NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lee has lobbied all week and offered to add a 13th game to the schedule “in a parking lot” if necessary to once again impress the College Football Playoff selection committee.
He said Sunday the idea was no joke. His school’s principal and athletic director are already working behind the scenes in a last-ditch effort to put together the most successful football team in Vanderbilt school history.
advertise
“There are so many hurdles to overcome to actually make this happen,” Lea said after the 12-team field was revealed, with the Commodores looking on from the outside looking in at No. 14. “I think if something like this could be done, it would be one of the greatest stories in the history of our sport.”
Vanderbilt (10-2) was one of several schools skipped due to the CFP’s conference championship qualifying rules.
The Commodores will try to get their 11th victory for a team that has never won 10 games in a season against Iowa State (8-4, No. 23 CFP) on Dec. 31 at the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa.
Leah said he felt like a statesman over the past week, campaigning for Vanderbilt and making the case for Vanderbilt to have a chance to continue playing for a national championship.
advertise
Vanderbilt’s two losses came in playoff games against top-ranked Alabama and Texas. Vanderbilt was unable to overcome two early turnovers in the Alabama 20 and missed an onside kick in the final seconds against Texas State, ultimately losing the game by three points.
“I would love the opportunity to play in Game 13 because it’s another opportunity to go out there and compete with these guys. That’s what we love to do,” Lea said. “The fact is, that 13th opportunity is going to come on New Year’s Eve in Tampa, and we’re going to celebrate that.”
___
Get AP Top 25 poll alerts and updates all season long. Register here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
