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PROTEST PLAYOFF 2019: Data and Analysis

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The final 16-team 2019 playoff bracket
The final 16-team 2019 playoff bracket | Courtesy Bracket HQ

In which BracketCat analyzes a variety of data from the 2019 16-team playoff simulation and draws conclusions.

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)

  1. LSU (17-0) — beat Clemson 38-13 in the National Championship
  2. Clemson (16-1) — lost to LSU 38-13 in the National Championship
  3. Ohio State (15-1) — lost to Clemson 41-38 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal
  4. Alabama (12-3) — lost to LSU 55-48 in overtime in the Peach Bowl semifinal
  5. Oklahoma (12-2) — lost to Alabama 45-38 in the CFP first round
  6. Georgia (12-3) — lost to Alabama 37-24 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal
  7. Oregon (12-3) — lost to Clemson 41-38 in the Orange Bowl quarterfinal
  8. Florida (11-3) — lost to LSU 41-28 in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal
  9. Penn State (11-3) — lost to Ohio State 43-24 in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal
  10. Minnesota (11-2) — beat Texas A&M 31-24 in the Outback Bowl
  11. Baylor (11-3) — lost to Penn State 30-17 in the CFP first round
  12. Notre Dame (10-3) — lost to Ohio State 34-13 in the CFP first round
  13. Iowa (10-3) — beat USC 49-24 in the Holiday Bowl
  14. Utah (11-3) — lost at Oregon 55-13 in the CFP first round
  15. Wisconsin (10-4) — lost to Florida 37-20 in the CFP first round
  16. Auburn (9-4) — lost at Georgia 26-7 in the CFP first round
  17. Memphis (12-2) — lost at LSU 55-35 in the CFP first round
  18. Michigan (9-4) — lost to Tennessee 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl
  19. Appalachian State (13-1) — beat UAB 31-17 in the New Orleans Bowl
  20. Navy (11-2) — beat Kansas State 20-17 in the Liberty Bowl
  21. Cincinnati (11-3) — beat Boston College 38-6 in the Birmingham Bowl
  22. Air Force (11-2) — beat Washington State 31-21 in the Cheez-It Bowl
  23. Boise State (12-2) — lost to Washington 38-7 in the Las Vegas Bowl
  24. UCF (10-3) — beat Marshall 48-25 in the Gasparilla Bowl
  25. 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

  1. 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!
  2. Minnesota: How did an 11-2 Big Ten team not make it into the playoff? Probably name brand. Freaking selection committee, man…
  3. The AAC: Memphis is only the second current AAC team to make it in, after Tulane in 2022.
  4. The Pac-12: After having zero playoff teams in 2020, the dead league bounces back with 2.
  5. 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

  1. Notre Dame: Instead of a nice bowl win, the Irish eat a tough road loss to open the playoffs.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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).

Playoff Records

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