I would like to know what the possibilities are for a bowl game now that we are eligible.
Kinda want to know if its possible to get revenge against Tenn, but would also like Ohio St.
Also what would it take for us to get a new years six bowl?
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Yes!
Dammit, it's only October, you're going to jinx it.... Wait.... Oooooooooh
We're not going to get a rematch with Tennessee. We might get Ohio State in a NY6 bowl if things break right and we win out.
Agreed. The only way we rematch is if team chaos wins and we somehow meet in the playoffs. That seems incredibly impossible right now.
My personal preferred list: Orange, Russell, Belk, Music City, TaxSlayer, Pinstripe, St. Petersburg
Presumably we would all prefer the Citrus to the Russell, right? Same location, better opponent, better date.
You forgot to prefix your title with a "way to early". Only thing we know right now is we are guaranteed a crappy bowl game and would probably end up NY6 bowl if we win out. My somewhat optimistic guess is that we end up in the Russell Athletic Bowl against WVU or a team from Oklahoma.
Chances that ESPN wants to show VT/WVU in back to back games for those teams?
It's different seasons and ESPN doesn't make bowl selections.
If VT wins out, VT will be in the Orange bowl at worst. Although, playoffs are probably an extreme long shot and would need A LOT to happen. Like every team ranked ahead of VT losing 1-2 games.
It's too early to say anything with certainty. Like we've both said at different points in this thread at different points in this thread we still have a 1 in a million shot at the playoffs. Also, If both a one loss Clemson and a one loss Louisville somehow miss the playoffs I have a hard time seeing a 2 loss VT team jumping either of them even though they would have just beat Clemson. 3 ACC teams in NY6 bowls also seems very unlikely.
But if VT wins out, they will have won the ACCCG, and thus a guarantee of the Orange Bowl.
I don't know why, but I total forgot that it worked that way. Slightly in my defense I was focused I the World Series last night.
I still think we end up in the Russell Athletic Bowl. I don't think this team is mature enough to win the ACC Championship game. They have played beyond my expectations but we're not an elite team yet. I would be incredibly happy if they proved me wrong though.
Clemson has looked sloppy enough this season that they could be beatable. Especially when the last few years, the ACCCG has just been a formality for the Atlantic champion to get to bowl season.
Not a fan of UNC, but they were a couple bad calls by the refs, from winning last year's game.
They were closer to beating Clemson last year than beating us this year. Just interesting to think about.
Yes, but at least so far they've shown up for the big games and did enough to win against weaker teams. We've not done either of those things consistently. That's why I don't we're quite mature enough, not surprising considering this is year 1.
None for me thanks.
I predict we don't treat this bowl as a vacation.
PLAYOFFS
But wait. Harry really was the Chosen One.
PLAYOFF BERTH CONFIRMED!!!
DID HE STUTTER????
YOU JUST HAD TO BRING UP MY INNER VOICE'S SPEECH IMPEDIMENT!!!!!!
I predict we play in the inaugural Hookah Bowl, played at Mile High Stadium in Denver.
I'm just gonna go down the list of ACC bowls. Obviously, I don't expect some of these to be available, but I'm just showcasing what the options and odds are.
Of course, most of the scenarios are based on Clemson going to the CFP.
1.) Playoffs
If VT somehow makes it in, it means that we have 2007-level chaos in the world of college football. Since this scenario is extremely unlikely, even if it did come to pass, I don't see any way we would be anything other than the #4 seed, and most likely facing Alabama.
2.) Orange Bowl vs. SEC or Big Ten
Based on the way this season has gone, I think the only way we get to the Orange Bowl is by playing in the ACCCG. If we win, we're obviously guaranteed this game. If we lose to a playoff-bound Clemson, we have to be the highest ranked ACC team after them. Louisville could be standing in our way.
The opponent is the highest ranked team from the SEC or Big Ten or Notre Dame that is not already in the CFP, Rose, or Sugar Bowls. Obviously, ND is not going to be in the mix. Since we don't have any CFP rankings to work with yet, I'll go off of the most recent AP poll, and we'll pretend that's where the season ends. That would put Alabama, Michigan, Clemson, and Washington in the CFP. #6 Ohio State would go to the Rose Bowl, and #9 Texas A&M would go to the Sugar Bowl. Teams in the mix for the Orange Bowl are Nebraska, Wisconsin, Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee. #7 Nebraska would be selected for the Orange Bowl, as the highest ranked team of that group.
