CFB: 2016 March Madness Bracket

Ever wonder what a 64-team playoff would look like in College Football? Well, as absurd as it sounds, and as much as Mike Leach clamors for it, it isn't happening. But I've got you covered. The following models the process for NCAA Basketball, with 4 regions and 16 seeds per region, and is based off the final regular season standings from 2015. The College Football Playoff Top 25 decides the top teams, followed by the remaining teams in the final regular season AP and Coaches Polls, and then my judgement is used for the rest. Going in order of rank, teams are assigned to their closest region, with adjustments made along the way to ensure no two teams from the same conference meet in the first two rounds. Finally, I give my predictions on how the tournament might've finished. Hope you enjoy!

Round 1: Round of 64

East

16 Arizona St @ 1 Clemson
9 Mississippi St @ 8 Bowling Green
12 Cal @ 5 Houston
13 North Carolina St @ 4 Michigan
14 Southern Miss @ 3 Florida St
11 Toledo @ 6 Navy
10 South Florida @ 7 Georgia
15 Kansas St @ 2 Ohio St

Clemson easily takes care of Arizona St at home. Mississippi St sneaks past Bowling Green despite having to play up north. Houston throttles Cal. Michigan beats NCSU in a close one. Florida St beats Southern Miss handily. Navy beats Toledo in a fun matchup. South Florida upsets Georgia. Despite having the Wizard on its sideline, KSU can't hang with Ohio St in the second half.

South

16 Virgnia Tech @ 1 Alabama
9 Memphis @ 8 BYU
12 Miami @ 5 Florida
13 Georgia Southern @ 4 Oklahoma St
14 Louisiana Tech @ 3 North Carolina
11 West Virginia @ 6 Tennessee
10 Arkansas St @ 7 Southern Cal
15 Cincinnati @ 2 Iowa

Alabama has a close scare in Frank Beamer's final game at Virginia Tech, but still wins. Memphis beats BYU in a wild bowl rematch. Miami upsets Florida in a rivalry game. Georgia Southern beats the highest seed so far in Oklahoma St. North Carolina takes care of LaTech. West Virginia is criminally underseeded, but Tennessee finally closes a close game to keep its hot streak alive. Southern Cal and Iowa both win despite tough, close games.

North

16 New Mexico @ 1 Michigan St
9 Arkansas @ 8 Washington St
12 Texas Tech @ 5 Utah
13 Marshall @ 4 Northwestern
14 Northern Illinois @ 3 Ole Miss
11 Pittsburgh @ 6 Temple
10 Appalachian St @ 7 Wisconsin
15 Washington @ 2 Notre Dame

Michigan St runs past New Mexico. Arkansas just can't handle playing in the Great Northwest, as Wazzu pulls out the win. Texas Tech routs Utah. Northwestern stifles Marshall's great offense. Ole Miss is held to a season-low in points, but still beats NIU. Temple takes care of Pittsburgh in one of the most intriguing first-round games. Appalachian St makes a statement by sneaking past Wisconsin. And Notre Dame beats Washington by 2 touchdowns.

West

16 Auburn @ 1 Oklahoma
9 UCLA @ 8 San Diego St
12 Duke @ 5 Baylor
13 Penn St @ 4 Oregon
14 Air Force @ 3 TCU
11 Louisville @ 6 LSU
10 Texas A&M @ 7 Western Kentucky
15 Boise St @ 2 Stanford

Oklahoma stomps Auburn. San Diego St finally turns heads by beating in-state UCLA. Despite Duke's improvement, it can't stop Baylor's rushing attack. Oregon has its QB, so it easily beats Penn St. TCU and Air Force renew an old rivalry, but TCU's coaches know exactly how to shut down the option. In a battle with little scoring, LSU rides its RB to victory. Western Kentucky also makes noise with a 3 touchdown win vs a stagnating Texas A&M. Stanford beats BSU in the trenches and on the scoreboard.

