Next Sunday, we will know the College Football Playoff field. The four teams that play in the SEC and BIG 10 Championships are pretty much locked to get in. There are four other seeds taken by teams that will be inactive who are safe bets to make the playoffs. Three of the remaining four seeds will be filled by the BIG 12, ACC, and highest-ranked Group of Five Champion. The one question that will float around until the final bracket is who should occupy that 12 seed.
There will be plenty of controversy around the teams jockeying for that 12 spot and already coaches are out making their case to get in so here is a comparison of all the teams in the mix but who no longer control their own destiny.
SMU
Record: 11-1 | 8-0 ACC
Power Ranking: 12th
Ranked Wins: 2 (34-27 @ No.22 Louisville) (48-25 vs No.18 Pitt)
Losses: 1 (18-15 vs BYU)
The Pony Express only enters this conversation if they lose the ACC Championship to Clemson. The lone loss came to 10-2 BYU while SMU steamrolled through their first year in the ACC. SMU sports the No. 5 scoring offense in the country and the 19th scoring defense. SMU is good, but their strength of schedule is a huge knock coming in at 75th.
Georgia
Record: 10-2 | 6-2 SEC
Power Ranking: 5th
Ranked Wins: 3 (34-3 vs No.14 Clemson) (30-15 vs No.1 Texas) (31-17 vs No.7 Tennessee)
Losses: 2 (41-23 @ No. 4 Alabama) (28-10 @ No. 16 Ole Miss)
Georgia is like SMU, this conversation only applies if they lose the Championship. Given the Bulldogs are currently No. 7 in the AP it would take a real beating for Texas to push them back to No. 12. The Bulldogs have already beaten Texas, but crazier things have happened. The Bulldogs' two losses are Ole Miss and Alabama, both teams that make this list and with the third toughest strength of schedule this year and three wins over potential playoff teams the Bulldogs have a strong resume.
Alabama
Record: 9-3 | 5-3 SEC
Power Ranking: 4th
Ranked Wins: 3 (41-34 vs No.2 Georgia) (34-0 vs No.21 Missouri) (42-13 vs No.15 LSU)
Losses: 3 (40-35 @ Vanderbilt) (24-17 @ No.11 Tennesse) (24-3 @ Oklahoma)
Alabama has played a tough schedule this season and has some big wins. Not listed in their ranked wins is South Carolina who has jumped from unranked to making this list. The Crimson Tide outscored two of those three ranked opponents 76-13. The problem for Alabama is the losses. Oklahoma and Vanderbilt have a joint 12-12 record and without their wins over Alabama miss making a bowl game. Wins are important, and the strength of schedule is important. But Alabama may have two of the worst losses on this list.
Ole Miss
Record: 9-3 | 5-3 SEC
Power Ranking: 8th
Ranked Wins: 1 (28-10 vs No.3 Georgia)
Losses: 3 (20-17 vs Kentucky) (29-26 @ No.13 LSU) (24-17 @ Florida)
The Rebels lack the wins of Alabama and are in a similar situation as Alabama. They have the big win over Georgia and have also topped South Carolina. But Kentucky is a loss that hurts, especially considering it’s the Wildcats' only SEC win. The Rebels do have a head-to-head win over South Carolina, which helps their application, but their strength of schedule is the weakest of the SEC hopefuls.
South Carolina
Record: 9-3 | 5-3 SEC
Power Ranking: 14th
Ranked Wins: 3 (44-20 vs No.10 Texas A&M) (34-30 vs No.23 Missouri) (17-14 vs No.12 Clemson)
Losses: 3 (36-33 vs No.16 LSU) (27-3 @ No.12 Ole Miss) (27-25 @ No.7 Alabama)
The Gamecocks have made a great case for themselves to make the playoffs this year. They’ve won six in a row, they have the 16th-best strength of schedule in the country, and all three of their losses came to ranked opponents. Yes, Alabama and Ole Miss beat South Carolina, but the Gamecocks finished the season on a high note. Take out the LaNorris Sellers injury against LSU, and they probably win that game. The Gamecocks may not be the most glamorous pick, but their resume is hard to dispute.