SEC Championship Game scenarios: Path to finalize the title game

Of the four conference title games in the Power Four, the SEC Championship is the simplest when it comes to scenarios.

Going into the final games of the regular season, the Georgia Bulldogs have already clinched a spot to play in Atlanta next weekend. IT will be their fourth consecutive appearance in the game and seventh in the last eight years although winning only two of those.

From there, it all comes down to the rivalry game between the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies in College Station on Saturday with the winner set to play the ‘Dawgs.

Texas vs. Texas A&M was already going to be one of the biggest games of this season with the return of the rivalry for the first time since 2011. It’s now even bigger with the postseason implications at play during it both for the Longhorns and Aggies as well as the rest of the SEC and contenders for the College Football Playoff.

If Texas wins, they’ll finish at 11-1 overall through their first season in the Southeastern Conference. That would then set up a rematch with Georgia after the Bulldogs came on the road and won at 30-15 over them on The 40 Acres back in mid-October. It would also be the best scenario for other teams like Alabama and Ole Miss in their hopes of making it back into the field for the CFP.

If Texas A&M wins, they’ll finish at 9-3 during their debut season under Mike Elko. That comes after finding themselves in a worse position than they were in with losses in their last three by 24 at South Carolina and in quadruple overtime at Auburn. Still, the victory would, assuming depending on the result of No. 8 Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt, tiebreak them with the Longhorns and potentially the Volunteers into the conference title game. So, it’s a win-and-in scenario for Texas A&M as far as their next two games with the first getting them into the SEC Championship and the other earning them a bye in the CFP.

For reference, No. 3 Texas remains a favorite, despite that spread trending down this week, over No. 20 Texas A&M ahead of kickoff at Kyle Field.

For as close as their conference has been all season, it’s now straightforward at the end as to who can play for and win the SEC. Georgia just has to wait and see on Saturday as to who will meet them inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium next weekend between Texas and Texas A&M.