PRESS PICKS: A study of numbers does little to set the stage for the playoff brackets
STAFF REPORT
At this moment in time, there is no way to judge which team is the best in the Southeastern Conference.
Two of the 16 teams have just one loss - Georgia and Kentucky. Seven more have two losses. Of those seven, three teams have played eight games heading into this weekend but all three are off this week.
It sets up quite the conundrum for the College Football Playoff committee, which will convene for the first time this weekend and announce its first poll of the season.
There are plenty more two-loss teams across the country. There are a total of 35 teams with two losses. Only three teams are undefeated (Miami, Utah and UCLA) and a handful that have just one loss (11).
Sure, there are five weeks plus championship games remaining and most assuredly this will all work out and we will be completely satisfied with the decision on who makes it, right?
The SEC will work itself out - or will it? Chances are pretty good that multiple two-loss teams will be standing at the end. The scenarios are endless but what if there are four or five three loss teams? How do you distinguish which ones (if any) should make the playoff bracket?
As an example - LSU beats Alabama but Texas beats LSU and then falters against Missouri? Florida loses to Georgia but wins out including against Kentucky, who also loses to Tennesee? Meanwhile the Vols fall to LSU and Ole Miss is beaten by Georgia. What then?
That’s seven teams with three losses. Georgia will be the lone member of the league with a sure-fire entry into the bracket.
The rest? Spin the wheel? Draw straws? Pick a number…
Start looking for elimination games in which Georgia can do a number on Florida this week and more than likely ends the Gators’ hopes for a playoff bid. Move ahead to the first Saturday in November and it’s possible that LSU-Bama is an elimination game but it depends on what that looks like. If it’s close, the debate will begin that both deserve a slot.
Tennessee plays Kentucky that week while Georgia and Ole Miss meet in Oxford. And Texas faces Missouri. The possiblities are endless the week of Nov. 7.
LSU still has to go to Knoxville. Kentucky must play at Missouri.
Maybe it’s better to let this play out than start guessing. But the question will still be lingering in the air for the next couple of weeks - will a three-loss team make the playoffs out of the SEC?
Probably, but don’t lay your bets yet.
2026 Standings (Last week)
1. Rosie Langello 106-39 (12-3) .731
2. Michael Butler 104-41 (11-4) .717
3. Wesley Lyle 102-43 (8-7) .703
4. Graham Dunn 101-44 (12-3) .696
5. Lindsey Bonner 99-46 (9-6) .623
6. Doug Amos 98-47 (9-6) .676
7. Tim Gayle 96-49 (9-6) .662
8. Mike Peacock 94-51 (10-5) .648
9. Mike Tankersley 91-54 (11-4) .628
10. Barry McKnight 90-55 (8-7) .621
11. Rick Hendrick 88-57 (7-8) .607
Rosie Langello (WSFA Ch. 12 New and Sports)
106-39 (12-3) .731
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Hewitt
Elmore County at Reeltown - Elmore Co.
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Enterprise
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Northwestern at Oregon - Northwestern
Arizona at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Michael Butler (WTLS 101.1&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
104-41 (11-4) .717
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Hewitt
Elmore County at Reeltown - Reeltown
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Enterprise
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Northwestern at Oregon - Northwestern
Arizona at Texas Tech -Arizona
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports)
102-43 (8-7) .703
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Hewitt
Elmore County at Reeltown - Reeltown
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Enterprise
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - South Carolina
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Northwestern at Oregon - Oregon
Arizona at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
101-44 (12-3) .696
Opelika at Prattville - Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Hewitt
Elmore County at Reeltown - Reeltown
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Carver
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - South Carolina
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Northwestern at Oregon - Oregon
Arizona at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
99-46 (9-6) .623
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Reeltown - Reeltown
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Carver
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - South Carolina
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Wisconsin
Northwestern at Oregon - Northwestern
Arizona at Texas Tech - Arizona
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
98-47 (9-6) .676
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Reeltown - Reeltown
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Enterprise
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Northwestern at Oregon - Oregon
Arizona at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
96-49 (9-6) .662
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Reeltown - Reeltown
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Enterprise
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Missouri at Arkansas - Arkansas
Ohio St at Southern Cal - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Northwestern at Oregon - Oregon
Arizona at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports/ASU Hornets Radio analyst)
94-51 (10-5) .648
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Hewitt
Elmore County at Reeltown - Reeltown
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Carver
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Northwestern at Oregon - Northwestern
Arizona at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Mike Tankersley (River Region Sports/WTLS contributor)
91-54 (11-4) .628
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Hewitt
Elmore County at Reeltown - Reeltown
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Carver
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - USC
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Northwestern at Oregon - Oregon
Arizona at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
90-55 (8-7) .621
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Hewitt
Elmore County at Reeltown - Elmore Co
Marbury at Demopolis - Marbury
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Carver
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - Troy
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - USC
Wisconsin at Iowa - Wisconsin
Northwestern at Oregon - Northwestern
Arizona at Texas Tech -Arizona
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
88-57 (7-8) .607
Opelika at Prattville -Prattville
Hewitt-Trussville at Pike Road - Hewitt
Elmore County at Reeltown - Reeltown
Marbury at Demopolis - Demopolis
Enterprise vs. Carver (Thursday at Millbrook, 17 Springs) - Carver
Auburn at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Troy at James Madison (Thur) - JMU
Georgia vs Florida (Atlanta) - Georgia
Miss St at Texas - Texas
South Carolina at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Missouri at Arkansas - Missouri
Ohio St at Southern Cal - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Northwestern at Oregon - Oregon
Arizona at Texas Tech - Texas Tech