While the Big Ten had the most playoff quotes (4) in 2024, the SEC recovered the lead (4 )in 2025 and, getting in Week 11, was predicted to set a brand-new league finest with 5 2026 playoff quotes. Thanks to some big-time matches staying, there’s ended up being a good opportunity that a three-loss SEC group still slips into the bracket.
Among those considerable looming video games shown up Saturday, with Texas returning to remove LSU, 22-21. The win, which came regardless of 3 Arch Manning interceptions, offers the Longhorns a clear possibility to liquidate the season in a playoff area, while the Tigers are essentially removed from contention.
Here’s a take a look at how the Week 11 SEC results affected the CFP race.
MORE: Breaking down Oregon’s course to CFP after win over Michigan
How Texas beat LSU
To put it candidly, neither quarterback had an excellent proving in Saturday’s SEC prime-time video game. Arch Manning and Sam Leavitt integrated for 6 interceptions with a tidy 3 each.
Still, Lane Kiffin’s team took a 14-10 lead into halftime thanks to a 13-play goal drive in the very first quarter, then another Leavitt goal pass minutes after Ty Benefield chose off Manning, then returned it deep into the red zone.
https://t.co/TsogxWB9C7– no context college football(@nocontextcfb)November 15, 2026
Even with a missed out on basket before halftime and a 3rd choice for Leavitt, the Tigers ‘defense assisted keep that lead deep into the 2nd half. Dilin Jones broke complimentary for a 44-yard goal run in the 3rd quarter, and Texas might handle absolutely nothing however basket as Manning had a hard time to look after the football.
All the Longhorns required was one last goal drive. Routing 21-16, Manning got the ball before the two-minute mark, and he led Texas down the field for a 12-play game-winning drive that ended with Raleek Brown running into the left corner of completion zone.
ARCH MANNING TO RALEEK BROWN AND TEXAS IS GOING TO WIN THE FOOTBALL
GAME https://t.co/j1e8tmp0wm
— Underdog CFB( @UnderdogCFB)November 15, 2026
MORE: Could Wake Forest make the playoff after another dominant win?
SEC playoff competitors
| Group | General | Conference | Week 11 Result |
| No. 1 Georgia | 9-1 | 7-1 | Beat No. 22 Missouri 48-21 |
| No. 3 Alabama | 8-2 | 6-2 | Beat Vanderbilt 21-6 |
| No. 6 Texas | 8-2 | 5-2 | Beat LSU 22-21 |
| No. 8 Tennessee | 8-2 | 5-2 | Beat Texas A&M 22-7 |
| No. 11 Kentucky | 7-3 | 5-3 | Lost 21-14 to Florida |
| No. 19 Ole Miss | 6-3 | 4-3 | TBD(video game vs. Oklahoma relocated to Sunday ) |
| No. 17 South Carolina | 6-4 | 4-4 | Lost 34-6 to Arkansas |
| No. 21 LSU | 6-4 | 3-4 | Lost 22-21 to Texas |
No. 1 Georgia
Technically, the Bulldogs have not clinched a playoff quote. At this point, you can go ahead and pencil Kirby Smart’s group into the bracket someplace, most likely the No. 1 seed.
Georgia got its third-straight win over a ranked conference challenger in Week 11, managing No. 22 Missouri with ease. Even if the Bulldogs do not win the SEC title, at this moment, they likely have enough strong wins to make the CFP regardless, presuming they do not collapse versus South Carolina and/or Georgia Tech.
No. 3 Alabama
The Crimson Tide stay in a rock-solid area to deal with Georgia in the( last?)SEC Championship a couple of weeks from now. With a win over Vanderbilt in Week 11, Alabama simply needs to beat Chattanooga and Auburn to totally secure a playoff area, which should not be an issue.
No. 8 Tennessee
An underachieving Texas A&M group might’ve been a trap video game for Tennessee on Saturday, however even with George MacIntyre handling an injury, the Volunteers managed their service. At 5-2 in SEC play, Tennessee still has a shot at an SEC Championship Game berth, however a looming match versus LSU might make that hard.
Tennessee is among the SEC groups that might hypothetically still make the field even if it suffers a 3rd loss this season thanks to 2 previous top-10 triumphes.
No. 11 Kentucky
Pin the Wildcats as one of the most significant losers of Week 11. With a loss to Florida, Kentucky now will need to beat Missouri and Louisville over the next 2 weeks simply to even keep an opportunity of a playoff quote.
Even if that takes place, today, it appears not likely that a three-loss Kentucky group might vanquish other possible competitors like a one-loss Texas Tech group, a one-loss Wake Forest group or perhaps a three-loss Oregon group. Kentucky was currently hovering around the bubble, and a loss to the Gators may simply sink Will Stein’s team from the CFP race.
No. 6 Texas
Presuming Texas does not break down versus Arkansas or Texas A&M over the next 2 weeks, Manning will remain in the CFP. The Longhorns would have fallen under bubble area, had they lost to LSU on Saturday. Rather, they will not have almost as much debate after a return win.
Texas is approaching “lock” status, even if the Longhorns do not make the SEC Championship Game.
No. 19 Ole Miss
The Ole Miss-Oklahoma face-off was among numerous college football video games affected by the across the country flight interruptions on Friday, so sadly for fans of those groups– or luckily, for those who choose college football to the NFL– they’ll need to wait up until Sunday afternoon.
Must the Rebels win, they’ll stay on the bubble of CFP contention, most likely requiring some assistance to make the field this season.
No. 17 South Carolina
You can rule Shane Beamer’s system out of the CFP race. South Carolina lost its 4th video game of the season with LaNorris Sellers sidelined on Saturday, as Cutter Woods tossed 3 interceptions, consisting of a pick-six, versus Arkansas.
The Gamecocks currently had a difficult course to the playoff thanks to their waiting for Week 12 match versus Georgia, now, they will not even have the possibility to slip into the field.
No. 21 LSU
And with that, Lane Kiffin’s very first season in Baton Rouge ends without a playoff look. A 4th loss ends LSU’s late playoff push, requiring to survive and construct its resume by beating Texas in Week 11.
The focus will quickly turn to Year 2 under Kiffin.
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