Let us pretend for a spell that Mississippi State football wins out. I know it seems unlikely. However, let’s pretend. What needs to happen for our Mississippi State Bulldogs to make it to Atlanta and play in the SEC Championship Game?
This year, a 10-2 record could just be good enough. The chips would have to fall in our favor, though.
LSU (8-4 overall, 5-3 division)
Vs. Mississippi L
Vs. Alabama L
@ Arkansas W
Vs. UAB W
@ Texas A&M W
Seeing as LSU is currently the only SEC West team that has beaten the Mississippi State Football team, it’s a requirement that they have two losses in the West since the Bulldogs would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Mississippi (10-2 overall, 6-2 division)
@ LSU W
@ TAM W
Vs. Alabama W
@ Arkansas L
Vs. Mississippi State L
With a loss to a common opponent (Arkansas), and the loss to Mississippi State, the Rebels would lose this tie as well. If Mississippi State wins out, it does not matter whether Mississippi beats Bama or not, as Mississippi State would own the tie breaker over either team.
Alabama (9-3 overall, 5-3 division)
Vs. Mississippi State L
@ LSU W
@ Mississippi L
Vs. Austin Peay W
Vs. Auburn W
With a loss to a common opponent (Mississippi), and the loss to Mississippi State, the Tide would lose this tie as well. This is definitely happening. Count on it (/s for my reddit users out there).
Mississippi State (10-2 overall, 6-2 division)
@ Alabama W
Vs. Auburn W
Vs. UGA W
Vs. ETSU W
@ Mississippi W
Winning the rest of their SEC games would be the only way to give them a shot, to avoid any obscure tie-breaking rules that I may not be aware of, the Bulldogs can’t afford to drop any of these games. However, they could lose to East Tennessee State University, and not necessarily hurt their chances to make the big game in Atlanta.
It’s fun to dream, right?