In most years of the four-team College Football Playoff era, debates about the SEC focus on whether the powerhouse conference can get multiple teams into the field. Alabama and Georgia both made the Playoff—and reached the national championship—at the end of the 2017–18 and 2021–22 seasons.
That may very well happen again, with both teams sitting at 12–1 ahead of Sunday’s selection show after the Crimson Tide’s 27–24 win over the previously undefeated Bulldogs.
However, this final year of the four-team Playoff system is primed to bring more debate than ever before. Pac-12 champion Washington (13–0) has more or less punched its ticket, with a Friday night win over Oregon.
Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess.
Texas (12–1) secured the Big 12 title with a statement win over Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon. The Longhorns have the same record as both Alabama and Georgia, with a conference title and a decisive head-to-head win over the Crimson Tide back in September.
Michigan (12–0) and Florida State (12–0) are set to kick off against Iowa and Louisville for the Big Ten and ACC title games, respectively. The Wolverines are a lock to reach the CFP with a win, while it would be hard to leave out an undefeated Seminoles squad, even though their argument is muddled by the season-ending injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis. However, if freshman third-string quarterback Brock Glenn channels his inner Cardale Jones against the Cardinals, anything is possible.
As a result, while there is an argument to be made for Alabama and Georgia to both make the Playoff once again, a similarly compelling one can be made that both should be left out, in favor of three undefeated power conference champions and a Texas team with a 10-point victory over Alabama.
It seems far-fetched, as the SEC is the only Power 5 league to be represented in every single College Football Playoff. That hasn’t stopped some anti-SEC partisans from celebrating the potential that Alabama’s win over Georgia ultimately eliminated the league completely. As the game wound down, the phrase “no SEC” even trended on X (formerly Twitter).
Alabama beating Georgia was the SEC’s Nightmare. The possibility of no SEC team being in the College Football Playoff is REAL. Washington is in. Texas beat Alabama so they are in. If Michigan and FSU win, then they are in. The committee can’t change up now to benefit the SEC. pic.twitter.com/tnEMQoPZRT
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 3, 2023
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GIVE US NO SEC TEAM PLAYOFF. I WANT TO SEE THE MELTDOWN ON TWITTER
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) December 2, 2023
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We are so close to having no SEC teams in the college football playoff this year pic.twitter.com/zo7oWU2hCo
— Dylan Holt (@DylanHolt_) December 3, 2023
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No SEC teams in the offs? Football Gods….the streets need it! https://t.co/X1SGYijiUB pic.twitter.com/L2BgUbo78i
— Lincoln Riley is under surveillance (@K_Marcel_) December 3, 2023
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The college football playoff committee realizing they’ll have no sec teams to let in if Florida state and Michigan both win since Texas already beat Alabama head to head and conference championships matter pic.twitter.com/ssKFYtBfsU
— John (@iam_johnw) December 3, 2023
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It’s time to push a no SEC playoff agenda pic.twitter.com/rBc4F4WoBS
— MGo🫘 (@MJoeBean) December 3, 2023
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With the Playoff set to expand to 12 teams, with automatic bids for the highest-ranked conference championships, this is almost certainly the last time a “no SEC” playoff could happen. It’s no surprise that fans of the other leagues who are tired of the Southeastern Conference’s reign are ready to sink their teeth into this possibility.
