Georgia’s latest hammering of Florida didn’t just extend a streak in Jacksonville. It also nudged the bigger playoff conversation forward, giving the College Football Playoff selection committee one more result to weigh as it meets for the first time this week.
The Bulldogs handled Florida for the sixth straight time, and the Gators’ third loss of the year knocks them out of the playoff picture. More broadly, the result shapes both the SEC race and the early feel of the bracket as November arrives.
Right now, Georgia still looks like the most complete team in the country. That hasn’t changed after Saturday, and the Bulldogs remain the pick to win the SEC.
The projected ACC champion is still expected to run the table, which would include a road win at Notre Dame next week. Even so, the committee could end up valuing a one-loss SEC champion more than an unbeaten ACC winner.
In the Big Ten, Ohio State has been moved up to the projected champion spot, with Indiana’s offensive issues continuing to drag. That shift comes even with questions around the Buckeyes at quarterback after Julian Sayin’s injury.
There was also a strong debut for Will Stein, who now guides the projected SEC championship runner-up and could be headed for a first-round bye.
Indiana remains the second-best team in the Big Ten, but Josh Hoover not being 100 percent could hurt the Hoosiers’ title defense.
Utah strengthened its hold on the Big 12 race by piling up 42 first-half points at Cincinnati, shutting down any upset chatter and staying in the driver’s seat.
Meanwhile, the projected SEC title runner-up from the idle group will face a revealing stretch soon. Lane Kiffin’s team still has Alabama and Texas at home and a trip to Tennessee ahead, and those games should tell us plenty.
The Big 12 runner-up slot still belongs to a team ahead of BYU, which is projected to finish with two losses after its meeting with Utah.
UCLA is still in the mix to run the table, though the committee may not love the Bruins’ schedule.
Alabama’s loss at LSU doesn’t end its playoff hopes, since the Tide are expected to handle the rest of their schedule.
Notre Dame’s path is shakier. Losses to BYU and possibly Miami could leave the Irish outside the top 12, depending on how the rest of the schedule unfolds. If that happens, Ole Miss or even Texas could slide into that spot if either team finishes strong.
For the Group of Six, Boise State remains the standard-bearer and still holds the 12 spot. The Broncos’ next test against Oregon State could change that picture.
In Other News...
Former Alabama Rusher Sparks New Debate After Another Career Twist
Noah Carters path has taken another sharp turn, and it adds a fresh layer to a season that already had plenty of uncertainty around the former Alabama edge rusher. After transferring to Georgia Tech, Carter managed to appear in four games this year and still flashed the kind of pass-rush ability that made him a name to watch, finishing with three sacks even while dealing with injury issues.
Georgia Tech has now removed Carter from its football program, but the school has not offered an official explanation for the move. For Alabama fans who followed his development in Tuscaloosa, the latest twist only deepens the question of where his career goes next after a brief but productive stretch in Atlanta. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Bye Week Suddenly Comes With Real Stakes For The Tide
Alabamas open date arrives at a useful moment on the schedule, but it does not come with much room to exhale. The Tide have been dealing with injuries to key players, and a week off gives the staff time to reset, regroup and get a better sense of where the roster stands before the stretch run. Even without a game this Saturday, the attention around Tuscaloosa is still squarely on the bigger picture.
The rest of the SEC could make this bye week feel even more consequential, with results around the conference shaping Alabamas path to the SEC championship game and the College Football Playoff. And while the focus inside the program is on the season in front of it, there is also outside chatter about Kalen DeBoer and possible future coaching openings at USC, adding another layer to a week that already carries more weight than a typical pause in the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Saban Still Looms Large As Alabama Faces A Playoff Test
Nick Sabans 75th birthday on Halloween was a reminder that even in retirement, his voice still carries plenty of weight around college football. On College GameDay, the former Alabama coach offered the kind of advice that has long defined his public image, stressing the importance of treating others kindly. It was a simple message from a man whose coaching career stretched across 28 seasons and produced a 297-71-1 record, along with national championships at both Alabama and LSU.
For Alabama, the timing only adds to the intrigue as the Crimson Tide prepare for LSU on Nov. 7 in a game with College Football Playoff implications. Saban may no longer be on the sideline, but his shadow still hangs over matchups like this one, especially when the opponent is a program he once led to the top. Even now, his presence is part of the backdrop whenever Alabama enters a high-stakes November test. [Read more 🡒]