Army (9-2) Left Out While Nine Sub-.500 Schools Get Bowl Bids

December 20, 2020 by Staff

The bowl season is set and the Final Four is what most people expected - Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame, but what happened after that is shameful.

Army got severely mistreated.

The Black Knights accepted a "guaranteed" bid on October 26 to the Independence Bowl. The 'guarantee' was to make certain that an Army team with a winning record wouldn't be left out of a bowl. As soon as the Black Knights had a winning season secured, they accepted the bid.

On selection day Sunday, the number of available teams began to dwindle as schools reportedly backed out over disagreements and dislikes about where they would be headed. As many as 20 schools had backed out before selection Sunday began.

When all was said and done, four bowls apparently had no choice but to cancel their game, including Army's destination bowl - the Independence. Also canceled were the Guaranteed Rate, Military and Birmingham bowls.

Meanwhile, every SEC team piled in, regardless of its undeserving record. Nine sub.-.500 schools are in, including 6 from the SEC, while a 9-2 Army team is out.

We understand that records were not suppose to be a consideration for accepting a bowl bid this year. But it seems that a commissioner, a bowl executive, a head coach, a school administrator, anyone, could have said, "We will respectfully decline if you agree to take Army".

Crickets.

South Carolina (2-8), Arkansas (3-7), Mississippi State (3-7), North Texas (4-5), Tennessee (3-7), Mississippi (4-5), Western Kentucky (5-6), Kentucky (4-6), and Houston (3-4), all accepted bids.

In the computer rankings, the Gamecocks are ranked 110th out of 127 teams. Arkansas is 103rd, Mississippi State 95th.

Army is ranked 41st.

Shameful.