Football
David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Multiple SEC teams that narrowly missed the cut for the College Football Playoff suffered losses in their respective bowl games on Tuesday.
First, Alabama lost to Michigan by the final score of 19-13 in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Later in the day, South Carolina was defeated by Illinois in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The Gamecocks fell by the score of 21-17, failing to stop the Illini on their final possession of the game.
FOX College Football @CFBONFOX
Ending the year with a bowl win ✅????@IlliniFootball defeats South Carolina in the @CitrusBowl ???? pic.twitter.com/dSvzRxj0TN
South Carolina took a 10-7 lead early in the third quarter, although the Illini responded with a 14-7 run to secure the victory. The Gamecocks racked up 390 total yards, but they converted just one of three opportunities on fourth down and struggled defensively throughout the contest.
Tensions rose in the fourth quarter as South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer was involved in a verbal altercation between both sidelines.
ESPN @espn
Tempers flared between South Carolina and Illinois. pic.twitter.com/AR1SUWLttJ
Beamer previously criticized the CFP selection system after the Gamecocks missed the playoff, mentioning Alabama as well.
“Your schedule has to matter and there’s teams in the top 12 right now, not only haven’t beaten a ranked team but they haven’t played a ranked team if I’m not mistaken,” Beamer said on Dec. 7, via 247Sports’ Brad Crawford. “Your schedule has to matter. I saw that Alabama team up close.”
“With Alabama and the schedule they’ve played, it’s hard for me to say they’re not one of the 12 best teams,” he added. “It’s like I feel the same way about us.”
After the Crimson Tide and Gamecocks fell in their respective bowl matchups, fans called out both teams.
Walk-On Redshirts @walkonredshirts
South Carolina and Bama losing when they thought they deserved to be in over Indiana and SMU? pic.twitter.com/4XGl5Ukavk
jacki @jacki_d
“… but South Carolina shoulda been in the playoffs for sure …” pic.twitter.com/bmS05h9UkN
Eric Panick @EricPanick20
Oh look another SEC team that “should’ve been in the playoff” loses to a middle of the road Big 10 team ????????
Ian Miller @ianmSC
Well after the SEC, Lane Kiffin & ESPN spent the past few weeks demanding 3 loss SEC teams get into the college football playoff, Alabama & South Carolina lost to Michigan & Illinois as big favorites & the SEC is 1-4 vs the Big 10
But hey, still undefeated in hypothetical games
Ben Ross @BenRossTweets
SEC fans: Alabama and South Carolina should’ve been in the playoff!
Alabama and South Carolina: pic.twitter.com/jHHgp8Afz1
Tony Adragna @CoachAdragna
Hahahahaha. Another SEC team bites the dust. Many are saying they let too many of these bums into the cfb playoff.
South Carolina and Alabama finished No. 11 and No. 15 in the final CFP rankings, respectively. Many believed that both schools were worthy of playoff spots, but the belief may have taken a hit after they couldn’t defeat their Big Ten opponents on Tuesday.
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