There are 11 SEC teams playing in bowl games and the College Football Playoff.

All are carrying the SEC mantle, but some are to a greater degree than others.

For some teams, their bowl game is an opportunity to elevate their programs in the eyes of their supporters and college football observers around the country. For others, it’s little more than the last game in what has been a relatively insignificant season.

The SEC went 5-6 in bowl games last season, but maintained its top spot because two teams played for the national championship. Here’s a look at what each SEC bowl game means for that program and the conference:

Dec. 29: South Carolina vs. Virginia, Belk Bowl

It has been a pretty non-descript season for the Gamecocks and this is a pretty non-descript bowl game for them and the SEC.

A win would be a big deal for the resurgent Cavaliers and the ACC, but for South Carolina and the SEC there is more to lose than there is to gain in this game. So don’t lose, Gamecocks.

Dec. 27: Vanderbilt vs. Baylor, Texas Bowl

Any bowl is a good bowl for the Commodores. Having a chance to defeat a Big 12 team, especially a program that enjoyed significant success in the recent past, is an important opportunity.

The outcome of this game isn’t going to mean a whole lot for the SEC either way, but a victory would mean a lot for Vanderbilt.

Dec. 28: Auburn vs. Purdue, Music City Bowl

Auburn didn’t expect to be playing this early in the bowl season, and beating the Boilermakers won’t salvage much from a season that included a fifth-place finish in the SEC West.

But a loss to Purdue would make a bad season even worse for the Tigers and it would be a black eye for the SEC.

Dec. 31: Missouri vs. Oklahoma State, Liberty Bowl

It has been a relatively quiet but nice season for the Tigers.

A victory over one of their former Big 12 rivals would make this season even more special for Missouri and be a feather in the SEC’s cap. A loss would be a disappointment but not a disaster.

Jan. 1: Mississippi State vs. Iowa, Outback Bowl

There were some bumps in the road during Joe Moorhead’s first season, but winding up in a New Year’s bowl in just fine.

SEC vs. Big Ten games are always noteworthy to both conferences, but this outcome isn’t going to alter the perception of either conference or program.

Dec. 31: Texas A&M vs. N.C. State, Gator Bowl

Jimbo Fisher’s first season has produced a second-place finish in the SEC West after the Aggies matched LSU’s record and beat the Tigers in that epic 7-overtime marathon in the regular-season finale.

A loss to the Wolfpack would be a noticeable blemish as the Aggies set their sights on closing the gap on Alabama. And the ACC celebrates any victory over the SEC.

Jan. 1: Kentucky vs. Penn State, Citrus Bowl

It has been a standout season for the Wildcats, beating Florida and finishing second in the East after actually playing for the division title late in the season.

Going to a New Year’s bowl game is a big deal, so is potentially winning 10 games. Those are milestones. Beating a storied program such as Penn State would be a really big deal for Kentucky and would make a statement not only about Mark Stoops’ program but also about the SEC’s depth.

Dec. 29: Florida vs. Michigan, Peach Bowl

It has been a nice bounce-back season for the Gators in Dan Mullen’s first year and this is one of the more significant non-CFP bowl matchups the SEC has this season. The Wolverines are a solid touchdown favorite and have owned the Gators recently, so a Florida win would be a significant one for the SEC and a respectable loss wouldn’t be a significant setback.

Jan. 1: Georgia vs. Texas, Sugar Bowl

This definitely means more to the Longhorns as they continue to work toward national relevance while the Bulldogs’ dream of a second consecutive trip to the CFP died in a tight SEC Championship Game.

By extension, this means more to the Big 12 than it does to the SEC.

No matter what happens, the Georgia program is still farther along than the Texas program and the SEC is still superior to the Big 12, but this game will be a good gauge of the size of those gaps.

Jan. 1: LSU vs. UCF, Fiesta Bowl

This is not as big a deal for LSU as it is for UCF as the Knights continue their quest to parlay an undefeated season into sufficient respect to gain a CFP berth. But this is important for the Tigers as well. And the SEC.

The Tigers are not just carrying the mantle for the SEC, but for the Power 5 conferences as a group, trying to show that UCF has no business sniffing around their domain.

And after LSU laid an egg in last year’s Citrus Bowl and just let a 10-win regular season slip through its fingers in the 7-OT loss at A&M, Ed Orgeron could use a win here. The SEC’s reputation will take a bigger hit than LSU’s with a loss.

Dec. 29: Alabama vs. Oklahoma, Orange Bowl (CFP)

Obviously the stakes are as high as they could be for the Crimson Tide and the SEC.

Alabama is the defending national champion and has been this year’s presumed national champion all season.

Anything less than a national championship would be a failure for the Tide and failing to reach the title game would be even worse.

Without a second team in the CFP and with Auburn slipping and no one outside of Kentucky emerging significantly, the SEC’s reputation as the nation’s best conference is tied even more tightly to Alabama’s success this season.

A loss by the Tide here or in the title game would raise questions as to whether the conference is slipping a little.