Every Wednesday, we rank the SEC and Big 12 teams in one power poll. The order of the SEC teams is based on the Week 13 SDS SEC Power Poll.

How much does a conference championship game matter?

That’s a question three of the top four teams in the Big 12 and SEC are likely to ask, and get answered, in the next two weeks.

The Big 12 actually has 10 members, and therefore isn’t eligible to stage a conference championship (that takes 12 — posers). Mississippi State, if things hold to form, won’t represent the SEC West in Atlanta. So how will the College Football Playoff committee view them against, say, a Big Ten championship game winner in Ohio State?

As of now, the SEC claims six of the top 10 in our combined power rankings between the two conferences.

SEC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

Win the Iron Bowl and the Crimson Tide gets rewarded with one more bullet to dodge in the form of an SEC championship game. Win the Egg Bowl and the Bulldogs may have to sweat Ohio State and the two Big 12 teams mentioned below in lieu of a game. Many national writers are asserting that the Buckeyes will pass Mississippi State if it wins the Big Ten championship.

1. Alabama (10-1)
2. Mississippi State (10-1)

BIG 12 PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

What could be the second-best conference in the country also could be the only one left out of the initial College Football Playoff. (The Big 12 offices are almost literally located within shouting distance of the CFP headquarters. Start the picketing and shouting for an eight-team playoff.) The Horned Frogs get a chance to impress on the road against a Texas team that appears to be turning a corner under coach Charlie Strong. And surely there will be at least one upset in the next two weeks among the seven top-ranked teams in the country?

3. TCU (9-1)
4. Baylor (9-1)

NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED ABOUT

OK, so that Bulldogs loss to Florida was pretty shameful. But these programs have enjoyed strong seasons. They’ve all been ranked in the Top 10 at some point, and 10 wins still exists as a possibility — though Auburn has to win the Iron Bowl and a bowl game to get there.

5. Georgia (9-2)
6. Auburn (8-3)
7. Kansas State (8-2)

A HALF-NOTCH BEHIND THE BEST

Tigers fans have the biggest argument here, but look at the tier of teams above this one — Georgia beat Mizzou, 34-0, this year, and a similar Auburn team handled them in last season’s SEC championship. Missouri’s offense isn’t explosive enough. Neither is Ole Miss’. Oklahoma just isn’t crisp enough this season, and doesn’t seem to be playing to its collective talent level. These are three very good teams, but they’re not great.

8. Missouri (9-2)
9. Ole Miss (8-3)
10. Oklahoma (8-3)

MIDDLE CLASS

Razorbacks fans don’t want to think of their team as this. After all, the team just crushed LSU and Ole Miss by a combined 47-0. Add in close losses to Alabama and Mississippi State, and you’ve got an upper-class team, right? Well, Arkansas has lost five games this year, in case you forgot. LSU and A&M, the Razorbacks are playing better than you right now. Aggies, I know you beat them in overtime, but that was fortunate. The entire lot of you is middle of the pack in the SEC this year.

11. Texas (6-5)
12. Arkansas (6-5)
13. LSU (7-4)
14. West Virginia (6-5)
15. Texas A&M (7-4)

MEDIOCRITY AT ITS BEST (WORST?)

These teams all will finish close to or right at .500. That’s decent for the Vols this season, all things considered, but that’s not what you wanted if you’re the Gamecocks, Cowboys or Gators.

16. South Carolina (6-5)
17. Tennessee (5-6)
18. Oklahoma State (5-6)
19. Florida (6-4)

THE SEASON ENDS NOW

Not literally — the Big 12 regular season goes for one more week — but these teams aren’t going to get to six wins and bowl eligibility. The Wildcats at least have an opportunity, this weekend against a pretty decent Louisville team. But the Cardinals are favored by nearly two touchdowns. Texas Tech won a second game (!) against a Big 12 team. Granted, those teams are Kansas and Iowa State.

20. Texas Tech (4-7)
21. Kentucky (5-6)
22. Kansas (3-8)

WINNING A CONFERENCE GAME WOULD BE SHOCKING

It’s down to this: Vandy must beat Tennessee (not going to happen), or Iowa State must beat West Virginia or TCU (not going to happen). So yeah, these two teams should make a strong case as the worst power-conference programs in college football this year. Kudos to Iowa State for somehow knocking off Iowa in the third week of the season. The Cylones are 1-6 since with a win against Toledo.

23. Vanderbilt (3-8)
24. Iowa State (2-8)