In the battle
SEC’s second-tier teams fight for bowl eligibility
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — While programs such as Alabama, Georgia and LSU are working on their College Football Playoff credentials, many of their fellow Southeastern Conference teams have more humble goals.
With 4-5 records, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Tennessee are battling for bowl eligibility, as is Kentucky at 4-4. Missouri is fighting for that status on two fronts: At 5-3, the Tigers need one more on-field victory and — more importantly — a win in their appeal of an NCAA postseason ban for academic misconduct involving a former tutor.
Arkansas (2-7), Ole Miss (3-2) and Vanderbilt (2-6) have little or no margin for error, but they could get a boost from their Academic Progress Rate scores to get into the postseason if they make it to five wins.
In addition to Alabama (8-0), Georgia (7-1) and LSU (8-0), SEC teams Auburn (7-2), Florida (7-2) and Texas A&M (6-3) have reached bowl eligibility, and the league has four more spots to fill — not counting the CFP.
Potential playoff berths and titles will be at stake Saturday afternoon when LSU — ranked No. 1 by The Associated Press, No. 2 by coaches and No. 2 in the first CFP rankings — visits Alabama — No. 2, No. 1 and No. 3 — for an SEC West showdown that again has national implications. If two SEC teams were to get into the playoff, it would make it even more of an uphill climb for the league to fill those bowl slots — which include a New Year’s Six game — with teams that have at least .500 records.
Of course, the SEC would gladly embrace that particular predicament. Georgia is No. 6 in both major polls and the CFP rankings.
Other SEC games might not be worthy of a presidential visit — Donald Trump is expected to attend the game at Alabama — but they’re meaningful for the teams and their fans, including Tennessee at Kentucky on Saturday night.
The stretch run could make a break a team’s season. South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones said the Gamecocks don’t have “the feeling of a team that’s going to lay down because there’s no hope of winning the (SEC) East. Now we’re playing for our seniors, playing for a bowl game. We’re going to go down fighting.”
If the SEC can’t fill all its bowl slots with teams that are 6-6 or better, it can turn to a 5-7 team based on its APR scores. Vanderbilt leads the league in that category, ranking fifth nationally, while Arkansas is second in that group, followed by Ole Miss, Mississippi State — which made the postseason via that route in 2016 — Missouri and Tennessee.
While last month’s double-overtime upset at Georgia provided South Carolina a lift, the Gamecocks have work to do with their remaining games against once-ranked teams Appalachian State and Texas A&M and No. 4 Clemson.
“We have to go out right for the seniors,” redshirt freshman quarterback Dakereon Joyner said. “I think that’s the biggest thing the underclassmen are focusing on.”
Tennessee has shown signs of life after a horrid start, winning three of its past four games, with the loss coming at Alabama in a game that was competitive well into the second half. After their trip to Lexington, the Volunteers visit Missouri before closing at home against Vanderbilt.
All seem like winnable games, but coach Jeremy Pruitt said the Vols aren’t looking ahead to their postseason chances.
“I don’t have time to worry about that other stuff,” he said. “I think it’s kind of common sense, if we could get … extra practices (permitted to bowl teams), that’s got to help you, right?”
Kentucky has dealt with instability at quarterback since Terry Wilson went down with a season-ending knee injury in the Wildcats’ second game, but their remaining schedule is favorable, too. After Tennessee, they visit Vanderbilt, then host UT-Martin and Louisville.
Mississippi State still has to face Alabama — in Starkville, for what that’s worth — next weekend and also faces Abilene Christian before taking on Ole Miss in the annual Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving night. That rivalry matchup could have bowl status on the line for both the Bulldogs and the visiting Rebels, especially if the SEC has room for a 5-7 Ole Miss team. The Rebels host New Mexico State on Saturday before taking on LSU next week.
Arkansas and Vanderbilt, both 0-6 in SEC games, face long odds even with strong APRs. The Razorbacks’ closing stretch includes a visit to LSU, while the Commodores, battling quarterback injuries, visit Florida on Saturday and would need to win out to reach .500.
Dan Mullen is in his second season leading Florida but was Mississippi State’s coach three years ago when the Bulldogs went 5-7 before winning the St. Petersburg Bowl over Miami (Ohio).
“There was an opportunity, and they earned that opportunity because of what our team had done in the classroom as student-athletes,” Mullen said. “I thought that’s a pretty good way to figure it out.”