Following a weekend filled with surprises in college football, it was anticipated that the forecast for the playoff teams would shift dramatically. Indeed, after the results from Week 11, there are significant changes, but this doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of new teams are entering the picture.

The lone new contender is Mississippi, having just pulled off an impressive win at home against Georgia. This outcome has significantly impacted the other SEC teams in playoff contention. Currently, there are six strong candidates: the Rebels, Bulldogs, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, and Texas A&M. Determining how the remainder of the conference race will unfold and which teams will secure at-large playoff spots is proving to be as complicated as splitting an atom.

Many of these contenders will have both wins and losses against each other, making the situation more complex. Only Texas and Texas A&M have not managed to defeat any of the other leading six teams. However, that will likely change when they clash on the last weekend of the season; the losing team in that matchup could find themselves out of the playoffs. One more team will also need to exit the playoff conversation since it’s unlikely five SEC teams will secure spots. Unfortunately for Tennessee fans, it looks like the Volunteers are that team. They are set to play Georgia this week, and a loss would put them in a precarious position. While Tennessee has a win against Alabama, they also lost to Arkansas, a team that Mississippi defeated by 32 points. In such a tight race, these discrepancies could be crucial during the selection committee’s decision-making process.

This is the current scenario, but plenty could change in the upcoming weeks. If Tennessee manages to win against Georgia on Saturday, they will likely secure a playoff spot. Alternatively, if Ole Miss, Texas, or any other contender falters, the race will become even more thrilling as the final four weeks unfold before the playoff decisions are made.

Note: Legacy Pac-12 schools in different conferences will fulfill their existing bowl agreements through the 2025 season.