FAYETTEVILLE - It seems to be pretty cut and dry that if Auburn beats South Carolina in this weekend’s Southeastern Conference Championship Game, the Tigers will play for the national championship and Arkansas will go to the Sugar Bowl.
But what happens if the Gamecocks upset No. 1 Auburn? It isn’t too much of a stretch to think that might happen. After all, South Carolina led the Tigers by 13 points in their meeting earlier this season, before falling 35-27.
A South Carolina win would send the Gamecocks to the Sugar Bowl as the SEC champion representative, while the Tigers would likely still earn a BCS bid in either the Orange or Rose Bowls, or perhaps even still play for the BCS championship.
For No. 7 Arkansas, it would be a bitter pill as Razorbacks fans seem to have their hearts set on a new year in the bayou. There are likely two destinations for Arkansas under the scenario: the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, and the Capital One Bowl in Orlando.
The Cotton Bowl seems to be the most likely choice if Arkansas doesn’t earn the first BCS bid in school history. It is a bowl the Razorbacks have plenty of history with and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is the second largest out-of-state alumni base for the University of Arkansas.
Arkansas has played in the Cotton Bowl 11 times, the most recent of which came following the 2007 regular season. The Razorbacks lost that game to Missouri.
That bowl likes to take teams from the SEC West. While LSU and Alabama are certainly attractive candidates because of their histories and large fan bases that are sure to travel to the game, the Cotton Bowl would have a tough time justifying taking one of those teams over Arkansas, based on the way the three finished their respective seasons.
The opposition there would be a team from the Big 12 – likely the loser of this week’s league championship game at Cowboys Stadium between Oklahoma and Nebraska. Arkansas has played both of those teams in the Cotton Bowl, losing to Oklahoma following the 2001 regular season and beating Nebraska on Jan. 1, 1965 to earn the school’s only national championship.
Oklahoma State and Texas A&M would be other potential candidates to represent the Big 12 in that game, but the Cowboys played there last season and a match-up between the Razorbacks and Aggies seems unlikely, given the two schools are in the midst of a 10-year contract at the stadium.
If not the Cotton Bowl, the Capital One Bowl would almost assuredly be the Razorbacks’ destination. Arkansas has played in that bowl game twice, the most recent of which came following the 2006 regular season. Arkansas lost that game to Wisconsin.
The Big 10 representative in that game will likely be Michigan State. The Spartans finished the regular season 11-1 and in a three-way tie for its league championship with Wisconsin and Ohio State.
The No. 5 Badgers are likely heading to the Rose Bowl, while the No. 6 Buckeyes seem destined for the Sugar Bowl. That leaves the No. 10 Spartans the odd man out of the BCS games for a league celebrating one of its best regular seasons in quite some time.
The Capital One Bowl gets the first selection from SEC teams, but just because a team is offered a spot in a bowl doesn’t mean it has to accept. So if both bowls were to want Arkansas, you have to believe the school would choose the Cotton Bowl because of proximity, amount of tickets it could sell and the new date and time slot of the bowl in primetime on Jan. 7.
Arkansas is heading to a good bowl game following its 10-win season. Just which bowl and just how good will be determined Saturday.
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Doesn’t the Cap One bowl choose first? So really the question is Does the Cap One bowl want Arkansas?
Just because a bowl game offers a team doesn’t mean the team has to accept. If the Capital One Bowl and Cotton Bowl both would like Arkansas, then the school picks the one it feels is the best fit. In this case, Arkansas would certainly sell more tickets to Dallas than Orlando, and add more exposure because of the Cotton Bowl’s new date and time.
I think there is a misconception that the Cap One is a better bowl than the Cotton. In recent years that may have been true but I don’t think that’s the case any more. Playing in that stadium on a night when we are the only game on is great exposure. Plus we would def have more fans in Dallas than Orlando. I’d be happy with either bowl…after getting over the disappointment of not going to the Sugar, of course.
amid all speculation, we all know awburnt should take down sc ESPECIALLY IF THEY USE THE SAME awburnt REFS THAT THEY USED TO ahem “ref” the Arkansas game with. STRAIGHT TO THE POINT.. end of discussion
GOHOGS!!!
Cotton Bowl would be more valuable for Arkansas in many ways. Great filter for the recruiting side in Texas and ticket sales would be much larger for sure, especially now that its in the Dome and not at the Fairgrounds. Add to that its the only game on that day means every market shows it, again, recruiting value too..
The BCS Sugar is the trophy though. This team played their hearts out to overcome the Bama and Auburn loses to finish strong and earn a spot in Nawlins. $17 million reason also to want the Sugar over the Cap One and Cotton. And lets not forget the SEC dominance over the Big Ten too….
January 7 is too late for a bowl game. That’s almost a month and a half between games. The Cotton Bowl should be played on January 1, as per tradition.
