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PROTEST PLAYOFF 2020: Data and Analysis

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The final 16-team 2020 playoff bracket
The final 16-team 2020 playoff bracket | Courtesy Bracket HQ

In which BracketCat analyzes a variety of data from the 2020 16-team playoff simulation and draws conclusions.

The 2019 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 2020-21 Associated Press Poll (with final game result)

  1. Alabama (15-0) — beat Clemson 68-21 in the National Championship
  2. Clemson (13-2) — lost to Alabama 68-21 in the National Championship
  3. Notre Dame (12-2) — lost to Alabama 65-17 in the Sugar Bowl semifinal
  4. Oklahoma (10-3) — lost to Clemson 42-32 in the Rose Bowl semifinal
  5. Texas A&M (9-2) — lost to Notre Dame 31-12 in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal
  6. Georgia (8-3) — lost to Alabama 62-27 in the Peach Bowl quarterfinal
  7. Cincinnati (9-1) — lost to Georgia 21-13 in the CFP first round
  8. Ohio State (7-1) — lost to Oklahoma 34-23 in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal
  9. Iowa State (9-4) — lost to Clemson 44-17 in the Orange Bowl quarterfinal
  10. BYU (10-2) — lost at Alabama 54-32 in the CFP first round
  11. Indiana (6-2) — lost at Oklahoma 55-10 in the CFP first round
  12. Northwestern (6-3) — lost at Ohio State 35-21 in the CFP first round
  13. Florida (8-4) — lost to Iowa State 37-32 in the CFP first round
  14. Coastal Carolina (11-1) — lost at Texas A&M 40-32 in the CFP first round
  15. Louisiana (10-1) — beat UTSA 31-24 in the First Responder Bowl
  16. Iowa (6-3) — lost at Clemson 35-17 in the CFP first round
  17. Liberty (10-1) — beat Appalachian State 37-34 in overtime in the Cure Bowl
  18. North Carolina (8-4) — lost at Notre Dame 37-17 in the CFP first round
  19. Texas (7-3) — beat Colorado 55-23 in the Alamo Bowl
  20. Oklahoma State (8-3) — beat Miami 37-34 in the Cheez-It Bowl
  21. USC (5-1) — lost to Oregon 31-24 in the Pac-12 Championship*
  22. Miami (8-3) — lost to Oklahoma State 37-34 in the Cheez-It Bowl
  23. Ball State (7-1) — beat San Jose State 34-13 in the Arizona Bowl
  24. San Jose State (7-1) — lost to Ball State 34-13 in the Arizona Bowl
  25. Buffalo (6-1) — beat Marshall 17-10 in the Camellia Bowl

*USC elected not to participate in a bowl game due to COVID-19 issues.

Top 5 Winners of 16-Team CFP over 4-Team CFP/New Year’s 6

  1. COVID-19: I mean, duh, right? It was the true undefeated champion of the 2020 season.
  2. Clemson: Thanks to Oklahoma’s upset of Ohio State, the Tigers avoided their own upset against the Buckeyes and instead took their place as sacrificial lamb to the Crimson Tide.
  3. Oklahoma: Instead of being left out of the playoff, the Sooners roll into the semifinals.
  4. Iowa State: While the Cyclones do collect an extra loss, winning at Florida makes it worth it.
  5. The Non-P2: The Big 12’s current composition would have had three (3) teams in this playoff, as would the ACC (counting Notre Dame). The Big Ten and SEC still get their four.

Top 5 Losers of 16-Team CFP over 4-Team CFP/New Year’s 6

  1. Ohio State: See, undeserving 6-0 teams don’t just get awarded byes into the semifinals in a 16-team model. They have to earn their way that far, which the Buckeyes couldn’t do vs. OU.
  2. Cincinnati: Rather than losing to Georgia on its home turf in the Peach Bowl, the Bearcats fall at home in the first round of the playoff as the higher seed. That stings more than a little.
  3. Northwestern: Instead of finishing 7-2 with a bowl win, the Wildcats are blasted for the second straight week by an Ohio State team they clearly don’t match up with. Woof!
  4. BYU: Is being creamed on the road by Alabama more meaningful than a minor bowl win?
  5. Coastal Carolina: Similarly, is losing at Texas A&M more meaningful than a minor bowl win?

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

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