College Football Playoff Selection Winners and Losers: SEC Drama Unfolds

The second 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) is set, and the journey here has been dramatic. From Miami’s rise to the last at-large spot to seeding tweaks that could shake up future tournaments, this season’s selections have given fans plenty to talk about.

As we get ready for the games, let’s take a look at the winners and losers of this year’s Selection Sunday. There’s a lot at stake for teams, conferences, and honestly, the whole world of college football.

The Path to the Playoff: Miami’s Journey

Miami climbed from No. 18 in the initial rankings on November 4 all the way to the last at-large spot at No. 10. That’s a huge jump, and it really shows how much head-to-head results matter.

The Hurricanes’ Labor Day weekend win over Notre Dame ended up being a game-changer. That single result pushed them into the playoff, and it’s wild to think how one game can mean everything in the CFP world.

Notre Dame, despite finishing on a 10-game winning streak, got edged out. They even decided to skip bowl season altogether. The whole situation feels a bit ironic, given how Miami surged at the end.

The Ducks’ Favorable Draw

Last season, the Oregon Ducks were the No. 1 seed and ended up with a tough Rose Bowl quarterfinal against Ohio State. This year, though, the seeding system got a makeover.

Now, the teams’ rankings actually match their seeds, which makes the fifth seed pretty attractive. Oregon will face 24th-ranked James Madison from the Sun Belt, who slipped in as the 12th seed.

BetMGM has the Ducks as a 20.5-point favorite against the Dukes. They might even be favored in the quarterfinals against the Big 12 champion and No. 4 seed Texas Tech.

SEC’s Dominance and Strategic Wins

Commissioner Greg Sankey and the SEC had a big offseason. They pushed for the conference’s tough schedule to get the respect it deserves in CFP selections.

The payoff? The SEC landed five teams in the field, with three hosting first-round games. Ninth-seeded Alabama was the only team to lose a conference championship game and not drop in the final rankings.

This kind of dominance just highlights how much sway the SEC holds in shaping the playoff picture.

Aggies and Rebels: A Tale of Two Teams

The Texas A&M Aggies and Ole Miss Rebels ended up in pretty interesting spots after their regular-season finales. The Aggies lost to Texas and dropped from No. 3 to No. 7, just behind Ole Miss.

That small shift made a big difference. Both teams got home games, but the Aggies have to face Miami, while the Rebels—now without Lane Kiffin—get a rematch against Tulane, a team they beat 45-10 earlier.

Impact on Non-Power Conferences

James Madison making the CFP field is a huge milestone for the Sun Belt conference. They’ve never had a team in a New Year’s Six bowl since the CFP started.

But this inclusion could have some ripple effects for non-power conferences. The rules that let JMU in as the fifth highest-ranked conference champion are already getting a lot of side-eye.

If JMU and No. 11 seed Tulane don’t show well in their games, you have to wonder if those rules will get changed to keep this from happening again.

Looking Ahead: Potential Blockbuster Matchups

An Ohio State-Georgia semifinal on January 8 in Glendale, Arizona, would be a blockbuster. That’s the matchup a lot of people want to see.

But the Texas Tech-Oregon game as a 4 vs. 5 battle could be just as compelling. Fans making the trip will face some serious miles—2,700 for Texas Tech supporters, about 1,100 for Oregon fans. That’s going to make for a wild postseason atmosphere, if you ask me.

Conclusion: A Season of High Stakes and High Drama

This year’s College Football Playoff selections have set up a postseason packed with tension and excitement. Strategic wins and dramatic rises have shaken up the usual order.