Could Saint Peter’s-type run happen in college football?

Saint Peter’s reached the Elite 8 of the NCAA tourney and Cincinnati made the College Football Playoff. Are there any similarities between the two programs?

Cincinnati turned heads when they forced their way into the College Football Playoff, earning the first spot by a Group of 5 team since the current format was established. The Bearcats did not advance to the Championship Game, but they made it further than any team of their stature had before, raising the obvious question, will an “outsider” ever break through and win it all?

While that question remains officially unanswered, it turns out the sporting world wouldn’t have to wait long for a reprisal of their Cinderella dreams.

The Saint Peter’s Peacocks have taken the sporting world by storm, busting through any previously known glass ceiling for a MAAC school and reaching the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament. The historic run came to a screeching halt against a ruddy North Carolina squad that — while not elite by its own standards — had more than enough talent to make quick work of the upstart newcomers.

First Cincinnati, then Saint Peter’s, two shiny success stories for the Davids of the world against the Goliaths, with both programs reaching the same end. Not quite enough.

Both programs did enough to prove superior coaching and the right combination of players at any level can challenge the status quo, but neither was able to overcome the disadvantages thrust upon them which the bigger brands simply don’t have to deal with.

North Carolina basketball is a recruiting juggernaut in much the same way that Alabama football has become. That talent surplus affords them more margin for mistakes when the games begin. Saint Peter’s had to be perfect to reach the Elite 8, but being that flawless against that level of competition for an extended period of time just isn’t sustainable.

Yes, the spunky upstarts belong. They’ve earned a spot at the table. But it’s not surprising the college football’s title game featured Alabama and Georgia and the basketball Final Four is comprised of bluebloods North Carolina, Duke, Kansas and Vilanova. For Cinderella, midnight is always just around the corner. But that doesn’t mean there can’t be dancing and fun in the meantime.