College Football Playoff 2020: 5 biggest snubs from initial rankings
By Andrew Tineo
3. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (No. 20)
Up to this point in the season, if you are undefeated and you have gone through the gauntlet of winning eight straight games, there should be more respect given to your placement in the rankings.
This was not the case for the Chanticleers as there are five two loss teams that rank ahead of them, even after a big time win over an above average App State team.
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After Coastal was ranked 16th in the AP Poll, they slid down to No. 20, even with above average quarterback play and a top 12 defense in the country, giving up just 17.1 points per game. Grayson McCall has been great under center, passing for 1,593 yards and 18 touchdowns to just one interception on the season. McCall has also added 340 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
The “schedule” method could of course be added here, as their lone single digit game was against their lone ranked opponent at the time with a close win over 21st-ranked Louisiana. Coastal’s chances of making the CFP are almost non-existent by this point, due to being too low in the initial rankings and not having much left of their schedule.
However, to have the argument that five two loss teams deserve to be higher than a undefeated, regardless of strength of schedule, is an overreaction. Coastal has a chance to be higher if they stay undefeated, but their chances of making a New Year’s Six dwindle with their starting position.
Justified Ranking: No. 16