SEC Week 11 Bowl Projections: Will South Carolina make postseason after Texas A&M win?
The 2024 college football season is entering its final stretch as we head into Week 11, and the SEC has been a dominant force all year long. The 16 teams in the conference have combined for an impressive 86-50 record through the first 10 weeks of the season, including a dominant 44-8 mark in non-conference games.
The SEC has eight teams ranked in the latest rendition of the AP Top 25 Poll, with seven of those programs ranked among the top 16 nationally. Two additional programs received votes, meaning a total of ten of the conference's 16 teams got recognition from the voters.
Nine teams have already secured six wins, while only one team is mathematically eliminated from reaching that mark. ESPN gives two additional teams a 75% chance or better of winning at least six games to be deemed bowl-eligible.
Take a look at a prediction of the SEC's postseason picture below:
SEC Week 11 Bowl Projections
College Football Playoff bye: Georgia Bulldogs
While several teams could be deserving of receiving the SEC's first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, the No. 2-ranked Georgia Bulldogs get the nod here. While they have two matchups against top-16 opponents on their schedule, they control their own destiny. Look for the Bulldogs to emerge as conference champions in a very tough SEC.
College Football Playoff semifinals: Texas Longhorns, Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide
The No. 5-ranked Texas Longhorns, No. 7-ranked Tennessee Volunteers and No. 11-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide are grouped together. All three teams have a clear path to the postseason but will fall short of the conference's lone first-round bye.
Birmingham Bowl: Vanderbilt Commodores vs. SMU Mustangs
The No. 24-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores are already bowl eligible as they have a 6-3 record. They will host the South Carolina Gamecocks in Week 11.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
The Arkansas Razorbacks are just one win away from bowl eligibility as they sit at 5-4. They will have a bye weekend before hosting the No. 5-ranked Texas Longhorns in Week 12.
TransPerfect Music City Bowl: South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
The South Carolina Gamecocks have a record of 5-3 and are also just one win away from bowl eligibility. They will face the No. 24-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores in Week 11.
ReliaQuest Bowl: Ole Miss Rebels vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
The No. 16-ranked Ole Miss Rebels have a record of 7-2 and remain in the postseason mix. They will host the No. 2-ranked Georgia Bulldogs this weekend.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs. Wisconsin Badgers
The No. 15-ranked Texas A&M Aggies have a 7-2 record after a tough Week 10 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks. They will have a bye week before hosting the New Mexico State Aggies in Week 12.
Texas Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. Colorado Buffaloes
The No. 14-ranked LSU Tigers have clinched bowl eligibility courtesy of a 6-2 record. They will host the No. 11-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide this weekend after a Week 10 bye.
Gator Bowl: Missouri Tigers vs. Clemson Tigers
The Missouri Tigers fell out of the rankings after their Week 10 bye, however, they are bowl eligible with a 6-2 mark. They will host the Oklahoma Sooners in Week 11