Selection Sunday’s reveal of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff field sparked plenty of controversy last season, especially from within the Southeastern Conference ranks after the SEC only received three Playoff bids compared to four for the Big Ten. That discrepancy prompted outrage from SEC coaches and fans alike, and, eventually, a call from the […]
Selection Sunday’s reveal of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff field sparked plenty of controversy last season, especially from within the Southeastern Conference ranks after the SEC only received three Playoff bids compared to four for the Big Ten. That discrepancy prompted outrage from SEC coaches and fans alike, and, eventually, a call from the top of the league for wholesale changes to the way the CFP selection committee evaluates strength of schedule moving forward.
In the final CFP ranking following Championship Weekend, SEC champion Georgia and league runner-up Texas — both at 11-2 — finished ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively, for the second and fifth overall Playoff seeds, while 10-2 Tennessee backed into the field at No. 7 in the ranking and the ninth seed.
But almost more importantly were the SEC teams that ended up on the CFP selection committee’s cutting room floor when No. 11 ranked Alabama was bumped from the original 12-team field in favor of 1-loss Indiana and 2-loss SMU, the ACC runner-up, after Arizona State and Clemson earned automatic bids as the Big 12 and ACC champions, respectively. The 2024 Crimson Tide were among three 3-loss SEC teams in the CFP Top 15 to not make the 12-team field, joining Ole Miss and South Carolina at No. 14 and No. 15, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten was well represented by league champion and No. 1 overall seed Oregon, Penn State, eventual national champion Ohio State and Indiana as the CFP’s sixth, eighth and 10th overall seeds, respectively.
That led to multiple SEC coaches and administrators publicly questioning the Playoff selection committee’s evaluation process, suggesting the SEC’s strength of schedule should count more than a team’s win-loss record.
Rece Davis, Dan Wetzel expect four SEC powers will make 2025 College Football Playoff field
But ahead of the upcoming 2025 college football season, the ESPN College GameDay Podcast crew of Rece Davis and Dan Wetzel believe the SEC will ultimately claim 1/3rd of the 12-team field with four representatives in the second iteration of the expanded CFP. And both agreed Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas will ultimately earn the SEC four bids next December, in no particular order.
“I think they go back to four. (2024) obviously wasn’t the year they wanted. This is tricky, they would’ve had four last year likely if not for a late field goal in the ACC Championship game. But I think they get to four if only because the (CFP selection) committee will be terrified what would happen if they go to three,” Wetzel joked on this week’s College GameDay podcast. “Naw, I like Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and I’m going to go with LSU – I know it’s a little chalk there, but I think those four will all have a very good case and that’ll be who will be there on Selection Sunday.”
Rece Davis agreed with Wetzel’s SEC Top 4, but added the Crimson Tide could earn the league’s automatic bid as SEC champion — which would be its eighth league title since 2014 — with a win over Texas. In addition, Davis also believes the SEC could still have a handful of teams on the outside looking in when the CFP’s second 12-team field is announced next Selection Sunday.
“I think those four as well will go. I don’t know exactly who I’m picking to win the SEC just yet. In all honesty, I’m leaning Alabama right now to knock off Texas (in Atlanta). But it wouldn’t surprise me if Texas wins it this year,” Davis added. “And I think there will be the weeping and gnashing of teeth from the teams sitting just on the outside will be a bit of a surprise.
“I think it’ll be Auburn sitting just on the outside of (the 12-team field). I think this is the year. If it doesn’t happen this year, we’ll have to see what direction the Tigers go (with head coach Hugh Freeze). Auburn (or) South Carolina are the two teams that will be right in the mix, Auburn being a bit of surprise there,” Davis continued. “And you can replace Auburn with Oklahoma if things really get going (for the Sooners), it’ll be one of those two teams that will threaten to make up an even bigger portion of the College Football Playoff field.”
While that scenario will undoubtedly leave several SEC teams unhappy, it’ll be much harder for the league to argue with the CFP selection committee’s decision-making with four teams in the 2025 field.
Category: General Sports
