Tennessee Apparently Strong Armed SEC to Kick Kentucky Out of Gator Bowl
By Scott Rogust
With Championship Weekend ending late Saturday night, college football fans tuned into their televisions on Sunday afternoon to see if their alma mater or favorite team made it into bowl season.
Of course, the bowl selection process is not without controversy.
The SEC reportedly originally agreed on the Tennessee Volunteers playing in the Music City Bowl and the Kentucky Wildcats participating in the Gator Bowl. Yet, the Vols changed their minds on Sunday, and were given approval to play in the Gator Bowl.
Bottom line:
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 8, 2019
SEC had agreement where Tennessee was in Music City and Kentucky I’m Gator
Tennessee changed its mind this afternoon and made Gator the preference . Because they had same record and Beat UK head to head, deference was given to them by SEC
Why would the Southeastern Conference allow this, you ask? Since both teams have a 7-5 record and Tennessee got the win in their matchup this season, the Volunteers were given bowl game preference.
So, instead of facing the Louisville Cardinals in the Music City Bowl, Tennessee will battle it out against the Indiana Hoosiers.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION pic.twitter.com/rj2S3PdP2m
— TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (@taxslayerbowl) December 8, 2019
As for Kentucky (now out of the Gator Bowl), they won't replace the Vols in the Music City Bowl. Instead, they were selected to face the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Belk Bowl.
For those wondering why Tennessee switched bowl games in a matter of hours, the appeal of the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville was just too much for them to pass up. And they did so by pulling a power move over Kentucky.