Georgia claims 16th SEC title to create College Football Playoff mess

by: Adam Luckett3 hours agoadamluckettksr

The SEC Championship Game is 34 years old. Florida (1993-96), Tennessee (1997-98), and Alabama (2014-16, 2020-21) were the only programs to repeat. There is now a fourth member in that fraternity. Did Kirby Smart finally get that Alabama monkey off his back? It seems possible.

Georgia handled Alabama in a 28-7 win on Saturday afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to claim the program’s 16th SEC title and sixth of the SEC Championship era. UGA has gone back-to-back after knocking off Texas last season. The win gave Georgia revenge after losing at home to Bama in September. Smart is now 1-2 against Kalen DeBoer.

This was the fourth SEC title for Smart. UGA has now won six titles in the SEC Championship era. Alabama (11) and Florida (seven) are the only programs with more.

The Dawgs did it by dominating on defense and winning the field position battle. Uga will sleep like a baby tonight.

👑 BACK-TO-BACK 👑#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/B3EhrIh0EC
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) December 7, 2025

This locks in an automatic bid and bye for Smart’s program in the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs will be making their fifth playoff appearance in 2025. Only Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson have more.

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But this did create a mess.

Alabama now has lost three games, and the committee must decide whether to drop them out of the field or not. The ugly Week 1 loss to Florida State could come into play. Meanwhile, BYU was blown out by Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game. That could also shake things up on Selection Sunday. Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia, and Texas Tech have locked up the byes. Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma all feel like locks. How will the rest of the field shakeout? We will find out tomorrow.

Ohio State and Indiana will be playing for the No. 1 overall seed in Indianapolis while the last bid in the playoff will come down to what happens in Charlotte between Virginia and Duke. A Hoos win means the ACC will be represented. A Blue Devils win could get a pair of Group of Six teams (Tulane and James Madison) in the field.

What a sport.

Current CFP field

1.) Ohio State | 8.) Oklahoma vs. 9.) Alabama

2.) Indiana | 7.) Texas A&M vs. 10.) Notre Dame

3.) Georgia | 6.) Ole Miss vs. 11.) Virginia

4.) Texas Tech | 5.) Oregon vs. 12.) Tulane

First Five Out: BYU (11-2), Miami (10-2), Texas (9-3), Vanderbilt (10-2), Utah (10-2)

Miami could be the team to benefit from an Alabama fall. According to the most previous rankings, they would be the squad positioned to move up if Alabama fell out. The ACC has a chance to get a pair of teams into the tournament for the second year in a row.