It will be interesting indeed. The old ball coach (Spurrier) will have his team primed and ready….and mostly well. It is very hard to keep a team, any team, primed through a very long season. I just don’t know who will win the game. It is hard for me to pull for Auburn…I don’t repect them one bit. I do however respect Steve Spurrier. Also, what if Auburn is given the death penalty for “Scam Newton” ? hmmmm? What does that do for the Razorbacks?
The Sugar is a sweeter deal, but the Cotton would be great for recruiting.
On another subject, this is a plea to Ryan Mallett to come back for your senior year.
I know being picked in the top 10 will be sweet, but if their is a lock out in the NFL due to no labor agreement that could mean a year off, or a half year off. If you go through the draft you could wind up in Buffalo, why would anyone want that?. As hard as you throw you will break fingers and hands there in December.
I hate to use the phrase next year but if you and the receivers come back most of the defense which is much improved will be back. Next year could be even sweeter than this year has been.
You could fulfill your dream of quarterbacking the Hogs to a national championship.
We already play in Dallas during the year so a return trip really won’t do a whole lot for recruiting there. Also Petrino is on record as saying we want a (warm weather)Florida bowl so we can continue to recruit that state better. I think if the Sugar is out, then the Cap One bowl is in
Ron Hankins (no relation … I think): I agree with you wholeheartedly. Mr. Mallet — If you came back for your senior year, you would be GUARANTEED to be the best QB in the nation pre-season. You would set SEC records that wouldn’t be matched for a century or so. Your body of work over three years would get you front row at the Heisman ceremony. Your stock would go up in next year’s NFL draft due to a lack of quality QB’s taking the reins in 2011 (that would go into the draft with you). And … should you, god forbid, get hurt or (even worse) wash out in the NFL, you could probably run for public office in Arkansas and win hands down. Hog fans would probably even rename the capital city “Mallet Rock” … I bet you could even open a hair salon, call it “Mallet’s Mullets” and there would be a line out the door. Be our hero, pardner. We need one.
Matt, you mentioned that “the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is the second largest out-of-state alumni base for the University of Arkansas.” Does this mean that there is a larger alumni base outside of Arkansas than DFW? If that is the case, where? I have always heard that they are the largest.
Don’t know if it’s true or not but I heard on the radio that the Cotton has already locked in Texas A&M so I think that would eliminate us from the Cotton. They don’t want a rematch in the same stadium. Looks like Sugar or Cap One for us.
It is true and part of my belief earlier that these deals will be made behind the scenes. LSU is my opinion of who will play Texas A & M in Cotton Bowl. A & M will be back in Dallas (Jerry World) for sure 100%. They beat us to the punch because we could not take a stab right now. Do not be surprised if something similar happens to the Capital One. If South Carolina wins I think we will be in the Outback Bowl contrary to popular opinion. I think we have 65% Chance Sugar; 20% Capital One & 15% Outback. Personally they are all good to me. No need for us to whine because I I do not believe the forces of SEC allows USC to beat Auburn. SEC & Auburn will ride the Scam Newton story and stick with it until at least the end of the season. Waiting on Wally to write a story and tell it “Like it is”
Just read on ESPN that Texas A&M accepted a bid to the Cotton Bowl so we won’t be going there if Auburn loses to SC. I’m hoping none of this matters and we end up tasting Sugar! Go HOGS!
Texas A and M accepted an invite to play in the Cotton Bowl today so the Hogs will not go there. If they miss the Sugar I like the Capitol One.
I agree with Phil and Ron Hankins. Finish what you have started and be our first maybe only Heisman winner, win our first SEC Championship, win our first BC national title and your stock will rise in the NFL which they may have a lockout next year. College football will be the number 1 sport if their is a lockout in the NFL but the Hogs are my number 1 period. You can buy an insurance policy to cover you if you get hurt playing your senior year. You just never know about making it in the NFL either. You have all kinds of talent coming back to help you. Comeback for your senior year and I bet you will have a blast.
I certainly hope we wouldn’t have to play a rematch against ANY team we’ve already played, although I wouldn’t mind seeing one with Auburn or Alabama. I also hope that we wouldn’t choose a Capital One invite over a Cotton. First, because, right or wrong, the Capital One is viewed as the bowl with higher ranked teams. Second, because I’m tired of playing the same ole re-runs from yesteryear in an all too familiar metropolis. I’d MUCH rather see a rare game against a Big Ten team, which would probably be far more beneficial to our program.
Rob,
It may be me but you appear to contradict yourself. Tell me what I am missing? Are you wanting Capital One Bowl or Cotton? I think our options will be Sugar with fall back choices of Capital One or Outback. Either way we should play a Big 10 school. Ohio State, Michigan Sate or Iowa in that order. Take it to the bank that LSU is coming to Dallas regardless of what South Carolina does.
While I agree that it would be amazing if Mallett came back, I do think we should consider Tyler Wilson’s role in all this. He’s shown flashes of greatness in his few appearances this season. He can run the football. Maybe it’s his time to shine. If he doesn’t start this year, he won’t have that long to cement a legacy. From what I can see, he’s too good for that.
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