Dabo Swinney would ‘love for’ the Big Ten to be included in the playoff
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said earlier this month that he would be against the College Football Playoff being put on hold to wait for the Big Ten if it started its season in November.
But with the Big Ten announcing Wednesday that it will play an eight-game regular season beginning in October, Swinney is all for the league being included in the CFP.
“I’d love for them to be,” Swinney said. “It’d be great. I’m happy for all those kids, first of all, and the coaches, that they get an opportunity to go compete.”
The Big Ten is planning to start the weekend of Oct. 24 and will play eight regular season games, with the Big Ten championship scheduled for Dec. 19.
Swinney said he would have no problem with the Big Ten being included in the CFP, even as they will play fewer games than other teams around the country.
The ACC is playing a 10-game conference schedule, with one out-of-conference game, while the SEC’s 10-game slate with all conference games begins next weekend.
“I think it’s just a crazy year. Who knows how many games anybody is going to have,” Swinney said. “I think if they’d have started in November, I don’t think that would’ve been feasible. ... If they’re going to play eight or nine games or whatever, I think they certainly will have the opportunity to compete. I have no problem with that at all. You have some of the best teams in the country in that league. It’s not those players’ fault. It’s not those coaches’ fault. I’m just glad that they’re getting the opportunity to get back to playing.”
While Swinney is happy to have the Big Ten playing this fall, he doesn’t believe the season would have meant any less without them.
Swinney said “whoever wins this has the chance to be maybe the greatest champion ever.” And he believes that would have been the case with or without the Big Ten.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with it to me. As far as credibility and all that, it’s hard to win. Period. I don’t care who’s in the mix,” Swinney said. “The last time I checked there’s been a lot of champions come from conferences that were already playing. So I don’t think it’d have made it any less competitive. But now they’re back in it ... it’ll just make it even better. Make it more fun. Who knows what will happen.”
This story was originally published September 16, 2020 at 6:44 PM.
