the winner of the sec championship game had competed in the last 8 bcs national championship games, posting a 6–2 record. this was the inaugural season of the college football playoff, replacing the bowl championship series. the winner of the game, if not selected for the playoff, would normally have played in the sugar bowl. however, because that year's sugar bowl was to host a national semifinal playoff game, the team would be sent to either the cotton bowl, peach bowl, or the fiesta bowl.