Mississippi defensive back Cody Prewitt (25) returns a Texas A&M interception for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
Saturday was another excitement-filled day in the world of college football. Saturday featured several match ups between teams in the mix for the playoffs. After the results, the Rebels are still very much alive in the SEC west and playoff chase.
Texas A&M gave Ole Miss a gift and created a form of poetic justice by going on the road and beating third ranked Auburn 41-38. Two unforced fumbles by Auburn in the last six minutes sealed the upset victory for Texas A&M. That last line about two fumbles in the last 6 minutes sounds eerily familiar.
Fifth ranked Alabama successfully escaped Death Valley with a 17-10 overtime victory over LSU. Ideally, an LSU win would have been more ideal for the Rebels’ SEC West hopes, but nevertheless, the scenario is clear.
Ole Miss, first and foremost, need to win the remainder of their games. Alabama needs to beat Mississippi State. Georgia needs to beat Auburn, and Auburn needs to beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl. If that scenario plays out, the Rebels would find themselves in Atlanta winning the west with having the head to head tie breaker over Alabama and Mississippi State. With that being said, this weekend is as crucial as ever to the Rebels’ championship hopes.
Do not let this bye week fool you. This weekend is paramount to Ole Miss football in regards to its SEC championship and playoff hopes. I listed four things that have to happen in order for Ole Miss to win the west. Two of those four things will play out this weekend in college football.
Georgia welcomes Auburn between the hedges with hopes of avenging a last second loss to Auburn last season that was later named “The Prayer at Jordan Hare.” Mississippi State will travel into Bryant-Denny Stadium to take on an Alabama team clicking on all cylinders. Both teams that the Rebels need to lose have to go on the road into hostile environments.
At first sight, the scenario seems far-fetched, but with both Mississippi State and Auburn going on the road each facing ranked opponents, the Rebels chances are not unrealistic and could become much more likely after this weekend. If the home teams win this weekend, all the Rebels need is to win out and an Iron Bowl victory by Auburn.
Though I would not classify this scenario as likely, much crazier things have happened in college football. Last weekend was a perfect testament to that.
Texas A&M was two weeks removed from an embarrassing 59-0 loss to Alabama and then barely escaped Louisiana-Monroe in a close home win after switching quarterbacks. The Aggies then proceeded to go into Auburn in freshman quarterback Kyle Allen’s first road start and take down Auburn 41-38 and were up by as many as three scores in the game.
Anything can happen in college football.
As far as addressing the Rebels’ playoff chances, many are worried about the unlikelihood of a two-loss team getting into the playoff.
I tend to look at it this way.
For the last decade, the SEC has been the face of college football. It has by far been the most dominant conference in America. It has boasted a team in the last eight national championships and won seven of them.
If a two-loss team wins the SEC championship, such as a possible Ole Miss team, I find it very difficult to believe that the College Football Playoff committee will not include the champion of the best conference in America. It just would not make sense.
The SEC, especially the West, is a gauntlet. It is by far the toughest road to the playoffs, and I am confident the committee will overlook an SEC champion with two losses and look more towards the ridiculously tough road they took to get there.
The scenario is set.
The Rebel Nation has to be feeling a little bit rejuvenated after last weekend’s results. Most importantly, this team needs to take this bye week to get better and healthier each day and focus on winning two more difficult games.
With that being said, this weekend boasts an essential slate of games that could greatly reflect the Rebels’ fate. I encourage fans to tune in and watch these games. It’s sure to be an action packed weekend and an equally exciting finish to the college football season.
