The Vanderbilt Commodores have the chance to make a bowl game for the first time under third-year head coach Derek Mason, regardless of their result tonight against Tennessee.
As we outlined last week, there will likely be a shortage of bowl-eligible teams at the end of this season, so the remaining slots will be filled by 5-7 teams based on the Academic Progress Rate.
There are numerous 5-7 teams playing this week and if enough of them lose, Vanderbilt has a very, very strong chance to make a bowl with only five wins.
So, in order to make your scoreboard-watching experience easier, we will be providing you with a live updating scoreboard of games that could affect Vanderbilt’s bowl chances. Check back in throughout the day for scoreboard updates and an updated count of bowl-eligible teams.
UPDATE: 6:30 p.m.
With losses by Duke, Ole Miss, SMU, South Alabama and North Texas, the Vanderbilt Commodores have clinched a berth in a bowl game. There are 72 bowl-eligible teams, and even if South Alabama, Army, Hawaii and Texas San Antonio win their final games this week and in the coming weeks, there will be a shortage of six-win teams to fill the 80 bowl slots. With Duke’s loss, Vanderbilt becomes the top choice among five-win teams based on the APR rankings.
This will be Vanderbilt’s first bowl game under Mason and their first since the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl.
Remaining games tonight, if you would still like to follow:
Texas San Antonio (5-6) vs. Charlotte 7 p.m. ET
Hawaii (5-7) vs. UMass 11 p.m. ET
UPDATE: 5:45 p.m.
With most of the 3:30 p.m. games out of hand, Vanderbilt knows it has received some help around the country. Duke, SMU and Ole Miss all trail by 21 or more points in the fourth quarter, and South Alabama is down 10 to Idaho. Additionally, North Texas is down big to UTEP in the fourth. Here are the scores and the teams’ projected records as of now:
Duke (4-8) trails Miami (FL) 40-14 in the fourth quarter
Ole Miss (5-7) trails Mississippi State 41-20 in the fourth
SMU (5-7) trails Navy 75-31 in the fourth
South Alabama (5-6) trails Idaho 38-28 in the fourth
North Texas (5-7) trails UTEP 52-17 in the fourth
Remaining games of note:
Texas San Antonio (5-6) vs. Charlotte 7 p.m. ET
Hawaii (5-7) vs. UMass 11 p.m. ET
UPDATE: 5:20 p.m.
The first of the 3 p.m. games has concluded, as Boston College defeated Wake Forest on the road 17-14 to earn its sixth win and bowl eligibility. The 3:30 p.m. games all are close to ending, and it looks like all four will go Vanderbilt’s way. With 72 bowl spots now taken before accounting for Hawaii and Army, the Commodores need all the help they can get. More updates to come.
UPDATE: 3 p.m.
The noon ET games have concluded, and three more teams are bowl-eligible: Northwestern, Maryland and Indiana. In addition, Louisiana Lafayette won, meaning they have the chance to become bowl eligible next week against UL Monroe.
There are now 71 bowl-eligible teams for 80 bowl slots with eight more teams that can become bowl eligible today (including Vanderbilt). However, if Vanderbilt doesn’t win today, Northwestern’s victory will help them, as a five-win Northwestern team would have been selected to a bowl game over a five-win Vanderbilt team based on APR rankings.
Here is an updated Saturday slate of games that matter to Vanderbilt:
Maryland beat Rutgers 31-13 to become bowl eligible.
Indiana beat Purdue 26-24 to become bowl eligible
Northwestern beat Illinois 42-21 to become bowl eligible
Louisiana Lafayette beat Arkansas State 24-19 to earn their fifth win. They need a win next week to become bowl eligible.
Boston College (5-6) at Wake Forest 3 p.m. ET
Duke (4-7) at Miami (FL) 3:30 p.m. ET
Olé Miss (5-6) vs. Mississippi State 3:30 p.m. ET
SMU (5-6) vs. Navy 3:30 p.m. ET
South Alabama (5-5) at Idaho 3:30 p.m. ET
North Texas (5-6) at UTEP 4 p.m. ET
Texas San Antonio (5-6) vs. Charlotte 7 p.m. ET
Hawaii (5-7) vs. UMass 11 p.m. ET
9:30 AM Saturday
As of 9:30 AM on Saturday, three of the six five-win teams that played earlier in the week reached bowl eligibility. That means there are now 67 bowl-eligible teams for 80 bowl slots.
Tuesday:
Akron lost to Ohio 9-3 to fall to 5-7
Miami (OH) defeated Ball State 21-10 to reach 6-6
Friday:
Southern Miss defeated Louisiana Tech 39-24 to reach 6-6
Texas lost to TCU 31-9 to fall to 5-7
NC State defeated North Carolina 28-21 to reach 6-6
Arizona State lost to Arizona 56-35 to fall to 5-7
Saturday:
Maryland (5-6) vs. Rutgers 12 p.m. ET
Indiana (5-6) vs. Purdue 12 p.m. ET
Northwestern (5-6) vs. Illinois 12 p.m. ET
Louisiana Lafayette (4-6) vs. Arkansas State 12 p.m. ET
Boston College (5-6) at Wake Forest 3 p.m. ET
Duke (4-7) at Miami (FL) 3:30 p.m. ET
Olé Miss (5-6) vs. Mississippi State 3:30 p.m. ET
SMU (5-6) vs. Navy 3:30 p.m. ET
South Alabama (5-5) at Idaho 3:30 p.m. ET
North Texas (5-6) at UTEP 4 p.m. ET
Texas San Antonio (5-6) vs. Charlotte 7 p.m. ET
Hawaii (5-7) vs. UMass 11 p.m. ET
