@skyman Realistically it’s likely going to be a very long time before we get back to the big dance.
Loser of the national championship game dating back to 2000:
2000: FSU- didn’t return until 13 years later
2001: Nebraska- never returned, 24 years and counting
2002: Miami- returned 23 years later
2003: OU- returned in 04 with largely the same team/QB (lost),
2004:’OU- returned 4 years later (lost)
2005 USC- never returned, 20 years and counting
2006 OSU- returned in 07 (lost),
2007 OSU- did not return for 7 years (won)
2008 OU- has never been back, 17 years and counting
2009 Texas- has never been back, 16 years and counting
2010 Oregon- returned 4 years later ( lost)
2011 LSU- returned 8 years later and won
2012 Notre Dame- returned 12 years later and lost
2013 Auburn- has never been back, 12 years and counting
2014 Oregon - has not been back 11 years later
2015 Clemson- returned and won the next year with largely same team/QB
2016 Bama- returned next season and won with largely same team/QB
2017 UGA- returned 4 years later and won
2018 Bama- returned two years later and won
2019 Clemson- has never returned, 6 years and counting
2020 OSU- returned 4 years later and won
2021 Bama- has not returned, 4 years and counting
2022 TCU- has not returned and won’t . 3 years and counting
2023 Washington- has not returned, 2 years
2024 ND- did not return