College Football Playoff: Making case for undefeated non-Power 5 teams

Making the case for Coastal Carolina

The Chanticleers are in their fourth full season in the FBS and what Jamey Chadwell has done with the program has nothing short of fantastic. Over the next few years, I’m sure there will be a few Power Five programs calling, attempting to give Chadwell a job.

For now, he’s got Coastal Carolina in a promising situation, with their best game still left on the schedule. Coastal Carolina is led on offense by quarterback Grayson McCall and has been extremely efficient this season. Although McCall doesn’t have monster numbers, he has 20 total touchdowns, to just one interception and a near 70 percent completion rate.

McCall’s go-to receiver has been junior wide receiver Jaivon Heiligh. After being a full-time starter last year, the 6-2 playmaker has doubled his touchdowns and has well over 100 more yards than he had a year ago.

The most impressive part of this Coastal Carolina team is the depth they have at running back. The team uses three guys in Torrance Marable, Shermari Jones and Reese White. Each of them have eclipsed 250 yards on the season

Defensively, Coastal Carolina is an above average team, led by senior defensive end Tarron Jackson. He’s coming off an excellent 2019, leading the conference in sacks and sixth in tackles for loss. He continues to create havoc as he leads the conference this year in sacks and ranks fifth in the country with six. The 6-2, 260-pound freak also leads the conference in forced fumbles and third in the nation with three.

What makes Coastal Carolina different from the others is Jackson as no other team has a defensive playmaker quite like him as well as a passing defense that only gives up 174 yards per game through the air which shows how complete they are

Coastal Carolina is in an OK position, ranking No. 15 this week. However, the Chanticleers are part of the biggest game out of the undefeated left. If they win their next three games, they will have a season finale at home against another undefeated Group of Five team in Liberty.

If Coastal Carolina can complete the perfect regular season, I give it a 15 percent shot at the playoff.