In 2017, the SEC became the first conference to send two teams (Alabama, Georgia) to the College Football Playoff’s field of four. It could certainly happen again in 2019, but Kirk Herbstreit thinks the Crimson Tide could be on the outside looking in when the postseason field is set.

“It would be hard to imagine (Georgia) winning the SEC Championship and not being in,” Herbstreit during ESPN’s Tuesday night broadcast of the latest rankings reveal. “It’s also tough to imagine LSU losing in Atlanta and not being in. Their resume is already more impressive than anybody there. If they win out the rest of their games, I don’t want to see it doesn’t matter what LSU does in Atlanta, but based on what they’ve done up to this point, regardless, they’re getting in.”

The Dawgs have regular-season games against Auburn, Texas A&M and Georgia Tech remaining. UGA needs one more SEC win or a Florida loss to Missouri on Saturday to clinch the SEC East. Alabama, meanwhile, needs some help to get in the SEC Championship Game. Herbstreit speculated the Tide might need help to sneak into the CFP a la 2017.

“There’s not a long way for Alabama to go, maybe that game at Jordan-Hare (will get them) a quality win, but there’s not much farther they can go,” Herbstreit said of No. 5 UA.