Heather Dinich explains how Big 12 title game could impact whether SEC makes CFP field

ESPN’s Heather Dinich explained how the Big 12 title game could impact the SEC’s chances of making the College Football Playoff.

Of course, multiple things would have to happen to create this ripple effect, but never say never. Georgia is undefeated and currently No. 1 while Alabama has just one loss and is No. 8.

But there’s one team, Texas, who could eliminate its future SEC opponents before even getting to the playoff.

“It’s certainly possible,” Dinich said on Get Up. “First of all, I would be shocked if it happened. Let me put that out there. I would be shocked. But if you have undefeated Washington, if you have Alabama winning the SEC, you have an undefeated Big Ten champion, you have undefeated Florida State, we can’t talk about this without talking about the head to head between Alabama and Texas. You can’t.”

Texas has the win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa from earlier this season. While that could weigh heavily, Dinich offered the caveat of Alabama’s resume looking more impressive each week.

Plus, should the Crimson Tide beat Georgia, it’s going to be hard to keep Alabama out and heck, maybe even Georgia will still make it.

“But what’s important for people to remember is no one in the country will have a better opportunity to impress the selection committee in the conference championship game than Alabama because they’re playing the committee’s No. 1 team,” Dinich said. “Who you play matters. Texas should hope it plays Oklahoma because that’s the highest ranked Big 12 opponent left that they could possibly play. 

“They could avenge the regular season loss to the Sooners. And they have the head to head. But that’s not the only thing that matters, strength of schedule matters, which is why it’s possible that Alabama’s win would be more impressive than what Texas does in the Big 12 title game.”

Simply put, Texas has to take care of business and win the Big 12 at 12-1. From there, all the Longhorns can do is wait.

But there is a scenario out there where the SEC is shut out. Say you get No. 1 Michigan or Ohio State, No. 2 Washington if the Huskies are unbeaten, No. 3 Florida State if the Seminoles are unbeaten, then there’s one spot left for Alabama, Texas and Georgia. 

You can likely eliminate Georgia in that scenario, so it comes down to head to head and strength of schedule between Alabama and Texas.

Good luck on that decision CFP committee.