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.5 Seed)
LSU (No. 7 Seed)
Alabama (No. 8 Seed)
Ole Miss (No. 11 Seed)
Bowl Games
Gasparilla Bowl, Dec. 18, Tampa, Florida — American/ACC/SEC
Auburn vs USF
JLab Birmingham Bowl, Dec. 29, Birmingham, Ala – SEC/ACC/AAC
Vanderbilt vs Memphis
Gator Bowl, Dec. 30, Jacksonville, Florida — SEC vs. ACC
Florida vs Pittsburgh
Music City Bowl, Dec. 30 Nashville, Tenn. — SEC vs. Big Ten
Mississippi State vs Wisconsin
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
Missouri 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
Tennessee vs Southern Cal
Liberty Bowl, Jan. 2, Memphis, Tenn. — SEC vs. Big 12
Kentucky vs West Virginia