Now, this has an incredible effect on the Big East bowl lineup. It's even more ominous when I read a story out of Jacksonville today.
Here, the Gator Bowl may still consider Notre Dame at 7-5, which to me is ridiculous. I guess, root for the Stanford Cardinals next week. Here's the key graph.
Notre Dame is not yet out of the equation for the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl.
But the Fighting Irish will have to beat Stanford on the road Saturday to remain in the conversation. Even then, there's no guarantee from Gator Bowl officials that Notre Dame, at 7-5, will be in Jacksonville Jan. 1 to play an ACC team.
"To stay in the debate, they've got to win," said Gator Bowl president Rick Catlett. "And even then, there are no guarantees."
"This is the last chance for Notre Dame," selection committee chairman Brian Goin said Sunday, a day after the Irish lost 33-30 in double overtime to Connecticut in their final home game of the year. "They could still go to Stanford and win that game, and then we'll have a good discussion."
Now, this is a very important happenstance for the Big East. If Notre Dame takes the Gator, and UConn qualifies for a bowl, they could be shifted into the at large pool as the Big East would have five games for six eligible teams. It's still too soon, but that could be a problem and I am not sure how many at large spots are left. UConn would qualify at 6-6, going 1-1 in its final two home games, but then they would have to wait for all 7-5 teams to be placed. The Huskies could be left out if they don't win the next two against Syracuse and South Florida.
A 7-5 UConn team could conceivably be still put into the at large bowl pool, though at 7-5 I think the math is in its favor. Now, let's get this clear. If Notre Dame beats Stanford, then a 7-5 Notre Dame could take the Gator Bowl over Pittsburgh, which it lost to, and also could prevent UConn from even getting into a bowl.
Yup, that's college football for you.
SI's bowl projections have UConn in St. Pete. Selfishly, from Mandel's lips to God's ears. I am not sure UConn can do that game with exams and all. I know Randy Edsall last year felt St. Pere was a non-starter. But, if Papajohns.com has an SEC team, then you might see West Virginia there if the Mountaineers lose to Pitt and aren't asked back to the Meineke. West Virginia is in play everywhere because they travel extremely well.
3 comments:
Thanks for linking the article. It appears that the only guarantee that we'll go to a BE bowl is if we're 7-5 and ND is 6-6. What's worse, it looks like the Gator might take ND even if they're 6-6 and we're also 6-6.
This came up last year as well. Notre Dame is ineligible for the Gator Bowl at 6-6, however very much in the discussion at 7-5. So lets hope Stanford puts one on them. then with one win we are bound for either Birmingham or St pete.
Rick c
If/when ND fires Weis, they aren't going the Gator Bowl.
From reading that article, you get the feeling the Gator Bowl really, really wants West Virginia to beat Pitt so they can take them.
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