Entering the season, the odds that the Cougars faced to crash the College Football Playoff were enormous as a Group of Five school.
Even in last year’s Peach Bowl victory, the team was considered a long shot to beat Florida State University.
After their breakout win in week one against the University of Oklahoma, who were then-No. 3 and seven-point favorites, the Cougars’ chance to become the first non-Power Five team to make the playoff seemed realistic.
The momentum started to build through the first five weeks as the Cougars dominated their foes and appeared to be invincible — especially heading into conference play.