NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt coach Clark Lee has been lobbying all week to add a 13th game to the schedule, “in the parking lot” if necessary, to once again impress the College Football Playoff selection committee.
He said Sunday that the idea was not a joke. His school's chancellor and athletic director were already working behind the scenes, trying to plan one last attempt Vanderbilt's most successful football team in school history.
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“There were too many obstacles to overcome for this to actually happen,” Lee said after 12-team bracket revealedwith the Commodores on the outside looking on at No. 14. “I think it would be one of the greatest stories in the history of our sport if we could do something like that.”
Vanderbilt (10-2) was one of the several schools missed due to the CFP Conference Champion Selection Rule.
The Commodores will play Iowa (8-4, No. 23 CFP) on Dec. 31 at the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa to try to add an 11th win for a program that has never won 10 games in a season.
Lea said he felt like a politician last week, campaigning to ensure Vanderbilt had a chance to go on to play for a national championship.
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Vanderbilt's two losses came against ranked opponents. Alabamawhich is in the playoffs, and Texas. Vanderbilt couldn't overcome two early turnovers at the Alabama 20 and simply couldn't recover an offside kick late at Texas. three-point defeat.
“I would have loved to have played Game 13 just because it's another opportunity to get out there with these guys and compete. That's what we love to do,” Lea said. “As of right now, the 13th opportunity is coming up on New Year's Eve in Tampa, and we're going to celebrate.”
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