Bowl outlook: Chick-fil-A will wait; SEC order set

The Chick-fil-A will wait to make its selection until after the ACC championship game, bowl president Gary Stokan said Thursday.

Virginia Tech's widely speculated to be the ACC representative for the New Year's Eve game in Atlanta but Stokan said he's not going to make a final decision until after Clemson and Georgia Tech meet on Saturday night.

"Out of respect for Georgia Tech and Clemson, we're going to wait," Stokan said.

The Chick-fil-A gets the first choice of ACC teams after the conference champion. VT (6-2 in the ACC) is the only team that can jump Atlanta-based Georgia Tech (7-1), if the Jackets lose. GT played in the Chick-fil-A Bowl last year, and is unlikely to be selected if it loses to Clemson.

Florida State's ability to stay close to home for coach Bobby Bowden's final game, in the Gator Bowl, is contingent on VT going to the Chick-fil-A. Only Stokan can ruin the Gator's proposed finale for Bowden.

"That's not part of our decision-making process," Stokan said.

On the SEC side, the conference has unofficially lined up its bids, which will be solidified after Saturday's conference title game in Atlanta.

Tennessee (7-5) is the apparent choice to go to the Chick-fil-A and Kentucky (7-5) will face an ACC team, likely the ACC championship game loser, in the Music City, although UNC still has an outside shot at going to Nashville.

Arkansas (7-5) will meet the Conference USA champion in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2. ECU hosts Houston on Saturday for the right to go to Memphis.