4-0*
Rhule, Matt
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Riley, Lincoln
4
3-4
0.429
1-1
0-1
2-1
0-1
Saban, Nick
5
10-4
0.714
0-1
1-1
3-1
4-0*
2-1
Sarkisian, Steve
2
3-2
0.600
1-1
2-1
Sitake, Kalani
2
0-2
0.000
0-1
0-1
Smart, Kirby
6
13-4
0.765
2-1
1-1
4-0*
4-0*
1-1
1-1
Smith, Jonathan
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Swinney, Dabo
4
6-4
0.600
0-1
0-1
3-1
3-1
Tucker, Mel
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Venables, Brent
1
0-1
0.000
0-1
Whittingham, Kyle
3
0-3
0.000
0-1
0-1
0-1
*National Champion
BracketCat’s Protest Playoff Archives
2024: Kickoff | Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2023: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2022: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2021: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2020: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2019: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC
2008: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange
2007: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data
2006: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data
2005: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Rose | Data
2004: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data
2003: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data
2002: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data
2001: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Rose | Data
2000: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data | Encore
1999: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data | Encore
1998: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data | Encore