Heather Dinich: 'I would really hesitate to eliminate a three-loss SEC team'

With Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss each already having two losses this season, it may be possible for a three-loss SEC team to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff. During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, ESPN’s Heather Dinich explained this concept further.

“As much as people keep throwing out the word ‘elimination games’ every week, I would really hesitate to eliminate a three-loss SEC team, and that includes if Georgia loses to Tennessee,” Dinich said. “Here’s why, because in the first 10 years of the College Football Playoff, there have been 13 three-loss teams ranked in the selection committee’s Top 10 on selection day.

“So this has happened before, and if history repeats itself, then you could potentially see a three-loss SEC team in, but they’re not all created equal. Let me make that clear. All three-loss SEC teams are not created equal,” Dinich continued. “If Ole Miss loses a third game, they’re done. LSU, they’re going to be way down at the bottom of the barrel right now. Georgia, though, has one of the toughest schedules in the country. That’s why I treat them a little differently and I think the committee could.”

Examining each team’s path to the College Football Playoff

As Dinich mentioned, Ole Miss’ is under more pressure to win than a team like Georgia due to its weaker schedule. The Rebels’ two losses this season came against unranked Kentucky and No. 21 LSU.

Of course, Ole Miss did secure a massive win over Georgia this weekend but, with its final two games of the regular season against Florida and Mississippi State, it won’t have another chance to add a marquee victory to its résumé.

LSU isn’t in a much better position than Ole Miss, if at all. Although the Tigers’ two losses in conference play came against quality opponents (Texas A&M and Alabama), they fell to USC in Week 1.

Since then, USC has gone 3-5 and is sitting near the bottom of the Big Ten standings. With no ranked opponents left on its schedule, LSU may struggle to squeeze into the CFP.

If any three-loss SEC team deserves a spot in the CFP, Dinich seems to believe it’s Georgia. After all, Georgia has one of the most brutal schedules in the country.

It’s two losses this season are against Alabama and Ole Miss. However, the Bulldogs boast statement wins over programs such as Texas and Clemson that other SEC teams do not. Dinich has faith that Georgia’s CFP hopes won’t be destroyed even if it loses to Tennessee this weekend.

While Dinich didn’t specifically weigh in on Alabama’s CFP choices, the Crimson Tide are still equally in the hunt for an at-wide berth. With wins over Georgia and LSU, Alabama will place the CFP in a difficult position if it wins out the rest of the regular season.