The ultimate chance to settle all arguments is here. Ignore the pundits. Forget committees. Let the players decide it on the field where it counts.
Congratulations Kent State (1-11) and Vanderbilt (2-10)! You’ve been cordially invited to play in the eighth annual TheComeback.com Bowl. It’s the premier showcase event to determine the worst team in the nation. The schools will meet on Saturday at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Unlike the College Football Playoff, TheComeback.com Bowl steers clear of controversy. Our goal is to crown No. 133 out of the 133 FBS programs. Plus, as an added incentive, this bowl game is designed to help struggling schools.
For the winner:
- 11 extra scholarships for next season
- The opportunity to discuss name, image, likeness (NIL) deals with TheComeback.com
- [New] Connor Stalions will join your staff in 2024
- [New] Lifetime passes to the Tulsa Zoo
- [New] $10,000 payout in cryptocurrency
For the loser:
- Relegation to the FCS*
(*Vacated FBS spot to be filled by the 2023 FCS champion.)
Here’s how we arrived at this year’s match-up:
Kent State was an automatic qualifier since it was the lone 1-11 team in Division I. The other was a tough choice. Five schools finished 2-10: Akron, East Carolina, Nevada, Louisiana-Monroe, and Vanderbilt. The Commodores had the second-worst average scoring margin (minus-17.6) among those five. Louisiana-Monroe was at 20.1. Vanderbilt got the nod due to blatant SEC bias (We admit it.). This will be the Commodores’ second trip in four years to TheComeback.com Bowl.
Kent State (1-11)
How terrible was Kent State? It didn’t beat an FBS opponent. The lone victory was against Central Connecticut State, which finished 3-8. The Golden Flashes scored the fewest points (14.7 per game) and had the worst average scoring margin (minus-24.3) in the nation. Only Iowa (238.8) had fewer total yards per game than Kent State (270.4). And only three teams averaged more punts (6.2). The Golden Flashes lost all but one of their games by double digits, including the season-opening 56-6 defeat to UCF.
Kenni Burns needs time to build. The former P.J. Fleck’s assistant worked in the Mid-American Conference before at Western Michigan. It was his rookie season as coach, and Kent State was picked to be the worst team in the MAC. Still, this was the worst season the program has experienced since 1998 when it went 0-11. Hard to believe that the Golden Flashes were in a bowl game just two years ago. The program hasn’t recovered from Sean Lewis stepping down to become the Colorado offensive coordinator under Deion Sanders. Lewis was there for one season before taking over as head coach at San Diego State.
Vanderbilt (2-10)
Vanderbilt has always seemed like an SEC outlier, known far more for its academics than football. The Commodores, located in the league’s biggest city, have the lowest revenue. Following the disastrous 2020 season, Nashville native Clark Lea was hired from Notre Dame to resurrect his alma mater. After a 5-7 record in 2022, there were hopes that the Commodores would continue to show signs of progress. Instead, they were as bad as ever.
Believe it or not, Vanderbilt opened 2-0 after home victories over Hawaii and FCS Alabama A&M. Then reality crashed in. The Commodores lost their final 10 games— nine by double digits. They were the only Power 5 team not to win a conference game. The final insult was a 48-24 thrashing at in-state rival Tennessee. Vanderbilt failed to win a league game for the third time in four years (the second time in three under Lea). At most SEC schools, that would be enough to get you fired. But the Commodores appear to be sticking with the Clark Lea (2-22 in SEC play). He did fire his offensive coordinator and will serve as his own defensive coordinator.
Les summed it all up by saying, “This is a painful finish to a tough season.”
There you have it: Kent State vs. Vanderbilt. Admission and parking are always free at TheComeback.com Bowl. As a bonus, we have partnered with Kellogg’s. One lucky fan will get to soak in a bathtub of Cheez-Its. Awesome.
Enjoy the game. Enjoy the halftime musical act: Morgan Wallen!
