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Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney believes that a College Football Playoff and national championship is still legitimate in 2020, even though the B1G and Pac-12 have postponed football for the fall.
ESPN published a quote from Swinney, saying that fewer teams playing football in the fall does not hurt the value of a college football championship this year. Even though some of the nation’s top teams won’t be competing — Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Oregon, to name a few — he still believes there would still be a very strong four-team field.
“The four best teams can go play,” Swinney said. “We’ve been one of those four for five years in a row. So, in my opinion, it doesn’t change anything for us. …Whoever wins it, wins it. That’s the champ.”
Dabo Swinney says fewer teams in college football doesn't hurt the value of a CFP title. pic.twitter.com/pYQdYMAOqg
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 13, 2020
Swinney’s Tigers have dominated college football over the last few seasons. Clemson has been in the College Football Playoff each of the last five years and appeared in the championship game four times. The Tigers have claimed two titles.
Obviously, two Power 5 conferences and a handful of Group of 5 leagues backing out on fall football changes the landscape. But Swinney doesn’t believe it devalues the validity of a national champ.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB