Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 13
SEC Lands 5 Teams in 12-Team CFP Projection as Texas Tops Field After Ohio State Win
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 13

SEC Lands 5 Teams in 12-Team CFP Projection as Texas Tops Field After Ohio State Win

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 13

Summary

  • Five SEC teams made USA TODAY Sports’ latest 12-team College Football Playoff projection, the conference’s strongest showing yet after a fast start to the season.
  • Texas moved to the No. 1 seed after its fourth-quarter comeback over then-No. 1 Ohio State, a result the predictor says removed doubts about the SEC’s top-end strength.
  • Georgia and LSU joined Texas in the top three, while Ole Miss and Texas A&M also made the field, giving the SEC nearly half of the projected bracket.
  • The rest of the projected playoff included Notre Dame at No. 4, Ohio State at No. 5 and Boise State at No. 12 as the leading Group of 5 team.
  • The projection reflects early nonconference results — including SEC wins by LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Missouri — even though the league has not won a national title since 2022.

Insights

How could the SEC's early dominance and brutal 2026 schedules backfire when the committee selects the final twelve teams?
Will Texas' historic comeback against Ohio State actually matter in a highly forgiving 12-team playoff format?
Does a grueling schedule featuring six elite opponents make Texas vulnerable to an early exit despite their top ranking?