First, a quick coverage note: I'm going to be basically out of pocket today and tomorrow. If I hear something and have a moment to post, I will. But Chase is going to handle any bowl announcement if there's a Zoom call or something tonight. I should be back late Monday in time to maybe make some sort of transfer portal update (the whole sport is getting in the portal Monday; I doubt too many things are all that sorted by the end of the day Monday).
Anyway, before yesterday, I think everything pointed Ole Miss to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, likely versus Duke, on Jan. 2. However, that was with the SEC getting four teams into the CFP. Last night's ACC title game likely was enough to knock Alabama out of the final spot in favor of SMU, which lost by three on a last-play 56-yard field goal.
I heard last week South Carolina was a lock to the Citrus Bowl no matter what. I still think that's true. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. However, with Alabama now out of the CFP, I think the Crimson Tide will land in the ReliaQuest (formerly Outback) Bowl, which makes Florida available to the TaxSlayer Bowl, and the folks in Jacksonville will gleefully jump at the Gators.
Where would that leave Ole Miss? Your guess is as good as mine. Some of the other bowls had already started getting ready for certain schools and probably won't want to reverse all that work, and it's up to the bowls more now than it used to be. I would bet on the Liberty, the Music City or the Las Vegas bowls, I think. The Rebels will stay above the Gasparilla and Birmingham bowls, but after that, we're just guessing. I'm sure Ole Miss has a preference and is lobbying, but if Alabama doesn't make the CFP, Ole Miss is a real candidate to plummet.
Again, if I hear something more concrete on this today, I'll do my best to break away and make a post. Have a great Sunday.
Anyway, before yesterday, I think everything pointed Ole Miss to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, likely versus Duke, on Jan. 2. However, that was with the SEC getting four teams into the CFP. Last night's ACC title game likely was enough to knock Alabama out of the final spot in favor of SMU, which lost by three on a last-play 56-yard field goal.
I heard last week South Carolina was a lock to the Citrus Bowl no matter what. I still think that's true. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. However, with Alabama now out of the CFP, I think the Crimson Tide will land in the ReliaQuest (formerly Outback) Bowl, which makes Florida available to the TaxSlayer Bowl, and the folks in Jacksonville will gleefully jump at the Gators.
Where would that leave Ole Miss? Your guess is as good as mine. Some of the other bowls had already started getting ready for certain schools and probably won't want to reverse all that work, and it's up to the bowls more now than it used to be. I would bet on the Liberty, the Music City or the Las Vegas bowls, I think. The Rebels will stay above the Gasparilla and Birmingham bowls, but after that, we're just guessing. I'm sure Ole Miss has a preference and is lobbying, but if Alabama doesn't make the CFP, Ole Miss is a real candidate to plummet.
Again, if I hear something more concrete on this today, I'll do my best to break away and make a post. Have a great Sunday.
