SEC puts 9 teams into third College Football Playoff rankings of 2025
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
The third set of College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday is once again filled with SEC teams.
A total of nine teams from the conference made the latest top 25. The Big Ten is the next closest with six, followed by the Big 12 (five), the ACC (three), and The American (one).
The SEC is sitting pretty as far as the projected 12-team bracket is concerned. Texas A&M and Georgia would be in the top four, meaning a first-round bye for those two programs. Georgia is in the top four for the first time this season.
Oklahoma, by virtue of a massive road win at Alabama, vaulted into the at-large discussion. The Sooners, who were 6-7 in 2024, will secure their first Playoff appearance since 2019 with a sweep of their remaining games against Mizzou (No. 20) and LSU.
The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, is still in the mix but hanging by a thread. While they’ll cruise in a Week 13 FCS pay game against Eastern Illinois, their Playoff hopes will be gone should they end up losing to Auburn on the road in the Iron Bowl. (Strange things have happened to the Tide under the lights of Jordan-Hare Stadium, though. Ask Chris Davis.)
And Ole Miss, should they beat Mississippi State on the road in the Egg Bowl on Black Friday, will make the Playoff for the first time. (Strange things have happened at Davis Wade Stadium, too. Ask Elijah Moore.)
Texas, meanwhile, is essentially out of the Playoff picture after losing at Georgia. Even winning out, including beating Texas A&M in Austin, may not be enough to guarantee an at-large berth.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
