In regards to “the path”.. We should schedule cupcakes OOC for as long as we have Clemson and FSU (if they get their act together) on our schedule.
Given the reality that barring absolute chaos, the only teams that will usually be allowed a one loss exemption are all SEC teams, Clemson, FSU, Oklahoma, OSU and Mich, so no need to try to get a scalp OOC when we (like 90% of P5) need to go undefeated and win our Conference Championship.
An undefeated ACC Champ will always get in as long as Clemson is Bama level or FSU/Miami figure themselves out. That guarantees a “blue blood” gets in, or the team that gets in would have beaten at least one of them.
The path is their for Dino if he wants to win a Championship. Start winning and you add 50k shaking the Dome, which is already the PERFECT home field for what Dino wants to do. Add in the fact that outside of Pitt/BC, all his away games are in the south. At USC, he plays outside in usually great weather, not the Dome but still good for his vision, however he’s traveling north for a lot of his away games into the rainy Northwest. A bit different than the Carolinas, Georgia and South Florida.
