Four SEC Teams Predicted to Miss Postseason Play in 2024

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The SEC has a lot going for itself as the league expanded to 16 teams with Texas and Oklahoma now members. That means the larger the conference the tougher it gets moving forward.

247sports Brad Crawford and Jerry Palm examined the slate of every team and decided which ones will miss out on bowl season. Florida, Arkansas and Mississippi State will miss postseason play for the second year in a row.

Vanderbilt has lost 10 games in a row including nine straight SEC contests dating back to 2022. The Commodores haven’t received an invite to bowl game since 2018 when it lost to Baylor in the Texas Bowl.

FLORIDA

This is a huge year for Billy Napier’s Gators team as he is 11-14 over two seasons in Gainesville. The highest of moments came in his first game at the helm when Florida upset PAC-12 favorite Utah at home.

After starting 2023 with a 5-2 record, Florida lost its final five game to miss a bowl game. There’s plenty of talent on this team, especially freshmen skill players. It’ll be up to Napier to motivate his roster for a schedule which includes eight preseason top-25 teams with four of those coming at home.

Florida does have a solid quarterback situation with Graham Mertz deeming himself more than serviceable in SEC play last season. True freshman 5-star DJ Lagway was highly sought after out of the high school ranks and deserves a role in the offense.

Florida’s gauntlet of a schedule might be one of the most talked-about offseason storylines of 2024, but while the point has already been emphatically driven home, the difficulty of the road ahead for the Gators really cannot be overstated. Billy Napier might need to be bowl-eligible by November in order to position himself for his first winning season in Gainesville, because his squad is set to face a whopping five ranked opponents in the final month of the campaign.” -247sports

ARKANSAS

Of course Sam Pittman and his Razorbacks are listed here after falling to 4-8 last season. After three consecutive bowl berths, the heat is on in Fayetteville to right the ship.

Like Florida, there is talent on this team but quality depth is a concern at critical positions. Quarterback Taylen Green impressed during spring ball with better accuracy than what was shown at Boise State.

Linebacker has been a consistent concern mostly due to its unknown commodities outside of former 5-star and Georgia transfer Xavian Sorey. Jacksonville State transfer Larry Worth has been somewhat of a surprise given his short stint at the FBS level. His athleticism is a topic defensive coordinator Travis Williams raves about.

At points, Arkansas’ best offense was its special teams with Cam Little booming kicks for from 50+ yards with regularity. Now, with Little in the NFL with Jacksonville it’ll be up to a group of experienced transfers like Matt Shipley (Hawaii) to fill an important role if the Razorbacks offense goes anemic at times.

“Arkansas committed to coach Sam Pittman for another year, but how long would his leash be if he fails to achieve bowl eligibility? His Razorbacks’ win total plummeted last fall for a second year in a row, and their ability to recover from a down season largely hinges on transfer quarterback Taylen Green. If he hits, this could be a .500 squad. But 247Sports and CBS Sports agree that getting to the postseason is a tall order.” -247sports

MISSISSIPPI STATE

The Bulldogs have a freshly new coaching staff led by head man Jeff Lebby. He will navigate a relatively easy non-conference slate that includes Eastern Kentucky, Arizona State, Toledo and UMass.

Mississippi State does host Florida in week four and with a three week offensive tuneup, will Blake Shapen and a rebuilt offensive line be ready for the task?

Back-to-back road games with playoff contenders Texas and Georgia could get ugly. Two winnable games midseason against Arkansas and the Minutemen will determine whether a bowl berth is attainable in year one under Lebby.

A road matchup with Tennessee starts a final stretch of ranked matchups to close the season. Then, Missouri and always unpredictable Egg Bowl against Ole Miss closes the regular season.

There’s certainly a path for the Bulldogs to make a bowl game. However, Mississippi State’s margin for error is razor thin.

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