Bowl games are a fun chance to get a warmer destination (for most teams), cap the season in style, and maybe set a record or two. Here’s a record each bowl-bound SEC team might be reaching for in their respective bowl games.

Alabama: 5K for a QB?

Alabama’s single-season passing record of 4,500 yards (by Mac Jones in 2020) is definitely in significant jeopardy. Tide QB Bryce Young has 4,322 yards going into the Cotton Bowl against Cincinnati. What Alabama fans would love to see Young and the Tide play 2 more games. Young would need to average 339 yards in the semifinal and championship game to become the first 5,000-yard passer in Alabama history. Given that Young has surpassed that mark 6 times in 2021, the Tide could have something extra to celebrate at the end of bowl season. (Also, Young’s next TD pass will break Tua Tagovailoa’s school record of 43.)

Arkansas: 3 Hogs reach 100 tackles

The Razorbacks face Penn State in the Outback Bowl with a little bit of linebacking history within their grasp. Only 4 SEC players have 100 tackles heading into bowl play. One is Arkansas LB Bumper Pool. But 2 other linebackers, Grant Morgan and Hayden Henry, are within reach. Morgan has 96 and Henry has 95. With typical games from the Arkansas front 7, the Razorbacks will hit a rarely seen mark with a trio of exceptional linebackers.

Auburn: Single-season sack record

Auburn had a quiet season that they’ll hope to finish well in the Birmingham Bowl against Houston. Quietly, Auburn edge rusher Derick Hall has racked up 9 sacks this season, which is within range of the top of the statistical list for Auburn. A pair of sacks would tie Hall for 2nd on the list, and a 3-sack game would tie Hall with Nick Fairley for Auburn’s single-season record. If that seems far-reached, remember that Hall had 3 sacks in his last game — against Alabama.

Florida: 4 in-state wins

It’s been a tough season for Florida, but if the Gators can pick up a win in the Gasparilla Bowl against UCF, they’ll pull off an unusual feat that is not likely to be soon repeated. Central Florida would be the 4th in-state team that the Gators have knocked off this season, with prior wins against Florida Atlantic, South Florida and Florida State. A 4-0 mark in the state is an accomplishment that would be a new notch on UF’s belt.

Georgia: Defensive scoring

Yes, there are a few other things on UGA’s mind as they enter their College Football Playoff semifinal against Michigan. But the brilliant Georgia defense has been historically strong. Even after getting lit up by Alabama, Georgia has surrendered just 9.5 points per game this year. The program record in a 12-game season is the 12.6 points per game they allowed in 2019. If UGA plays 2 more games, as long as they allow under 64 points, then it’s the best UGA defense in the modern era. Alabama’s 8.1 points per game in 2011 could have been within reach if not for the pesky Tide in the SEC title game, but a CFP title and a modern era school best for scoring defense would probably go over just fine in Athens.

Kentucky: Single-season receiving yards

UK will face Iowa in the Citrus Bowl, and UK standout Wan’Dale Robinson is within striking record of a big UK record. Robinson already has the UK single-season receptions record with 94 catches. But his 1,178 receiving yards is still 2nd on the single-season receiving yardage list, behind Craig Yeast’s 1,311 yards in 1998. But 133 yards is within range for Robinson and would give him another memorable moment from his first (and only?) season in blue and white.

LSU: Single-season tackles record

It was a trying season for the Tigers, but as they take the field for their Texas Bowl matchup with Kansas State, there’s still an individual accolade well within reach. LB Damone Clark leads the SEC with his 137 stops, putting him within range of an LSU season mark for most tackles. Clark needs 17 stops to tie Bradie James’s 2002 mark of 154 tackles. Clark enters the game in 4th place in LSU history and will look to bypass Lawrence Williams (144) and Al Richardson (150) on his way to James’ mark. Granted, 17 tackles are a bunch, but Clark had 20 stops against Ole Miss earlier this season.

Mississippi State: Receiving yardage record

The Bulldogs likely aren’t looking for spare motivation as they face coach Mike Leach’s former employer, Texas Tech, in the Liberty Bowl. But if they need some, wide receiver Makai Polk has the chance to finish a banner season off in style. His 98 receptions in 2021 are already a school record. If Polk can manage 47 receiving yards, he’ll surpass Mardye McDole’s program record of 1,035 receiving yards. He’s hit that mark in every game except one, so Polk’s spot in the record book is all but certain.

Ole Miss: Rushing TD mark

It’s an indication of how great Ole Miss’ offense balance has been that while it’s pretty clear that the Rebels’ single-season rushing TD record will go down in the Sugar Bowl against Baylor, it’s not clear who will break the record. Four Rebels have rushed for 14 touchdowns in a season, including the great Archie Manning. But heading into the bowl, Ole Miss running back Snoop Conner is at 13 scores. QB Matt Corral is sitting on 11 TDs. Either or both are threats for the record.

South Carolina: Kicking accuracy

South Carolina somehow pulled a bowl appearance out of a hat on Shane Beamer’s first season, and as the Gamecocks take on North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, senior kicker Parker White is looking to make Gamecocks history for kicking accuracy. White is 27-for-27 on extra points and also 13-for-14 on field-goal attempts. Carolina’s record for field-goal accuracy (on at least 15 attempts) is Mark Fleetwood, whose 94.4% accuracy is within range of White. A 4-for-4 day for White would tie Fleetwood, and a 5-for-5 day would break it.

Tennessee: Team scoring

As UT prepares to face Purdue in the Music City Bowl, the Vols have a chance to make some historic marks on offense. UT has scored 466 points this season — well within range of the school mark of 484 points in a season, set in 1993 under Phil Fulmer. The Vols just need to score 19 or more to set the mark. That said, that 1993 team only played a dozen games. So eclipsing the 40.33 points per game for the school record would require some work — UT would need 59 points against Purdue. But the one mark is certainly within reach, and in a wild shootout with the Boilermakers, both marks could be up for grabs.

Texas A&M: 2 1,000 yard rushers

Even in the storied history of Texas A&M football, the Aggies have never had a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. They’ll look to change that against Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl. Isaiah Spiller has already topped the 1,000-yard mark and Devon Achane has 910 rushing yards. Achane has topped the 90 yards he needs 5 times in the 2021 season. Accordingly, the Aggies might run for the history books.

Editor’s note: We removed the Mizzou entry because Mizzou announced Tyler Badie would dress but not play in the Armed Forces Bowl game. We had predicted Badie would rush for 4 TDs and tie Mizzou’s single-season record of 18.