Bad news: #14 Virginia Tech loses to unranked Inferior Georgia Tech, 30-20
Good news:
- #9 Auburn loses to unranked Georgia
- #8 Texas A&M loses to unranked Ole Miss
- #4 Washington loses to #20 USC
- #3 Michigan loses to unranked Iowa
- #2 Clemson loses to unranked Pittsburgh
Suddenly, Virginia Tech losing is no big deal. By virtue of UNC themselves also getting upset by Duke (lol), it’s an even slate of the Hokies still being ahead of the Tarheels, and it’s going to come down to their final games against UVA and NC State respectively, to decide who gets to play against (presumably) Clemson for the ACC title.
I was looking forward to Virginia Tech not playing Clemson this year since they own the Hokies as if slavery were legal, but it’s funny how things sometimes can work out. I’d imagine Clemson would have no problem dispatching of either Tech or UNC, but at the same time, wouldn’t it be a real gasser if Virginia Tech is the school to magically nuclear cockblock Clemson from a New Years Six bowl game?
Back to the headline though, it’s days like this that I feel bad for those people who aren’t into sports, or some sort of spectator competitive contests. I understand, and don’t fault anyone who isn’t, but it’s days like this that I feel fortunate and thankful that I’m into sports, and have an outlet enjoyed by also many people, to take my mind off of thing less pleasant to think about, like a presidential election that many are not pleased with the result of, and the supposed fallout of said presidential election.
Because ever since the shocking outcome of the election, it’s been the same dreadfully pessimistic rhetoric being spouted all over the place from the local news, national outlets, to just about every news related website, and don’t get me started on how bad it is on social media. We all get it now, not everyone is happy, and then there are some that are supposedly a little too happy, letting it justify shitty behavior of racism, sexism, homophobia and outright xenophobia.
But thanks to sports, when the game is on, life feels somewhat normal again, and the happenings outside of the respective stadiums in which the games are going on, seem secondary and inconsequential. Sure, there’s something to be said against living in the moments of these games, and that there are a thousand things more important than sporting contests, but there’s also something to be said about how it’s nice to focus on something and not think about others.
I have a difficult time comprehending what people who aren’t sports fans have that is equivalent to this sort of outlet. I have other hobbies and interests that I indulge in, like making stuff or designing stuff digitally. If I’m at a computer, I’m always a few mouse clicks away from reading the news, or seeing what people are going on about on social media. If I’m in the garage listening to the radio, it’s inevitable that I’ll get some agenda-driven drivel from a deejay or a commercial. If I go out, there might be televisions in a restaurant showing the news, or loud-mouthed people around me to overhear, about shitty news.
So I do have a modicum of pity for those of whom don’t have an outlet that can bring some enjoyment, excitement, and in the case of November 11, 2016, the day that saw just about every ranked team lose, a little bit of gleeful chaos.
Of the #2-3-4 teams to lose, I’m going to guess Michigan and Washington get dropped. Ohio State and Louisville take two of the places, presumably. By virtue of not letting a 2-loss team into the top four, I’m going to say that Clemson drops to #4, although I’d rather see them fall to like #9 or lower, but that probably won’t happen. If any further chaos ensues in the remaining weeks, steady climbers throughout the season like Penn State, Wisconsin and even Oklahoma have a chance at cracking the top-5, and the chances of a 2-loss team making into the playoffs will grow even higher.
Louisville stays in the Top-4 despite the fact that if and when they tie Clemson’s record, they will not be able to overtake them for the ACC championship, due to their loss to them earlier in the year, but will still be able to compete for the National Championship. And if I’m not mistaken, Clemson having to play an extra game puts them into a position where they might actually jeopardize their positioning in the Top-4, so if it ends up being Virginia Tech, we could see a real shitshow if the impossible actually manages to happen.
I never imagined that I’d be as into college football as I’ve become; clearly moving into the epicenter of college football fandom over a decade ago has brought me a good distance in appreciation for the sport. But it’s days like today that have been a rollercoaster of emotions, from disappointed to Virginia Tech’s inevitable choke after gaining a high ranking, to jubilant and excited when Auburn fell to Georgia, and then Pitt pulled off the miracle against Clemson, and then sadistically gleeful upon finding out Texas A&M and Washington lost, to downright Joker-like satisfied when Michigan would be the last high-ranking domino to topple.
Sports are awesome, and I do feel bad for those who don’t have a like for them in their lives.
