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Oregon never had to worry about being left out of the College Football Playoff after finishing the regular season as the only undefeated team in the country. Some people with ties to other squads that will end up on the outside looking in threw a bit of a fit after being snubbed, and Ducks coach Dan Lanning couldn’t stop himself from handing out some facetious advice to avoid befalling that particular fate.
On Tuesday, we were treated to the penultimate College Football Playoff ranking prior to the slate of games that will firm up the list of the 12 teams who will end up making the cut.
There are a number of schools that still have the chance to punch their ticket based on what unfolds during conference championship weekend, but there are a few others on the cusp that essentially had their dreams extinguished due to the various scenarios that can hypothetically unfold.
Miami currently holds the 12th and final spot, but there’s essentially no situation where it avoids being replaced by either Arizona State or Iowa State in the wake of the Big 12 Championship Game. That did not sit well with Hurricanes athletic director Dan Radakovich, who sounded off on the decision to put Alabama in the 11th spot.
Ole Miss also had its hopes dashed after ending up at #13, and Lane Kiffin was quick to toot the SEC Supremacy horn by arguing the Rebels got robbed while firing shots at the ACC, Big 12, and (most of) the Big 10.
The Oregon Ducks will have the top seed in the College Football Playoff barring an upset at the hands of Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game, and during a conversation with John Canzano on Friday, Dan Lanning sent a message to those teams without naming names while sharing the simple key to not ending up in that situation.
ESPN’s contract is with the SEC.
Dan Lanning: “That’s how it works. Let’s not pretend it doesn’t work different than that.”
Also, a message for three-loss teams whining and complaining: “They can’t deny you if you just win… If you lose three games, shame on you.”
Watch: pic.twitter.com/GQGHu0ZGdM
— John Canzano (@johncanzanobft) December 6, 2024
Here’s what he had to say:
“There’s a secret to all of that: just win. Just win. They can’t deny you if you just win. You can’t complain if you just win.
If you lose three games, shame on you. Right? If you lose two games, shame on you. Right? Win.”
Boom roasted.