By Sean Labar
SEC football has been in a class of its own for a long time.
With the new 12-team College Football Playoff format coming into play this season, there’s been plenty of debate on how many teams from the conference will have a chance to compete for a national championship.
The importance of a team’s schedule is a popular talking point following Tuesday’s College Football Playoff rankings reveal. Indiana climbed to No. 5 despite none of its 10 victories coming over a ranked opponent. If the Hoosiers fall to Ohio State, the committee must decide how to weigh their resume against multiple two-loss SEC squads vying for a postseason spot.
On Thursday, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey took to social media and posted a graphic that clearly depicts several teams in his conference have faced a much tougher schedule this season, but right now, are ranked below squads that have had a much easier schedule.
It was a clear shot from Sankey at the rest of the college football conferences.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Takes Massive Shot At Other Conferences
Sankey posted a graphic anveraging out three different rankings and listed the nation’s top 15 teams based on the toughest strength of schedule.
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“Interesting to read analysis from others as they examine ‘strength of schedule’ in college football,” Sankey wrote. “It does seem there is a trend to be identified.”
https://twitter.com/GregSankey/status/1859658315309121785
Six SEC squads top the chart. ESPN, Jeff Sagarin, and Massey each credit Georgia for possessing the nation’s most challenging schedule. Meanwhile, Indiana has the easiest path of the bunch with an average ranking of 83.
Based on the current rankings, Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Alabama would represent the SEC in the 12-team CFP. No. 11 Tennessee would be the first team left out because the Big 12 champion —BYU is the conference’s top-ranked team at No. 14 — receives an automatic bid.
No SEC team is undefeated in conference play, and only one (at most) will have one loss after Texas closes the regular season at Texas A&M.
Texas lost to Georgia, which defeated Tennessee but lost to Alabama and Ole Miss. The Crimson Tide lost to the Volunteers, who fell to the Bulldogs last Saturday.
Last year, Alabama made the four-team CFP over an undefeated Florida State despite losing by double-digits to Texas. The committee could face a similar situation when rounding out the expanded bracket.
It’s clear Sankey believes several teams from his conference should get a chance to compete in the College Football Playoff but it’s fair to say the SEC will have a few solid teams left out.
