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Welcome to the SEC, Texas

Welcome to the SEC, Texas

Week 8 of the 2024 college football season should be a big week, especially within the SEC, which has implications for the College Football Playoff race. In fact, we saw some monumental results that will have ramifications well into the postseason. How does this impact the projected playoff field?

There have been a lot of changes in the SEC following Week 8 action, and a new Big Ten team is getting the recognition it deserves. Here are the latest playoff predictions…

rank

team

Why they are here

Previous rank

1.

Oregon

Big Ten champion

1.

2.

Georgia

SEC champion

6.

3.

Miami

ACC champion

3.

4.

BYU

Big 12 champion

4.

5.

Penn State

On the whole

5.

6.

Texas

On the whole

2.

7.

Ohio State

On the whole

7.

8.

Clemson

On the whole

8.

9.

Indiana

On the whole

NO

10.

Iowa State

On the whole

10.

11.

LSU

On the whole

11.

12.

Boise State

Highest ranked G5 champion

12.

Dropped out – Alabama (previously 9th)

Since the start of the season, no team has looked as consistently dominant as Texas. The Longhorns appeared to be well ahead of all other SEC teams in the conference’s first year. Meanwhile, Georgia, the SEC’s presumed Top Dawg (pun intended), looked incredibly suspicious.

That changed on Saturday when the Bulldogs came to Austin and dominated Texas. They even led 23-0 before pulling out a 30-15 win. The Horns were unlucky against Georgia’s defense and UGA showed why they still belong at the top of the SEC this season. The Dawgs jump to No. 2 in the rankings, with undefeated Oregon in first place.

Elsewhere in the SEC, it’s officially panic time in Tuscaloosa. Since leading UGA 30-0 in the first half three weeks ago, Alabama has looked as mediocre as any. After two losses this season following an ugly game in Tennessee, they are now forced out of the playoffs. The win over UGA is showing its age and will most likely stay that way. But if the Tide don’t win, they won’t be contending for a title, and it will take some time before they can fight their way back into my predictions.

So who will take their place? How about the Indiana Hoosiers being 7-0? Yes, that’s right. Indiana, which finished 3-9 last year, hasn’t had a winning season since 2020, has a first-year head coach and is generally at the bottom of college football, is undefeated. And they destroy everyone who gets in their way. They haven’t been tested yet, but a 56-7 win over a tough Nebraska team speaks volumes. This team is good and deserves recognition. I have IU ranked 9th and looking at their schedule, they could definitely hold out. And that would be great for the sport.