Heather Dinich projects 6 SEC teams in College Football Playoff after Week 2
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We’ve wrapped up two weeks of play in the 2026 college football season. Time is flying by, and teams are doing all they can to garner consideration for the College Football Playoff.
Early Sunday morning, ESPN’s Heather Dinich projected what the CFP rankings could look like if they were revealed this week. Dinich had 6 SEC teams in her bracket, including one at the very top of the food chain.
“Texas coach Steve Sarkisian desperately needed that home win against Ohio State,” Dinich wrote. “The Longhorns beat the Buckeyes for the first time in three tries over the past three seasons… [the win] was the first real statement about how seriously to take Texas this season as a national title contender… the leading contender, at least for now.”
SEC schools behind the Texas Longhorns (No. 1) in Dinich’s bracket are the LSU Tigers (No. 5), Georgia Bulldogs (No. 6), Ole Miss Rebels (No. 7), Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 9) and Texas A&M Aggies (No. 10). The Big Ten — with Ohio State (No. 2) and Indiana (No. 8) — is the only other conference with multiple teams in Dinich’s projection.
Week 3’s meeting between LSU and Ole Miss will have a big impact on Dinich’s projections this time next week. The Tigers and Rebels tussle in Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford at 7:30 p.m. E.T. on Saturday, Sept. 19 (ABC).