Now, there is a rematch rule which gives the Orange Bowl the right to skip down to the next qualified team. Meaning, if VT was the ACC team selected, and Tennessee was the top qualified opponent, the Orange Bowl would drop down to the next team on the list, but Tennessee would still be guaranteed a New Year's Six bowl.
3.) Cotton Bowl
This year is the hardest to get an "at large" spot in the New Year's Six, because the two semi-finals are the Peach and Fiesta Bowls, which have no regular tie-ins. So, that means that the only at large spot left is in the Cotton Bowl, against the guaranteed Group of 5 team. Based on the current AP Poll, I think the Cotton Bowl would be #10 West Virginia vs. #13 Boise State. (#1-4 in CFP, #5 Louisville vs. #7 Nebraska in Orange, #6 Ohio State vs. some Pac-12 team in the Rose Bowl, #8 Baylor vs. #9 Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl)
To get to this game, we don't win the ACCCG, and we're either ranked higher than Louisville or immediately behind them.
So, short answer for getting to a New Year's Six bowl -- we have to win the ACCCG, or at least be the highest ranked ACC team not going to the CFP.
4.) Citrus Bowl
If the Orange Bowl selects a Big Ten team, the ACC gets the Big Ten's spot in the Citrus Bowl. Not really sure why there is that trade off, but whatever. The opponent would be the #2 choice of the SEC. Right now, that looks like #14 Florida.
VT has a chance of getting here if they win the Coastal, but lose the ACCCG, and Louisville takes the Orange Bowl slot against a Big Ten team.
5.) Russell Athletic Bowl
This game would be against the #3 team of the Big 12, which currently looks like #16 Oklahoma.
VT has a chance of getting here if they win the Coastal, but lose the ACCCG, and Louisville takes the Orange Bowl slot against an SEC team.
6-9.) Tier 1 bowls
I think Taxslayer (formerly Gator) gets priority over Music City, who's taken the the ACC the last two years. Either one is against the SEC. There is also the Belk Bowl against the SEC, and all of those will be against middle of the pack SEC teams. The Sun Bowl is against the #5 Pac-12, and the Pinstripe Bowl against a lower ranked Big Ten.
10-12.) Tier 2 bowls
Opponents include the American, or a low ranked SEC or Big Ten team. However, those bowls are so far down the list, they'll probably be using conditional arrangements.
Overall, most bowls try to avoid rematches, so I don't think we'll get another shot against Tennessee. If we were to play Ohio State, it would most likely be in the Orange Bowl, which means that Ohio State most likely comes in #2 in their division.
Can you do my taxes?
Nicely done.
Great stuff. There is also the somewhat likely scenario of both Clem and Louisville making the playoffs. That would push us closer to the Orange with an Acccg loss.
We want FSU to lose at least to Clemson and UF. Pushes them down the list. Another loss for UNC helps too.
FSU play in the Carrier Dome, and it's very possible that a 'Cuse win it that game would equate with their bowl eligibility. With FSU's D, 'Cuse's ability in the dome, and FSU's inconsistency this year, you never know.
Russel Athletic vs Oklahoma sounds like a realistic place to end up, a fun game, and totally winnable for us. Of course I hope we win the ACC, but if not a win like that could carry some nice momentum to next year.
OU is b12 #3 currently. #3 by bowl season may well be wvu or Baylor. Both of those are less appetizing matchups for different reasons.
I think Oklahoma State is still in the mix for that spot, as well.
So, start booking Orlando hotel rooms? That would actually be a fun bowl to go to. My GF's sister lives in Miami so the orange bowl wouldn't be as fun.
Still want the orange bowl for obvious reasons.
At this time, I'm comfortable saying only this, "We will be eligible for one."
Let's just go 1-0 this week and beat Duke.
We've already went 1-0 this week. We'll reset on Sunday.
The team can go 1-0. I can wildly speculate and guess because that is fun. I'm just here to have fun.
I think Orange Bowl because why not?
It's citrussy
I'd like to see us play PSU in the RFK Stadium Bowl. Right smack dab in the middle of our largest alumni base and easy travel for both teams as well. Everyone can travel there, the bowl will sell out, and we can both squeeze Maryland out of a good recruiting territory.
Unfortunately, there are three problems with that scenario.
1.) The bowl you're referring to is the Military Bowl, which moved to Annapolis a few years ago.
2.) The other tie-in for that game is the American.
3.) It's a tier 2 bowl for the ACC, which means it goes to the 7th ranked ACC team or worse.
That being said, I'd love for the ACC to be part of a bowl at RFK, preferably a tier 1 bowl, replacing the Sun Bowl.
Right! Annapolis. That would be nice. Now we just have to figure out how to win the rest of our games and get selected 7th, and PSU needs to realign to the American before December. Easy peasy.
