BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
As we head to Week 7 of the college football season, the SEC is on my mind. In this week's column, points about who is up and who is down in the conference -- plus a look at the coach with the hottest seat in college football.
ā¢ Can the SEC West get three in?: This week's First Four poll, which figures what four teams would be in the College Football Playoff if it were being decided today,included three teams from the same division of the same conference.
No. 1 Auburn, No. 3 Mississippi State and No. 4 Ole Miss are all up there this week. You see that if you're from another conference and you take solace because there's no way that holds up as these SEC West teams continue to play -- and beat up -- on each other.
Right?
Don't be so sure.
While it's not necessarily likely, it's also easy to dream up a scenario where three SEC West teams get in.
Let's say currently unbeaten Auburn loses this week at Mississippi State, but wins out from there. Ole Miss, slips up at home against Auburn, but doesn't do the same in the Egg Bowl and knocks the Bulldogs off an unbeaten perch.
Then, you have the potential of three one-loss teams in the same division, but only one advancing to play in the SEC championship game.
Because the West is so strong, those teams would have an ace in the hole against one-loss champions from the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12, three leagues where it's looking more and more unlikely that there will be an undefeated champion.
Now, for this scenario to work, Alabama would have to lose two more games, which, frankly, seems unlikely. What could happen, though, is the Tide wins out, handing Auburn its first loss in the Iron Bowl while Ole Miss loses to Auburn.
What that scenario assumes is that Texas A&M and LSU, two teams that not long ago were considered conference contenders, don't rise up and beat any of those teams. Or, for that matter, neither does a much-improved Arkansas.
So, yeah, it's unlikely, but who thought three teams in one division would be ranked so high this late in the season?
Continue reading about LSU, Florida, and more...
ā¢ Can the SEC West get three in?: This week's First Four poll, which figures what four teams would be in the College Football Playoff if it were being decided today,included three teams from the same division of the same conference.
No. 1 Auburn, No. 3 Mississippi State and No. 4 Ole Miss are all up there this week. You see that if you're from another conference and you take solace because there's no way that holds up as these SEC West teams continue to play -- and beat up -- on each other.
Right?
Don't be so sure.
While it's not necessarily likely, it's also easy to dream up a scenario where three SEC West teams get in.
Let's say currently unbeaten Auburn loses this week at Mississippi State, but wins out from there. Ole Miss, slips up at home against Auburn, but doesn't do the same in the Egg Bowl and knocks the Bulldogs off an unbeaten perch.
Then, you have the potential of three one-loss teams in the same division, but only one advancing to play in the SEC championship game.
Because the West is so strong, those teams would have an ace in the hole against one-loss champions from the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12, three leagues where it's looking more and more unlikely that there will be an undefeated champion.
Now, for this scenario to work, Alabama would have to lose two more games, which, frankly, seems unlikely. What could happen, though, is the Tide wins out, handing Auburn its first loss in the Iron Bowl while Ole Miss loses to Auburn.
What that scenario assumes is that Texas A&M and LSU, two teams that not long ago were considered conference contenders, don't rise up and beat any of those teams. Or, for that matter, neither does a much-improved Arkansas.
So, yeah, it's unlikely, but who thought three teams in one division would be ranked so high this late in the season?
Continue reading about LSU, Florida, and more...
