If you haven’t been following Army or Navy’s football season this year, they are lighting up the scoreboard like we haven’t seen from either institution in year’s past. Army sits at 5-0 outscoring opponents 194-35. Navy also sits at 5-0, boasting a +117-point differential of their own. As you likely know by now, Army and Navy have a standing appointment after the regular season ends for the rest of college football, and this year’s 125th meeting between the two could potentially break the brain of college football.
Looking ahead at both teams’ schedules, each has a very realistic opportunity to be undefeated when they meet Notre Dame, Navy playing ND October 26th, and Army playing them on November 23rd. Other than 11th ranked Notre Dame, neither team has a ranked opponent remaining on their schedule.
So, for fun, let’s say both Army and Navy beat Notre Dame and finish the regular season at 11-0. We would find ourselves in a rather unique situation. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee is set to release the 12-team playoff bracket on December 8th. The only problem is, there would still be business to settle. Army vs. Navy is scheduled for December 14th and neither school agreed to adjust that, and with both teams undefeated, whoever wins would certainly deserve to be included in the playoff. So, what does the committee do? Do they put “Winner of Army vs. Navy” in one of the bracket slots? Is that allowed? One of the two teams would end up at 12-0 and it would be impossible to leave them out. We could potentially have a playoff game before the actual playoff starts. Just like the NCAA tournament has their play-in games, the committee would almost have to respond with a similar set up.
Would this scenario truly change the framework of college football? Maybe. Although, how often do we really expect Army and Navy to both be undefeated at the end of the year when they play? Obviously, it is not a crazy scenario as we have it unfolding in front of us in the very first year of the 12-team playoff. I think all of college football fans (minus Irish fans) would love to see Army and Navy unbeaten on December 14th in the nation’s capital. Oh yeah, we’re hoping for snow too.
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