JONESBORO -- The last round of the playoffs is this week, at least according to an analogy Arkansas State Coach Blake Anderson used at the Sun Belt Conference media day in July.
Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson had just stated the conference's goal was for one of its teams to earn the automatic spot in a New Year's Six Bowl, given to the highest ranked Group of 5 conference champion. Anderson said that goal required a team to play well in its nonconference schedule.
"The NFL plays playoffs at the end of a season, and it's almost like we play them at the beginning," Anderson said.