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Bowl games are meaningful to every team, but for some, the incentives are even greater than others. For three SEC teams, their postseason appearances are more meaningful than their counterparts. Here’s a look at the three SEC teams whose bowl games matter most.
TENNESSEE
The Vols haven’t made a bowl game appearance since their 2010 Music City Bowl loss to UNC. Even worse, Tennessee hasn’t won a postseason game since the 2008 Outback Bowl. The team’s upcoming appearance in the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl will mark the first for its entire roster. For head coach Butch Jones, a postseason victory provides credibility to his “brick by brick” rebuilding promise and gives him a two-game win improvement from his first season.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State saw its most successful season in program history this past year. The Bulldogs held the No. 1 ranking for several weeks, before falling to Alabama in Week 12. But the biggest disappointment came in Week 14 in the annual Egg Bowl matchup against in-state rival Ole Miss. The Rebels dominated Mississippi State 31-17, which threatened to push the Bulldogs out of the top-10 during Bowl Selection Sunday. But the team survived with a No. 7 rankings and will face No. 12 Georgia Tech in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 31. Mississippi State needs a victory to cap off what was an impressive season aside from two blemishes against tough opponents.
ALABAMA
This one’s obvious. Alabama has the most to play for of any SEC team. The Tide will participate in the inaugural College Football Playoff series with an opening round matchup against No. 4 Ohio State on Jan. 1. Unlike the aforementioned teams, Alabama has been a mainstay in the title picture since Nick Saban’s arrival in 2007. But that doesn’t lower the stakes by any means. The Tide will participate in the most meaningful game of the college football season thus far and, should they advance, participate in a game of even greater importance.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
