Before you go on and downvote me just for what I said in the title, please just humor me for a second. Not saying it is going to happen, don't think it will, but was talking about this with a friend and I got to thinking: Wouldn't it make more sense for the ACC to just cancel their championship game?
This would all but guarantee the ACC gets two teams in. Granted, I know Notre Dame is only 'in' the ACC this year - I'll assume if they make the playoff the ACC will get financial compensation as they allowed Notre Dame to play in their conference this year. That being said, the conference would obviously receive a payout for Clemson too. This would also clear the way for UNC to make a NY6 game. More $$$ ...and money talks.
In addition, Clemson wouldn't risk losing another game to ND and would also be a lock thanks to Florida choking, or tossing a shoe, last week. I'm not sold on A&M jumping in the playoff mix at all and the same goes for Iowa State. Cinci is def out due to the huge lack of respect from the committee. The likely seeding would be #1 Bama vs. #4 OSU, #2 ND vs. #3 Clemson. I'm not confident the committee would bump OSU to the third spot even if we destroy NW.
The ACC has come out and said if the game is canceled then they would award ND the ACC Champion title for winning during the regular season, but they could just let them face each other in the CFB Semifinals (assuming they remain 2 and 3) and declare that winner the ACC champ (¯\_(ツ)_/¯). As we know, rules aren't set in stone and the pandemic has forced a lot of change/adjusting in college football.
From the ACC, if either Notre Dame or Clemson cannot play in the championship game, the game is a no contest and Notre Dame would be crowned champion by virtue of the regular-season standings.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) December 13, 2020
Again. all of this being said, I do not think it will happen this way...but ya never know. Dabo is a tricky, manipulative, whiny MF and this is money we are talking about during a year where all athletic departments have felt the brunt of the pandemic with revenue.
Chess not checkers, after all.
