Last week created some major separation in the SEC, and another pivotal slate awaits as October begins.
Four SEC teams remain firmly in the College Football Playoff race, for now. The conference has looked strong through the first month of the season, but how many teams will still be standing when the playoff field is set in December?
We dig our heels in a little for the latest installment of my weekly bowl projections for the 2026 postseason.
College Football Playoff
Georgia (No. 1 Seed)
Texas (No. 4 Seed)
Florida (No. 7 Seed)
LSU (No. 8 Seed)
Bowl Games
Gasparilla Bowl, Dec. 18, Tampa, Florida — American/ACC/SEC
Vanderbilt vs Tulane
JLab Birmingham Bowl, Dec. 29, Birmingham, Ala – SEC/ACC/AAC
Auburn vs North Carolina
Gator Bowl, Dec. 30, Jacksonville, Florida — SEC vs. ACC
Tennessee vs Pittsburgh
Music City Bowl, Dec. 30 Nashville, Tenn. — SEC vs. Big Ten
Mississippi State vs Michigan
Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 31 Las Vegas, NV – SEC vs. Big Ten
Oklahoma vs Washington
ReliaQuest Bowl, Dec. 31, Tampa, Fla. — SEC vs. Big Ten
Ole Miss vs. Nebraska
Texas Bowl, Dec. 31, Houston, Texas — SEC vs. Big 12
Texas A&M vs Baylor
Citrus Bowl, Jan. 2, Orlando, Fla. — SEC vs. Big Ten
Alabama vs Southern Cal
Liberty Bowl, Jan. 2, Memphis, Tenn. — SEC vs. Big 12
Missouri vs West Virginia