Mike Leach's 64-team playoff hypothetical (2019 season)

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Yes this will never happen, but thoughts on the matchups? Also blame Mike Leach for putting the idea out in the universe....

I'm using 2019 as that was the last full season for all 130 teams...........so deal with it. (and the length of this post)

- 7 wins was a minimum requirement (barely made it btw)
- Avoided Conference rematches and in-conference matchups where possible (or if possible), for First Round contests
- Home games for higher seed up to the Semifinals
- Semies at two of the NY6 sites
- NCG at a major location (for example in 2019 it would've been in New Orleans

With that said, on to the brackets!

South Region-
1 LSU (SEC champ, 13-0)
16 Arkansas State (Sun Belt, 7-5)

8 Oklahoma State (Big 12, 8-4)
9 Virginia Tech (ACC, 8-4)

5 Memphis (AAC champ, 12-1)
12 Louisiana Tech (CUSA, 9-3)

4 Alabama (SEC, 10-2)
13 Georgia Southern (Sun Belt, 7-5)

6 Virginia (ACC, 9-4)
11 UL-Lafayette (Sun Belt, 10-3)

3 Auburn (SEC, 9-3)
14 Southern Mississippi (CUSA, 7-5)

7 UCF (AAC, 9-3)
10 Tennessee (SEC, 7-5)

2 Baylor (Big 12, 11-2)
15 Georgia State (Sun Belt, 7-5)

West Region-
1 Oklahoma (Big 12 champ, 12-1)
16 Wyoming (MWC, 7-5)

8 Hawaii (MWC, 9-5)
9 Texas A&M (SEC, 7-5)

5 USC (Pac 12, 8-4)
12 San Diego State (MWC, 9-3)

4 Iowa (Big Ten, 9-3)
13 Washington (Pac 12, 7-5)

6 Boise State (MWC champ, 12-1)
11 California (Pac 12, 7-5)

3 Utah (Pac 12, 11-2)
14 Utah State (MWC, 7-5)

7 Air Force (MWC, 10-2)
10 Arizona State (Pac 12, 7-5)

2 Oregon (Pac 12 champ, 11-2)
15 BYU (Ind, 7-5)

Midwest Region-
1 Ohio State (Big Ten champ, 13-0)
16 Western Michigan (MAC, 7-5)

8 Miami, OH (MAC champ, 8-5)
9 SMU (AAC, 10-2)

5 Minnesota (Big Ten, 10-2)
12 Kansas State (Big 12, 8-4)

4 Notre Dame (Ind, 10-2)
13 Iowa State (Big 12, 7-5)

6 Cincinnati (AAC, 10-3)
11 Indiana (Big Ten, 8-4)

3 Penn State (Big Ten, 10-2)
14 Western Kentucky (CUSA, 8-4)

7 Texas (Big 12, 7-5)
10 Louisville (ACC, 7-5)

2 Wisconsin (Big Ten, 10-3)
15 Central Michigan (MAC, 8-5)

East Region-
1 Clemson (ACC champ, 13-0)
16 Liberty (Ind, 7-5)

8 UAB (CUSA, 9-4)
9 Wake Forest (ACC, 8-4)

5 Appalachian State (Sun Belt champ, 12-1)
12 Temple (AAC, 8-4)

4 Michigan (Big Ten, 9-3)
13 Buffalo (MAC, 7-5)

6 Navy (AAC, 9-2)
11 Kentucky (SEC, 7-5)

3 Florida (SEC, 10-2)
14 Marshall (CUSA, 8-4)

7 Florida Atlantic (CUSA champ, 10-3)
10 Pittsburgh (ACC, 7-5)

2 Georgia (SEC, 11-2)
15 Charlotte (CUSA, 7-5)

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

I love Mike Leach. 😂

 

[ClarindaA's]

In like Iowa to make the final four in that bracket

 

[Hawkfan_08]

In like Iowa to make the final four in that bracket

For 2019? I agree.

 

[IsaacHarrison]

I know im probably in a minority here, but Ive never been a huge fan of tournaments this large. Its not very often the best teams make it to the end. What good does it do in determining the best team when a 9 seed knocks out the 1 seed due to turnovers etc?

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I know im probably in a minority here, but Ive never been a huge fan of tournaments this large. Its not very often the best teams make it to the end. What good does it do in determining the best team when a 9 seed knocks out the 1 seed due to turnovers etc?

What if that 9 seed was Iowa?.......

Would you feel this overwhelming sense of guilt, to the point where you wouldn't want Iowa to advance?

What if it was in the national championship game?

 

[Hawk and Awe]

I was hoping they would do this in 2020. I can only imagine the number of brackets I would fill out and would probably work 1/2 time that month. It would have almost made COVID worth it.

When you think about all the crazy stuff that went down last year it’s not like it would have been that out of the box - especially if they could’ve done it as pay-per-view