Another year, another missed prediction. Congratulations to the LSU Tigers for winning the College Football Playoff National Championship. We’ll be sure to review our prediction-making processes in the coming days to make a Super Bowl prediction that is stronger, faster, better.
Geaux Tigers?
Or go Tigers?
Such is the question facing discerning college football fans Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, when the Louisiana State University Tigers led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow play the Clemson University Tigers led by future Head & Shoulders spokesperson, and quarterback, Trevor Lawrence in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
This year makes the fourth time Clemson has appeared in the championship gamethe Playoff itself is only six years old and the first time they will face a school other than the University of Alabama. Both teams enter the contest undefeated on the season, at 14-0 apiece, though LSU, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, is favored by six as of Thursday.
And, sure, there are many football-related reasons one Tiger might prevail over the other. But are there credit union-centric ones? Each of these universities has an official credit union partner; so, what can the financial performance of each of these southern shops tell us about the outcome of Monday’s matchup? In one corner, we have Founders Federal Credit Union ($2.6B, Lancaster, SC); in the other, Campus Federal Credit Union ($658.1M, Baton Rouge, LA). What do the numbers say?
Let’s go to the tape.
Are You Ready For Some Football?
Clemson 0, LSU 0
LOAN GROWTH
FOR FOUNDERS FCU AND CAMPUS FCU | DATA AS OF 09.30.19
Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com
In terms of loan growth, 5-Year CAGR at Founders is nearly 11%, compared to 6% at Campus.
Clemson 1, LSU 0
LOAN-TO-SHARE RATIO
FOR FOUNDERS FCU AND CAMPUS FCU | DATA AS OF 09.30.19
Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com
The loan-to-share ratio at Founders has grown more than 10 percentage points in the past five years, pushing it to nearly 105% at third quarter 2019.
Clemson 2, LSU 0
AVERAGE MEMBER RELATIONSHIP
FOR FOUNDERS FCU AND CAMPUS FCU | DATA AS OF 09.30.19
Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com
Campus holds an $8,000 edge over Founders in its average member relationship excluding business loans.
Clemson 2, LSU 1
SHARE DRAFT PENETRATION
FOR FOUNDERS FCU AND CAMPUS FCU | DATA AS OF 09.30.19
Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com
By a nose! At third quarter, the share draft penetration at Campus, 61.3%, bests the 60.4% performance of the big South Carolina credit union.
TOTAL DELINQUENCY
FOR FOUNDERS FCU AND CAMPUS FCU | DATA AS OF 09.30.19
Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com
While both credit unions sit some 20 basis points below the industry’s average delinquency, it’s Campus with a slight edge over Founders at third quarter 0.42% to 0.46%, respectively.
Clemson 2, LSU 3
NET INTEREST MARGIN
FOR FOUNDERS FCU AND CAMPUS FCU | DATA AS OF 09.30.19
Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com
At third quarter, Founders (3.98%) holds a 70-basis point margin of victory in net interest margin over Campus (3.26%), setting up a win-or-go-home final metric.
Clemson 3, LSU 3
RETURN ON ASSETS
FOR FOUNDERS FCU AND CAMPUS FCU | DATA AS OF 09.30.19
Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com
Thanks to a 50-basis point increase quarter-over-quarter, Founders third quarter ROA of 1.53% bests the 0.85% performance posted by Campus.
Clemson 4, LSU 3
The Bottom Line
Go Tigers! Based on our exhaustive analysis, Callahan likes Clemson over LSU in what’s being called The Tiger Bowl. And we’re not the only ones.
ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Clemson a 55.8% chance to win Monday’s game. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has yet to lose a college game, and the team itself has won its last 29 contests. Because Vegas sees it the other way, the smart money may well be on Clemson.
Does the LSU fan in your life want some optimism? Here you are: Joe Burrow. The senior, Heisman-winning quarterback is likely the No. 1 pick in next April’s NFL Draft and is on pace to set two NCAA records in Monday’s tilt: Most touchdowns in a season he needs four and highest completion percentage in a season. He’s been the best player on the best team all season. Pick against him, and LSU, at your own peril.
But what do you, the CreditUnions.com reader, think? Leave us a comment below telling us who is going to win and why.