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Florida football: A New Year’s 6 bowl may be a tough sell

By Matthew Clark

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 30: Van Jefferson #12 of the Florida Gators scores a touchdown during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 30: Van Jefferson #12 of the Florida Gators scores a touchdown during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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The numbers may not add up for Florida football to get that all-important New Year’s 6 bowl berth we all want so bad. But it’s still possible.

Under the circumstances, Florida football finishing 10-2 in the regular season is a darn good accomplishment.

But, for Gator Nation, it simply may not be enough.

We all clamor for beating Florida State, beating Miami and getting a New Year’s 6 bowl game this season. So far, two out of three ain’t too bad.

However, for the Gators to pick up an invitation to either the Sugar, Orange or Cotton bowls, a lot of things have to take place.

For instance, the Sugar Bowl will take the Southeastern Conference team highest rated that isn’t in the College Football Championship. Right now, LSU is virtually a lock and Georgia has an outside shot, depending on whether it beats LSU in the SEC championship game.

If Georgia wins, it will come down to where the CFP committee ranks the Gators. Alabama losing and dropping as far down in the polls as they did may help. If Florida is ranked higher than Alabama in the latest CFP rankings, a Georgia win could mean Florida football will play in the Sugar Bowl.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators passes during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators passes during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

If LSU beats Georgia and Florida is still ranked ahead of Alabama, it will come down to whether the committee believes the Bulldogs should be in the playoffs. That decision could be based on things like whether Utah beats Oregon in the Pac-12 title game.

The next bowl the Gators would be considered for is the Orange Bowl. It takes the highest-ranked team between Notre Dame, the Big 10 and the SEC not playing in the playoff or obligated to the Rose or Sugar Bowl.

This could be the destination for Florida football if Georgia loses to LSU in the SEC title game and the Gators are ranked ahead of Alabama in the CFP rankings.

Right now, Notre Dame isn’t ranked high enough to be picked for the Orange Bowl. But, Penn State was ranked ahead of Florida in the last rankings, meaning the Nittany Lions could sneak in and take the Orange Bowl bid, but it’s not likely.

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Minnesota’s loss to Wisconsin will likely put the Golden Gophers behind Florida football in the rankings. That leaves the question as to what happens with Wisconsin, should they lose to Ohio State in the Big 10 title game.

If the game is close, the committee may feel Wisconsin is worthy of the Orange Bowl and rank them ahead of the Gators.

That leaves the Cotton Bowl which will take the highest-ranked team left after all the contractually-obligated slots are filled.

Here, you would have Big 12 teams Oklahoma, and Baylor along with Pac-12 teams Utah and Oregon in the mix. The Rose Bowl will take the highest-ranked team, not in the playoffs, which could be the winner of the Pac-12 title game.

If Oregon beats Utah, the Pac-12 will not likely have a playoff team, putting Utah in the Cotton Bowl ahead of Florida as Oregon would go to the Rose Bowl. If Utah beats Oregon, there is hope that a Georgia loss to LSU puts the Utes in the playoff and sends Oregon to the Rose Bowl. Georgia would be looking at the Sugar Bowl and Florida football would look at the Orange Bowl or Cotton Bowl.

Of course, if Baylor beats Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, that could throw a wrinkle into the mix as it would mean the Big 12 would not have a team in the playoffs. Baylor would go to the Sugar Bowl and Oklahoma would likely get the Cotton Bowl bid. Depending on the final rankings, it could work the other way around too as Oklahoma would go to the Sugar Bowl and Baylor the Cotton Bowl.

Essentially, when the rankings come out Tuesday night, the Gators need to be ahead of both Auburn and Alabama — which is likely — as well as being ahead of Minnesota — also likely — Penn State — maybe — and Wisconsin — not likely.

Next. Feleipe Franks elects to leave Florida football. dark

It’s certainly a lot of ifs.

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