The first edition of the 12-team College Football Playoff has been very interesting to say the least. In the first round, all four higher-seeded teams won, then in the second round the four lower-seeded teams moved on. Yet, the final four of Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame is still filled with massive blue-blood programs. There was only one really close game in the entirety of the first two rounds when Texas narrowly beat Arizona State. And, of course, we can’t forget about the two ACC teams that got demolished in their first-round matchups. Overall, the first year of the expanded playoff has had its ups and downs, but there’s one thing that’s important for Syracuse fans. Does it give you confidence that Fran Brown could one day lift the trophy? It’s well known SU’s headman won’t be satisfied until the day he does.
If anything, even though we’ve ended up with four blue bloods, this playoff has shown that any team can win. The four teams remaining, while being big brands have lots of flaws on the field. Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois, Ohio State lost to Michigan, and Texas and Penn State both beat absolutely no one on their way to the playoff.
The fact that you don’t have to be a perfect team but can still win it all should give Orange fans the confidence that maybe they could get it done one day. Anyone who watched the Texas-Arizona State game left believing that ASU could have and arguably should have won that game. If the Sun Devils can win a CFP game why can’t the Orange? Kenny Dillingham is a young coach just like Fran Brown is. There’s no reason that in the future, that can’t be the ‘Cuse playing in the CFP.