D.C. in Dec at RFK? Why do you want to punish fans and players?
The last few years I've been in a tshirt on Christmas in the DC area.
But RFK? Come on man.
Better than that hidden arrow atrocity in MD that they keep taking seats out of to maintain a sellout.
100% agree. I'd rather go to RFK than deal with the disaster that is FedEx.
Need to start a thread on LOLUVA's possibilities for the bowl season.
Already did
1.) Staying home.
There is no 2.)
#2 is what they do on the field every Saturday
I am enjoying this season more than any other in a long time, but expectations are "getting out of whack". I think our future is very bright but finishing 8-4 or 9-3 would be awesome and realistic IMO. ACC championship game appearance and a middle or upper bowl would be a nice bonus and great to build off of.
I would love for us to be in a FL bowl game. Heck anything in the southeast. Just no Sun bowl and no Pinstripe and no Military bowl.
Moving the ACC championship to Orlando could further hurt attendance at one or the other if a FL bowl is likely. Better than the Sun Bowl for sure.
Win the acccg and we get the orange. Lose and we get the citrus
I am just glad we aren't leaving bowl eligibility to the UVA game
So with all this discussion about our possible bowls, I thought it would be fun to see what exactly it would take in order for VT to sneak into the playoff DISCUSSION again. Obviously for this to happen, Tech has to win out and go 1-0 each week.
As I write this, there are 6 undefeated teams left in the AP T25: Alabama, Michigan, Clemson, Washington, Nebraska, Boise State, and Western Michigan. There are also 6 one loss teams: Louisville, Ohio State, Baylor, Texas A&M, WVU, and Florida.
I fully expect Alabama, Michigan, and Washington to win their respective conferences with 1 loss or less and earn a spot in the playoff. That leaves one spot open for the taking. I don't expect anyone making it out of the Big 12 without at least 2 losses, and with the overall opinion of the Big 12 this year, I don't think anyone from that conference will make the playoff. This would leave the gate open for a team in the ACC, a non-P5 team like Boise State or Western Michigan, or 2 teams from one of the other 3 conferences to fill that last spot.
If we go the 2 teams from one conference route, I'd say that the most likely conference to get picked twice would be the Big 10. In order for only one team to get picked from the Big 10, I would say that Michigan would have to win out, Wisconsin and Ohio State would need to beat Nebraska, and Ohio State would pick up it's 2nd loss from Michigan. That would leave an undefeated Michigan and at least 2 losses for the rest of the conference.
As for the non-P5 teams, I think the only one we would need to worry about is Boise State. WMU has too weak of a schedule in my opinion to really be considered in the running for the playoff, so Tech would need Boise to lose at least one game in this scenario.
Now for the ACC, a ton could still happen so I'm just gonna look at what is the most likely scenarios in my opinion. I expect Clemson to come into the ACCCG undefeated and for the Hokies to come in with 2 losses (no bias here *wink*). If Clemson wins, they're in. If Clemson loses, a ton of possibilities could occur. If VT wins AND looks like the better team in this game, I could see the committee giving the benefit of the doubt and Tech slipping in (with everything else that I've laid out happening, of course). Tech could also win in a sloppy game and give the committee reason for Louisville to jump both teams, but Lousiville hasn't been looking all that great recently (See: Duke & LOLUVA) so it will certainly be interesting to see how much the committe values a championship game since we've never seen potential chaos like this in the playoff age and there is no precedent were this to happen. So in summary, playoffs aren't impossible yet, but we'd need a lot to go our way for this to happen. Go Hokies!
I'm wondering what would happen if Washington loses a game. If it's the wrong game (Washington State), it could cost them a trip to the Pac-12 title game. I don't think any other team in the Pac-12 would be an automatic shoo-in to the CFP as conference champ.
Less than two hours later . . .
FTFY.
I hope we're not crossing another team off the list in another hour.
---
Edited when I realized that there were actually 7 teams originally listed.
My guess is yes and maybe the ACC getting a team into the playoffs chances getting smaller.
Yeah, if Clemson loses it better be to Tech in the ACCCG. They look to be pulling it together now.
The Syracuse loss eliminated us from serious consideration. Just enjoy the ride the rest of the way and don't get wrapped up in scenarios we aren't going to see happen
Anyone done the ACCCG game and bowl game ticket orders through the school yet? The ticket price levels for the games make no sense. For example the Campinf works doesn't have a "Plaza C" on their seating chart.
I bought my Military bowl tickets through the school. It wasn't bad.
