Ad Disclosure
Loss to Memphis looms over Ole Miss, SEC in the race for a playoff spot
By John Brasier
Published:
It’s safe to say SEC players, coaches and fans are rooting against Ole Miss.
That’s what happens to an SEC team when it loses a non-conference game — especially to a mediocre team from another Power 5 conference or a team from the Group of 5 — and contends for a division or conference championship.
Come playoff selection time, the SEC doesn’t want to hear taunts relating to Memphis’ victory over Ole Miss. No derisive “Memphis: SEC Champions” chants, message board chants — or worse yet, T-shirts.
Imagine Ole Miss fans and supporters of other SEC teams greeted by “Memphis: SEC Champions” billboards while driving through western Tennessee. There may not be billboards, but there will be other indignities inflicted upon SEC Nation.
So the Rebels winning the SEC title (or just the West Division) is a dreaded scenario for SEC fans.
Remember last year when East winner Missouri drew barbs from SEC haters tired of hearing about SEC dominance (seven straight national titles) because it lost an early season game to Big Ten doormat Indiana?
The mention of Mizzou’s loss to Indiana was a favorite topic among Big Ten fans throughout the season and into the offseason.
The SEC breathed a huge sigh of relief when Alabama routed Mizzou in Atlanta, lifting the Crimson Tide into the playoff and bouncing the Tigers to the Citrus Bowl, where they reclaimed some credibility by beating Minnesota of the Big Ten.
But let’s forget bragging rights and go on to the bigger issue: playoff selection.
An Ole Miss championship would damage the resumes of LSU and Alabama, potentially spoiling the SEC’s national title hopes.
Florida, which has an outside shot if it wins out, must still navigate through games against Georgia, Florida State and a resulting SEC title game. The Gators may be the SEC’s only hope if Ole Miss wins the West.
To get to Atlanta, Ole Miss would need to knock off unbeaten LSU. That type of late loss could derail the Tigers on the tracks to Glendale, Arizona. Of course, LSU won the 2007 national title with two losses, including a late home loss to Arkansas.
A two-loss Ole Miss team with victories over Alabama and LSU couldn’t overcome a lopsided loss to Florida and a sound beating at Memphis to make the playoff.
Though Alabama could beat LSU, run the table and finish 11-1, the Tide would lose a West tiebreaker to the Rebels.
Would the playoff selection committee take an 11-1 Alabama or LSU team that didn’t make the conference championship game over an 11-2 Ole Miss team that beat the Tide and the Tigers head-to-head and won the conference championship?
Or would they make the easy choice and leave the SEC out?
The SEC doesn’t want to find out.
