SEC Looking At Belk Bowl As Part Of Five-Game Rotation Starting In '14

The SEC for its bowl plans beginning in '14 is considering "adding the Belk Bowl and having discretion to slot its own teams among a five-game platform," according to sources. SEC officials "met this week" with the Belk Bowl. The conference has "briefed officials about a potential formula" that includes the Belk, Music City, Gator, Meineke Car Care and possibly Outback bowls, in which the league would "decide, with input from bowl officials, which SEC teams play in those games" (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/2).

Sources said that the Belk Bowl is "leaning towards" an ACC-SEC matchup for the future. The ACC's future lineup is "likely to include the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and a return to the Gator Bowl." The conference also is "likely to maintain its partnerships" with the Champs Sports Bowl and the Music City Bowl. ACC Commissioner John Swofford said potential bowl partners "are looking at us differently" after the conference's recent expansion (ESPN.com, 5/2).