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.
GIVE US NO SEC TEAM PLAYOFF. I WANT TO SEE THE MELTDOWN ON TWITTER
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) December 2, 2023
The idea of Sankey watching the SEC get left out of the CFP at the end of a season when college sports went down in flames he started is just pic.twitter.com/j4yGg8NBBd
— Nancy Armour (@nrarmour) December 3, 2023
I think we are a FSU win away from the SEC being left out of the college football playoff. pic.twitter.com/3iP2Pkn5Lm
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 3, 2023
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
"Saban: No SEC team in CFP would be 'disrespect'"
The bulk of America: pic.twitter.com/z7UzXJyTCW
— Classic McDavid (@henchman21) December 1, 2023
Please no SEC teams in the playoffs, please no SEC teams in the playoffs, please no SEC teams in the playoffs……
— Josh Hamilton (@joshahamilton) December 3, 2023
How the teams in the playoff will act when no sec team is in the semifinals #UGAvsBAMA pic.twitter.com/hJms0f6aAI
— #FactMan (@7825_69_3425) December 3, 2023
No SEC in playoff pic.twitter.com/f2YavUrDs1
— Young Phillip Fulmer (@suckmyvols) December 3, 2023
Yeah, gimme Bama and Georgia out, with no SEC teams in the playoff pic.twitter.com/gseuEiLkl2
— Corey B ⚜️ (@CoreyBElite) December 3, 2023
No SEC teams in the playoff, you say? pic.twitter.com/mZ9p7eqQdN
— Brandon Veale (@redveale) December 3, 2023
Wow love all this College Football 🏈 chaos!!! What is the committee gonna do?!? 🤣🤣🤣 I WOULD LOVE IF NO SEC TEAM GETS IN!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/JFtadP8xx3
— ✨Danny F. Manning✨ (@FakeDManning) December 3, 2023
Cmon FSU. No SEC team in the playoff pic.twitter.com/Olx968RbCY
— Evil Future Considerations (@EvilEkholm) December 3, 2023
If Florida State wins, there should be no SEC school in the CFP this season
— John Vause (@JohnVause27) December 3, 2023
No SEC team in the CFP is wild, but here we are 🤷🏾♂️🤣🤦🏾♂️
— Black Thighnamite #BLM ✊🏾✊🏾 (@Joejavon25) December 3, 2023
No SEC team should be in the College Football Playoff this year
— ً (@ClasslessVol) December 3, 2023
No SEC team should be in the 2023 CFP. pic.twitter.com/3s9uiWeWOq
— Petey Parks (@Football_Dude84) December 3, 2023