Round 2: Round of 32

East

9 Mississippi St @ 1 Clemson
5 Houston @ 4 Michigan
6 Navy @ 3 Florida St
10 South Florida @ 2 Ohio St

Mississippi St keeps it close for a half, but Clemson pulls away to an easy victory. Houston proves it is the real deal with a double-digit win in Ann Arbor. Florida St is prepared for Navy's attack, leading to a lopsided victory. South Florida can't hang with Ohio St after its big first-round win.

South

9 Memphis @ 1 Alabama
13 Georgia Southern @ 12 Miami
6 Tennessee @ 3 North Carolina
7 Southern Cal @ 2 Iowa

Memphis also hangs close to Alabama, but the Tide is too deep to lose just yet. Georgia Southern upholds its Cinderella status as it dances to round 3. Despite North Carolina's offense, Tennessee is the hotter team and it shows. Southern Cal blows a 2-touchdown halftime lead to lose by 10 points to Iowa.

North

8 Washington St @ 1 Michigan St
12 Texas Tech @ 4 Northwestern
6 Temple @ 3 Ole Miss
10 Appalachian St @ 2 Notre Dame

Washington St scores more points than anyone against Michigan St, but MSU puts together a 97-yard drive to win with just seconds remaining. Texas Tech also puts up season-high points on Northwestern in route to an easy win. Notre Dame shuts down App St to advance.

West

8 San Diego St @ 1 Oklahoma
5 Baylor @ 4 Oregon
6 LSU @ 3 TCU
7 Western Kentucky @ 2 Stanford

Oklahoma faces a surging SDSU squad, but wins pretty easily. Baylor and Oregon have the craziest uniform combinations and most yards for any game in quite some time, as Baylor rushes past Oregon in a must-see matchup. TCU and LSU play a tight game, but TCU gets a miracle win from its backup QB. WKU puts up a valiant effort, but can't stop Stanford's McCaffrey.

Round 3: Sweet 16

East

5 Houston @ 1 Clemson
3 Florida St @ 2 Ohio St

Houston and Clemson could be playing in the National Championship, but DeShaun Watson makes a difference late to stay undefeated. Florida St can't throw the ball enough to beat Ohio St.

South

13 Georgia Southern @ 1 Alabama
6 Tennessee @ 2 Iowa

Georgia Southern tries to slay the beast of Alabama, but the tide rolls. Tennessee spots Iowa an early lead, but Iowa can't hold on for the win this time.

North

12 Texas Tech @ 1 Michigan St
3 Ole Miss @ 2 Notre Dame

Texas Tech narrowly missed an epic battle against Wazzu, but isn't physical enough to hang with Michigan St. Notre Dame gets blown away thanks to Ole Miss' defense.

West

5 Baylor @ 1 Oklahoma
3 TCU @ 2 Stanford

Baylor doesn't have a healthy enough QB to beat Oklahoma, but they still provide a challenge in a Big 12 rematch. While TCU shows grit, Stanford is just too good to be stopped.

Round 4: Elite 8

East

2 Ohio St @ 1 Clemson (@ Miami)

In another potential National Championship game, Clemson routs Ohio St as Urban Meyer is stumped.

South

6 Tennessee @ 1 Alabama (@ New Orleans)

In the first SEC rematch, Tennessee goes into Bryant-Denny again, but wins a close game this time.

North

3 Ole Miss @ 1 Michigan St (@ Detroit)

Michigan St runs out of luck as Ole Miss keeps its hot streak alive.

West

2 Stanford @ 1 Oklahoma (@ Pasadena)

Oklahoma might be the better team, but defensive breakdowns allow Stanford to steal this game.

Round 5: Final 4

1 Clemson vs 6 Tennessee (@ Atlanta)
2 Stanford vs 3 Ole Miss (@ Arlington)

While Tennessee and Ole Miss are both riding waves of momentum, Clemson and Stanford are simply more complete teams and win handily.

Round 6: National Championship

1 Clemson vs 2 Stanford (@ Glendale)

In a quest for 19-0, Clemson has one too many defensive breakdowns as Stanford shocks the world to win the National Championship!

Well, what do you guys think? Can't wait to do this again next year!