As Georgia celebrated an overtime victory in the SEC championship game in Atlanta over the Texas Longhorns, it became clear that Penn State had a clearer path to do something it has not done in over two decades. A Penn State victory over Oregon would likely move no. 3 Penn State to the top of the college football rankings for the first time since 1997.
Pulling that feat off will be a difficult task, of course. Oregon is the no. 1 team in the rankings and is the last undefeated team left standing in the FBS. Oregon is a slight favorite in the Big Ten championship game. But with Texas losing to Georgia, it is now essentially guaranteed that the Big Ten champion will be the top-ranked team and own the no. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff.
Texas came into its first SEC championship game ranked no. 2 in the rankings. A win by Texas coupled with a Penn State victory over Oregon would have made for some debate over who should be no. 1. But Texas will now be locked out of a bye in the first round of the College Football Playoff and will await their seeding from the selection committee on Sunday. Texas could be the no. 5 seed, a spot that was being projected by Penn State heading into the conference championship games.
Earlier in the day, Boise State and Arizona State clinched their spots in the playoff as they will be among the five highest-ranked conference champions. Georgia is now officially locked in as well and will get one of the byes and top-two seeds.
Next up? The Big Ten champion and ACC champion. Game on!
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