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Basically, here's the issue: the highest ranked mid-major team is guaranteed a berth in a New Year's bowl (the Cotton bowl this season). Right now, Western Michigan sits at #17. Navy is at #19. WMU plays Ohio in the MAC championship on Saturday, Navy plays Temple for the AAC title.
But, Navy plays Army on December 10. If they win both games, they could jump past WMU...and the CFP ranking committee might delay deciding who gets the Cotton bowl berth until after December 10, which creates a domino effect delaying who gets berths in the other lesser (earlier) bowl games, and gives barely a week for ticket sales and travel arrangements.
While it's interesting to speculate, I kind of expect this to be moot. If both WMU and Navy win, I don't think Navy gains the 3 spots they need, and beating Army won't gain them anything. If either of them loses, they tumble out of contention. In the end, I think Navy gets hosed by the way the polls work - WMU and Navy will both win, and Florida will lose to Alabama. Navy will move 0-1 spots. WMU will move 1-2, because Florida will drop 2 spots. The gap will widen, and Navy will win a game but lose ground.
The tough scenario will be if they both lose.
Basically, here's the issue: the highest ranked mid-major team is guaranteed a berth in a New Year's bowl (the Cotton bowl this season). Right now, Western Michigan sits at #17. Navy is at #19. WMU plays Ohio in the MAC championship on Saturday, Navy plays Temple for the AAC title.
But, Navy plays Army on December 10. If they win both games, they could jump past WMU...and the CFP ranking committee might delay deciding who gets the Cotton bowl berth until after December 10, which creates a domino effect delaying who gets berths in the other lesser (earlier) bowl games, and gives barely a week for ticket sales and travel arrangements.
While it's interesting to speculate, I kind of expect this to be moot. If both WMU and Navy win, I don't think Navy gains the 3 spots they need, and beating Army won't gain them anything. If either of them loses, they tumble out of contention. In the end, I think Navy gets hosed by the way the polls work - WMU and Navy will both win, and Florida will lose to Alabama. Navy will move 0-1 spots. WMU will move 1-2, because Florida will drop 2 spots. The gap will widen, and Navy will win a game but lose ground.
The tough scenario will be if they both lose.