The military bowl only has three ticket levels and they are pretty self explanatory. ACCCG has 9, citrus has 8 and Russell has 6 which is odd since they all take place in same stadium.
And Clemson pulls another one out late. Good for the ACC really. Clemson, Loserville and VT keep winning and end up in the top 10 at the end of the regular season, that would be a good look for the conference going into the ACCCG.
One of these things is not like the other. Unfortunately it's us. We're not breaking into the top 10 until Bowl season in a best case scenario unless most of the teams in front of us lose 1-2 games. While the Tennessee loss could be forgiven since it was against a good team, everyone will point to the Syracuse loss when comparing us to the other 2 loss teams. It also doesn't help that our remaining schedule is weak. Thanks Notre Dame. Don't sleep in UVA either. This is their best chance in the immediate future to beat us, and they've been improving and will be hungry. I base my claim about their future recruiting on my belief that Bronco will struggle hard recruiting. BYU recruited for itself and no one told him nobody has wanted a white Bronco since 1994.
If we win out, VT will be around 10th for the acccg. With the new rankings coming out this week, we may be in the mid teens by Tuesday.
...or only jump to #23.
...in the AP. Which basically goes away Tuesday night when the neoBCS rankings are released.
We're ranked 23/21 in the polls this week. The only moving up we'll do is from teams losing. Like I said we have a weak schedule for the rest of the season.
Yeah, everyone is dependent on losing teams to move up. Of the 20 or do teams in front of us, probably 15 will lose another game. 8+ will lose multiple games.
UNC was 21st in week 10 last year, 8th before acccg.
I disagree if ND were in the top 10 like some thought they would be at the beginning of the season, and we beat them, it would definitely move up over at least 5 teams in front of us. Unfortunately, top 10 teams like Clemson and Louisville are in a different conference so we'll never get to play them late during the regular season.
I disagree to your disagreement!
At this point in the season, you stand a much stronger chance of moving up by others losing than by you winning a big game. The pollsters already have you pinned for who you are, the time for big moves based on a big win (like Wisky over LSU) is in September.
UNC moved up rapidly by winning at Heinz field then putting up huge numbers on Duke and Miami. Then they beat us in OT and beat NCSU. They didn't beat Bama, Clemson, Mich St and Baylor in succession.
For purely selfish reasons some bowl in DC or Annapolis because I might actually be able to go to it
a.) there are no bowls in DC.
b.) already went over this. That bowl is way down on the list, and whichever ACC team goes to it would be the #7 team at best.
I would like to see Beaver Stadium host a bowl, it can handle 100k and the town can handle the influx of folks. They've been talking about having Eagles/Steelers here for a minute or maybe Penguins/Flyers for a winter classic because it's smack dab in the middle of the state and the stadium is large.
A horse can dream...
Updating the projections of most likely opponents from above using the new AP Poll.
1.) Playoffs
We'd still be facing #1 Alabama.
2.) Orange Bowl vs. SEC or Big Ten
Current opponent: #8 Wisconsin
3.) Cotton Bowl
Current opponent: #17 Western Michigan
Although, they would be playing #9 Nebraska.
4.) Citrus Bowl
Since Wisconsin is currently projected to the Orange Bowl, ACC gets this bowl.
Current opponent: #10 Florida
5.) Russell Athletic Bowl
Current opponent: #14 West Virginia
Very few of the remaining bowls would be against ranked opponents, so I really don't feel like diving into standings.
We'll see if the committee thinks differently.
And the committee's thoughts:
Playoff is #1 Alabama vs. #4 aTM and #2 Clemson vs. #3 Michigan.
Rose Bowl is #5 Washington vs. #6 Ohio State
Sugar Bowl is #9 Auburn vs #14 Oklahoma
Cotton Bowl is #10 Nebraska vs. #23 Western Michigan (same projection as AP, just different numbers)
So, the bowls we might be in.
Orange Bowl vs. SEC or Big Ten
Current opponent: #8 Wisconsin -- same as AP
Current ACC projection: #7 Louisville
Citrus Bowl
Since Wisconsin is currently projected to the Orange Bowl, ACC gets this bowl.
Current opponent: #11 Florida -- same team, different ranking
Russell Athletic Bowl
Current opponent: #18 Oklahoma State -- different team and ranking.
Current ACC rankings:
#2 Clemson
#7 Louisville
#19 VT
#21 UNC
#22 FSU
Based on those rankings, I think it's a toss up between us and UNC for the two Orlando Bowls. Although, one of them could decide to take FSU with the one win rule, and we could get bumped into a Tier 1 bowl, probably Belk.