12/07/25 04:52:00
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12/07 16:50 CST Vanderbilt was serious about scheduling a 13th game to bolster
its CFP chances
Vanderbilt was serious about scheduling a 13th game to bolster its CFP chances
By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) --- Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea lobbied all week and
offered to add a 13th game to the schedule, "in the parking lot" if they had
to, for one more shot at impressing the College Football Playoff selection
committee.
He said Sunday the idea was no joke. His school's chancellor and athletic
director already were working behind the scenes trying to schedule a last-ditch
effort for Vanderbilt's most successful football team in school history.
"There were too many hurdles to clear to actually have it happen," Lea said
after the 12-team bracket reveal, which had the Commodores on the outside
looking in at No. 14. "I think it would have been one of the great stories in
the history of our sport to be able to do something like that."
Vanderbilt (10-2) was one of multiple schools skipped over because of the CFP's
conference champion qualifier rule.
The Commodores will play Iowa (8-4, No. 23 CFP) on Dec. 31 in the ReliaQuest
Bowl in Tampa to try and add an 11th win for a program that had never won 10
games in a season.
Lea said he felt like a politician over the past week, campaigning and making
the case for Vanderbilt to have a chance to keep playing for a national
championship.
Vanderbilt's two losses came on the road to ranked opponents at Alabama, which
is in the playoff, and Texas. Vanderbilt couldn't overcome two early turnovers
inside the Alabama 20 and just missed recovering an onside kick late at Texas
in a three-point loss.
"I would have loved the chance to play a 13th game just because it's another
opportunity to get on the field with these guys and go compete. That's what we
love to do," Lea said. "As it is, the 13th opportunity will come in on New
Year's Eve in Tampa, and we're going to celebrate that."
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