In the words of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, “Going to the championship game should be a reward.” Following Week 12, the SEC teams are in somewhat of a predicament. Right now, No. 3 Texas and No. 15 Texas A&M top the SEC with a 5-1 record each followed by four powerhouses expecting the best outcome from their two conference losses. But for one analyst, the rough phase is only beginning to get real for SEC teams. 

Paul Finebaum made an appearance on a YouTube episode on ESPN College Football on November 18 to drop his prediction on the SEC. He warned, “Mark it down, there’s at least one, maybe two SEC teams that are going to get really screwed. Maybe the loser of the SEC Championship game. Greg Sankey was on our show Thursday night already talking about how ‘going to the championship game should be a reward.’ In other words, don’t hold it against the loser.”

After Kirby Smart’s No. 12 Georgia defeated Josh Heupel’s No. 7 Tennessee on Saturday, both teams are now two losses in the SEC joining Lane Kiffin and No. 11 Ole Miss who had an idle week after their last victory over the Bulldogs. No. 10 Alabama, who is coming off a dominant 52-7 victory against Mercer, is also a two-loss team under new HC Kalen DeBoer. 

Georgia already sealed their playoff hopes after rounding up their SEC play of the season (6-2) by winning 31-17 against the Volunteers. As for the SEC toppers, Texas and Texas A&M will play their last conference game of the season against each other on November 30. As for the rest of the two-loss teams, they can’t dare to stay complacent. 

What’s next for Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Alabama?

Josh Heupel and the Vols climbed the SEC ranking when they beat Alabama. But their last fall to the Bulldogs could be the factor that could leave them out of the picture. Still, they’re 5-2 in the conference looking for their last win against Vanderbilt to remain a strong SEC Championship contender. As for Ole Miss and Alabama, both are 4-2 in the SEC. 

Lane Kiffin and the Rebels suffered against Kentucky and LSU, dipping their championship hopes. But the epic win against Georgia has them climbing fans’ expectations once more. They’re yet to face Florida and Mississippi State. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide will hit the road to face Oklahoma followed by their final home game against Auburn to decide their final conference record. The upcoming weeks will either break or make these powerhouses in their quest for the SEC championship game in Atlanta on December 7.