Paul Finebaum evaluates if the SEC could be left without a team in the College Football Playoff

The SEC has been a guaranteed mainstay in the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014. Still, in the final year of the four-team field and a crop of teams for the committee to select from, there’s at least a possibility, regardless of its size, that the Southeastern Conference may not have a shot at the national title.

Paul Finebaum assessed that potential outcome during a segment on ‘McEloy and Cubelic In The Morning’ on Monday. In his eyes, that decision by the committee, if that indeed was the route that they deemed as correct, would cause a riot and a ton of hysteria around the league, especially for those in Athens and Tuscaloosa.

“I think it would be absolutely armageddon and I think it would be deserved,” said Finebaum. “I’m not just saying that because I’m waving a flag for the SEC. But I’m putting a lot of stock in Georgia right now – and Alabama as well.”

“I’m going to sound like one of those coaches who say, ‘I don’t want to think about it’. But I really don’t want to think about it,” Finebaum said. “I think it would be so unfair to the SEC.”

Although Missouri and Ole Miss are both within the Top-15, this conversation comes down to the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide. One currently sits at 11-0 and at the No. 1 spot. Meanwhile, the other sits at a more than respectable 10-1 at No. 8.

It’s their eventual matchup in the SEC Championship that further complicates this question. If Georgia secures their second straight conference crown? It sorts itself out as the ‘Dawgs would be in, likely at No. 1. The Crimson Tide would then be further on from the outside looking in.

However, if ‘Bama were to win? That creates the chaos that would come with two 12-1 options out of the SEC. Georgia may still have the better resume afterward but wouldn’t have the backing of the SEC title. On the other hand, Alabama would have the slightly worse case but their win over the Bulldogs and conference championship would bolster them.

Even in that scenario, it’s very likely that one would still find their way in. In other seasons, the committee might even find a way to get both of them in, such as they did in 2017 and 2021. Even so, with two teams out of the Big Ten and Pac-12 and one apiece from the ACC and Big 12 jockeying for position, there’s no guarantee that either would make the cut.

There’s plenty to still sort out nationally over this final week as well as in each conference championship. With that said, Finebaum believes we may all need to get ready for the reaction out of the SEC if it doesn’t go as they hope.