The SEC had a down year according to many experts. The conference went 8-7 in bowl games, including a 2-3 record in the College Football Playoff, and is facing widespread criticism for being overrated.
The Texas Longhorns were the only SEC team to win a playoff game. All three of the SEC teams (Georgia, Tennessee and Texas) lost their final playoff game by at least 13 points. Georgia lost to Notre Dame, 23-10. Tennessee fell to Ohio State, 42-17, and Texas lost to Ohio State, 28-14.
Ole Miss, South Carolina and Alabama narrowly missed playoff berths with their three-loss seasons, but only one of these teams, Ole Miss, won its bowl game.
The SEC will not have a team in the national championship game for a second consecutive season. The Big Ten, which went 10-6 during bowl season (does not include national championship game), is surpassing the SEC in the eyes of many experts. The Big Ten has the nation’s best team, Ohio State, and won the national title last year (Michigan defeated Washington).
The SEC will be back. The SEC secured eight of the top 11 recruiting classes in the country and has more projected NFL draft talent than any other conference.
Georgia beat Texas in the SEC championship in the first year of the expanded 16-team SEC with no divisions, but the Dawgs disappointed with a loss in their opening playoff game.
Full SEC football standings after bowl season
- Texas Longhorns (13-3, 7-1)
- Georgia Bulldogs (11-3, 6-2)
- Tennessee Volunteers (10-3, 6-2)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (9-4, 5-3)
- LSU Tigers (9-4, 5-3)
- Ole Miss Rebels (10-3, 5-3)
- South Carolina Gamecocks (9-4, 5-3)
- Texas A&M Aggies (8-5, 5-3)
- Missouri Tigers (9-3, 5-3)
- Florida Gators (8-5, 4-4)
- Arkansas Razorbacks (7-6, 3-5)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (7-6, 3-5)
- Auburn Tigers (5-7, 2-6)
- Oklahoma Sooners (6-7, 2-6)
- Kentucky Wildcats (4-8, 1-7)
- Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8)
