The SEC has never been excluded from the College Football Playoff since the four-team format was established in the 2014-15 season, but there’s a very real chance that could change in 2023.
One of the biggest nightmare scenarios for the playoff selection committee — No. 8 Alabama beating No. 1 Georgia — became a reality on Saturday with the Crimson Tide knocking off the previously undefeated Bulldogs with a 27-24 victory.
So what now for the College Football Playoff picture?
A lot of it really depends on how the remaining conference championship games play out Saturday, particularly the Big Ten title game between No. 2 Michigan and No. 16 Iowa and the ACC championship game between No. 4 Florida State and No. 14 Louisville.
With No. 3 Washington beating No. 5 Oregon on Friday in the Pac-12 championship game, the undefeated Huskies are pretty much a lock for the playoff, and one-loss Texas – which beat Alabama earlier this season — won the Big 12 title Saturday over Oklahoma State. And this is a specific scenario the committee was surely hoping to avoid.
Assuming Michigan and Florida State win, they’re presumably in the playoff with Washington. So what of that final spot? Does it go to one-loss conference champion Texas or one-loss conference champion Alabama? Head-to-head matchups should matter, right? Is Georgia doomed specifically because of this loss, despite entering as the No. 1 team?
Again, we won’t know how things will shake out until after conference championship weekend ends and the playoff committee announces the four teams Sunday.
But college football fans sure are eager for the SEC possibly being left out of the playoff.