Day Eight: Shenandoah, Petrified Forest Win Photo-Finishes as First Round Closes

The final day of the First Round of the National Park Playoff did not disappoint as 8/9 matchups proved as contentious as predicted. The two closest matches in the entire Playoff so far transpired, both resulting in “upset” wins for their nine-seeds. In the East, #9 Shenandoah barely beat #8 Hot Springs 16-14 in a […]

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Vintage-style posters for Hawaii Volcanoes, Saugaro, Devils Tower, and Everglades National Parks

Day Seven: Saguaro Runs Up Score, Everglades and Devils Tower Score Upsets

The first round of the National Park Playoff is almost over, but one thing remains constant after the American City Bracket: Tucson isn’t going anywhere. Tucson’s National Park, #7 Saguaro, notched by far the largest score so far in the NPP, drubbing #10 White Sands 159-23. Two other seven-seeds were not so fortunate, falling to […]

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Vintage posters for Sequoia, Mesa Verde, Kenai Fjords, and Mammoth Cave National Parks

Day Six: Kenai Fjords Leads Triple-Upset Day

The number of upsets in the National Park Playoff doubled today, with three fresh surprises as eleven-seeds proved largely triumphant. The biggest victory was lodged by #11 Kenai Fjords, who tripled up their opposition with a 15-5 win over #6 Theodore Roosevelt. Other upsets were much closer, with #11 Mesa Verde clipping #6 Capitol Reef […]

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Day Five: Mt. Rainier Dominates, All Five-Seeds Advance

The second half of the first round opened quietly in the National Park Playoff, with some of the lowest scoring matches so far and no upsets. The most impressive win was notched in the Pacific by #5 Mount Rainier, who conquered #12 Lassen Volcanic 23-2. In the East, another coastal monument fell: Cuyahoga Valley 16, […]

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Vintage-style posters of Redwood, Bryce Canyon, Voyageurs, and Acadia National Parks

Day Four: Redwood, Voyageurs Score Upsets, Acadia Cruises

We’re halfway through the first round of the National Park Playoff and just doubled the number of upsets. Another monument featuring a stone carving of Abraham Lincoln fell to a lower seed, this time with #4 Mount Rushmore falling to #13 Voyageurs in a 19-13 nailbiter. And while “Death Valley” is a name often ascribed […]

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Day Three: Statue of Liberty Survives, Zion and Glacier Lead Day Without Upsets

On the third day of first round action in the National Park Playoff, Statue of Liberty ensured it would not face the same fate as its fellow urban East-coast monument, #2 Lincoln Memorial. Though #14 Congaree jumped out to an early advantage, #3 Statue of Liberty pulled even around noon and ran up the score […]

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Day Two: #15 Virgin Islands Upsets #2 Lincoln Memorial, Other Two-Seeds Advance

The National Park Playoff has notched its first upset on the second day of action, as Virgin Islands knocked off Lincoln Memorial by a 19-12 score. The win may portend trouble for other monuments in the East bracket and across the Playoff. Other two-seeds faced tough challenges but survived their matchups. In the Pacific, #2 […]

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Day One: Top Seeds Cruise, Led by Grand Canyon

The opening day of the National Park Playoff provided no surprises as each region’s #1 seed rolled to an easy victory against their respective #16s. Grand Canyon posted the biggest such win, dominating Great Basin 33-2. In the Pacific region, #1 Yosemite rolled past #16 American Samoa 32-5. Contests on the right side of the […]

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Submit Your Prediction Bracket

Prediction brackets will be accepted until 11:59 pm on Sunday, 3 May 2020. You can download an Excel file or PDF file of the complete bracket. Submit prediction brackets (one per person) to Storey Clayton via e-mail or Twitter DM. If Storey receives at least 25 brackets, there will be a prize for the winner. If he receives at least 100 brackets, there will […]

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