SEC and Hurricane throws a monkey wrench into conference standings

With Hurricane Matthew attacking the state of Florida, the SEC knew that they could not play the LSU at Florida game as scheduled this weekend.

They had a few options, some better than others.


Basically, there were three options -- change the game time, change the game location, or cancel/postpone.

They chose option 3.

BREAKING: LSU vs. Florida has been “postponed indefinitely” due to Hurricane Matthew.

— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) October 6, 2016

From the @SEC Office: "The universities and the SEC Office will work to reschedule the game later in the 2016 season if possible."

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 6, 2016

There is a slight problem, though.  LSU has a bye on October 29.  Florida has a bye on October 22.

Each has only played two nonconference games, which means they each have two remaining, but the only week that they both line up is November 19.

Florida offered to play LSU on Nov. 19 & cancel Presbyterian game, but LSU refused, source told @ESPN. LSU hosts South Alabama on Nov. 19

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) October 6, 2016

Of course, it comes down to money.  And no one seems to have come up with the idea of offering Presbyterian and South Alabama the chance to play each other on November 19.

As usual, there are all sorts of behind the scenes shenanigans.

Florida says LSU turned down offer to reschedule game Nov. 19; LSU AD Joe Alleva says he had “no contact w/anyone” about rescheduling game

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) October 7, 2016

LSU AD Joe Alleva says on ESPN 104.5 in Baton Rouge: “The (UF) game is not going to happen at this point"

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) October 7, 2016

Now, the problem that arises is that this is a conference game, albeit a cross divisional game.  But . . .

If LSU-UF game not played, would a 6-1 Florida win SEC East over 6-2 Tennessee even though Vols won head-to-head?

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) October 6, 2016

Rescheduling the LSU-Florida game might not be as easy as it seems. https://t.co/GcrhUwu57v pic.twitter.com/6Q8IlC1Y9j

— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) October 7, 2016

That's a really valid concern.  The SEC has structured their bylaws to say the teams with the best winning percentages go to the championship game.

Here's the SEC response to my inquiry about scenarios if LSU-UF isn't made up. So 6-1 UF would go to ATL over 6-2 UT. pic.twitter.com/n4qvQin2hW

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_AJC) October 6, 2016

Therefore, the problem comes in if Florida wins out while Tennessee has to face Alabama and Texas A&M, likely the two toughest teams in the SEC West.  (I'm not doubting Alabama, but I'm hedging my bets on the Aggies.)  So, you would have two teams with six wins each, but the team that lost the head-to-head matchup would actually advance.  (You know, this is actually helping the case for using divisional records over conference records.)

And then there's this gem.

Not playing Florida LSU has implications beyond just SEC standings. Could affect committee rankings. Could affect New Year's Six selections

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 7, 2016

Of course, Florida could lose more, and Tennessee could not lose as much as they're predicted to lose, making all of this a moot point.  But it does make my task a bit more difficult in keeping track of the SEC East race.