2016 McMNC: Clemson Tigers

AP Top 10: Final Record -- Key Bowl Results

1. Clemson (14-1): Won CFP Bowl, 35-31
2. Alabama (14-1): Lost CFP Bowl, 31-35
3. USC (10-3): Won Rose Bowl, 52-49
4. Washington (12-2): Lost Peach Bowl, 24-7
5. Oklahoma (11-2): Won Sugar Bowl, 35-19
6. Ohio State (11-2): Lost Fiesta Bowl, 0-31
7. Penn State (11-3): Lost Rose Bowl, 49-52
8. Florida State (10-3): Won Orange Bowl, 33-32
9. Wisconsin (11-3): Won Cotton Bowl, 24-16
10. Michigan (10-3): Lost Orange Bowl, 32-33

This was another clusterfuck for the CFP, as the Big Ten problem reared its ugly head, and we had our first non-champion entry into the Final Four. And it shouldn't happen again any time soon, that's for certain. For the second year in a row, a fatally flawed Big Ten team lost to the eventual champ in the semis by horrific shutout proportions, and the CFP needs to remember this for the future.

But taking a two-loss Big Ten champ wasn't necessarily the answer, either. The problem was the Big Ten was so competitive, but the top teams were propped up by a lot of bad teams beneath them. So that's why the AP Poll has four Big Ten teams from spots 6-10. Not good enough for the top, but still good enough to fill out the ballot.

In essence, by taking Ohio State over Penn State or Oklahoma, the CFP avoided letting a two-loss team into the Final Four—but set a bad precedent for taking an also-ran squad. It was a no-win scenario, but in the end, always stick with the conference champs, people. Always. That's been my rule here since the beginning of time.

Penn State lost its bowl game, anyway, leaving us with the superficial debate between Clemson and Oklahoma. SOS tells us right away that the Sooners didn't have enough in the glove compartment to overcome the extra loss, so it's over before it really begins. Boring, I know.

Congratulations, Clemson.

McMNC Revision:

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Washington
5. USC

RUNNING SCORECARD:
Penn State: +1977, +1981, =1982, =1986, +1994
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969, =1972, +1978, +1979, =2003, =2004
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951, =1998
Washington: +1960, +1991
Georgia Tech: +1952, +1990
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937, =1976, +1980
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968, =2002, +2012, =2014
Oklahoma State: +2011
Utah: +2008
West Virginia: +2007
Boise State: +2006
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Iowa: +1956
Illinois: +1951
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
TCU: -1938, +2010
BYU: =1984
Syracuse: =1959
Texas A&M: =1939
Georgia: +1946, -1980
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Michigan: +1947, =1948, -1997
Nebraska: =1970, =1971, -1994, =1995, +1997
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957, =1975, =1986, =2000
Auburn: -1957, +1983, -2010
Maryland: -1953
Clemson: -1981, =2016
Colorado: -1990
Florida State: -1993, =1999, =2013
Texas: =1963, -1969, =2005
Army: -1944, -1945
LSU: =1958, -2003, -2007
Florida: =1996, -2006, -2008
Miami-FL: -1983, =1987, =1989, -1991, =2001
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966, =1973, -1977, =1988, +1993
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965, -1978, -1979, =1992, =2009, -2011, -2012, =2015