By: Cole Mantell (@LightningDragon)
We’ve reached the Quarterfinals of Season 22. All eight teams deserve congratulations for making it this far. Winning a playoff game is no easy feat, ask Daniel Gunn and his UNC Tar Heels. He’s finally got a playoff win, on his sixth attempt!
He and seven other teams still have a chance, and this season, that represents eight teams who have all been waiting quite a while for Championship glory. Four teams have never won a championship. Four more have been waiting quite a bit.
So let’s list and explain the droughts of these eight remaining contenders. I went by length without a National Championship, prioritizing teams who’ve never won a title.
Florida State – Last Championship: Season 14
It’s hard to believe for long-time viewers like me that it has been eight seasons since maybe the most dominant defensive season of all time. Florida State AD Tom Pence’s lone National Championship represents an era and a half of CFSL history gone by. Given the lack of title glory remaining in these playoffs, it also represents the only title won by a current AD remaining in these playoffs.
All time, Florida State is 9-10 in the postseason. Given the historic nature of this school, it’s surprising that all time the Seminoles are currently under .500 in the postseason. That can change as soon as this week, and Florida State has been picked as maybe the strongest squad on paper left. With so many other teams that have had multiple championships since Season 14, now may be the time for FSU to reclaim some glory of their own.
Ohio State – Last Championship: Season 10
Ohio State may be the most interesting team left in terms of the quest for glory. Ohio State won a National Championship in Season 10, taking down another team left in these playoffs in Texas A&M. Since then, Texas A&M has left the CFSL and returned, the guy in charge has changed at Ohio State multiple times, and pretty much everything we know about today’s CFSL has changed since that time.
Ohio State has won a PX1 Sports Invitation Tournament in that time, and the conference once in Season 21. But for Zach David, AD since Season 16, this may be his best chance yet at glory. He took down the two-time reigning National Champions in USC and has three more games left to win if he wants his first chance at immortality. Can Ohio State pass their way to a Championship win? It all rests on the arm of Jaylen Tyree.
Miami – Last Championship: Season 9
We’re into the single-digit seasons now. The season before Ohio State won it all, Miami took the crown in Season 9. To put in perspective how long that is, I hadn’t even begun my broadcasting career by that point. Miami is a historic team in this league, having been a part of the CFSL since Season 5.
All time, their playoff record of 15-9 is one of the best in the CFSL. The team is no stranger to playoff glory, but it still has been quite a bit. George Yost is hungry for his first, especially as Florida State has had one national championship to match the rival Hurricanes since Season 14. It would be forever one thing Miami has over FSU to be the first to two. Who knows, maybe the two might play for that honor in the National Championship this season. It’s certainly possible.
Texas – Last Championship: Season 5
Every Texas AD says it, this is the year Texas is “back”. The only way to prove that? Win the whole thing. And it’s only happened once in CFSL history. The last time Texas won, I hadn’t even joined the CFSL yet. The league hadn’t even gone from base NCAA 14 to NCAA 14 Revamped yet. And yet, Texas has remained a stable of the CFSL, ever since joining in Season 3.
Ryan Moreland has had an impressive record since taking over the Longhorns. Texas broke many brackets in their upset win over ACC Champion Virginia Tech. If Texas A&M is going to advance, Texas is going to match their rivals too. Both Texas teams could also meet in the National Championship, another opportunity for a highly anticipated Championship matchup. For now, both teams are doing their part.
Colorado – Last Championship: Never, Joined Season 19
Colorado got their first taste of the playoffs last season when they won the Big XII. For Colorado AD Skyler Shearer, the Buffaloes have been his project since he brought them into the CFSL. He’s guided them now to their first playoff win in team history.
While Colorado may be the newest team remaining, Shearer has been a part of the CFSL since the earliest days of the league. Colorado brings an experienced coaching staff, a dynamic offense, and maybe some Big XII chaos with them as they have a big test ahead. After taking down Auburn in the first round, Colorado gets #1 seed Alabama in the Quarterfinals.
North Carolina – Last Championship: Never, Joined Season 15
So I’ve already talked a lot about Gunn’s quest for a playoff win. Which he now has. Now, the question is how far can UNC go? The Tar Heels looked dominant in their upset win over Michigan State, and while it has been a slow build for the Tar Heels, they look better than ever compared to previous versions.
Heck, even as recently as a few weeks ago, the former #1 team in the polls had questions swirling if they could even be voted in as a playoff team. Now, those questions are emphatically answered, and UNC has as good a shot as anyone for that title. It would cap off a season of firsts for the program, and be the crown jewel in the awards cabinet for this team.
Texas A&M – Last Championship: Never, Joined Season 2, Rejoined Season 20
Texas A&M might have one of the crazier stories in this league. Going through the record books, you learn that the Aggies have a history as old as almost any current playoff team. They’ve also left the league and then been reestablished, twice. They’ve been the worst team in the CFSL, full stop. They’ve also been to the National Championship, losing as mentioned to Ohio State in Season 10.
Texas A&M AD Kade Padgett beat his former AD Aaron Ike last week, and now it’s time to finish the job after last season. While last season, Texas A&M shocked the world in making their Championship run, this season no one is surprised. Texas A&M vs Florida State should be maybe the most anticipated game of Round 2 and represents two championship-caliber teams. For Texas A&M, a few more wins represent a chance at glory and redemption for a program that has been waiting almost longer than anyone for glory.
Alabama – Last Championship: Never, Joined Season 6
What else can I say? As the SEC Blog writer this season, I’ve talked extensively about AD David Ware’s path to the championship. No team, with continuous play in the CFSL, has waited longer for their first Championship. Alabama has a chance to win it all with maybe the best roster in the CFSL, period.
Alabama was more than well represented in the vote candidates for the awards released this weekend, for good reason. And funny enough, in a testament to his coaching, many of Ware’s opponents from here include former coaches of his who are now ADs. If Alabama plays Miami or North Carolina in the Championship, Ware will face a former coach of the Alabama staff. With USC and Virginia Tech defeated it’s just Alabama and Texas A&M remaining among the conference champions. No better time than the present, the time is now for an Alabama championship run.
