### SEC Turmoil Shakes Up College Football Playoff and Bowl Projections

The latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings have been thrown into disarray following a series of surprising losses by several top SEC teams. Tennessee emerges as the big winner heading into Week 14 after eliminating UTEP and benefiting from unexpected defeats suffered by Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas A&M, all of whom lost to unranked opponents on the road.

These upheavals have complicated the bowl projections, especially within the SEC. Oklahoma and Florida securing their sixth wins has further intensified the scramble. With numerous SEC teams now hovering just outside the playoff picture—10 potential candidates for only nine tie-ins—decisions on placements are more competitive than ever. The Birmingham Bowl and Gasparilla Bowl are identified as the final tie-ins for SEC teams.

Specific bowl games have certain automatic tie-ins. For instance, the SEC champion gets its initial playoff game at the Sugar Bowl, while the Big Ten champion heads to the Rose Bowl. The ACC champion will play in the Peach Bowl, and the fourth highest-rated conference champion, currently forecasted to be Boise State, will compete in the Fiesta Bowl. Pac-12 legacy schools will adhere to existing agreements for their bowl games.

Several intriguing matchups are projected. Memphis might face Colorado State, with the latter standing unbeaten in Mountain West play. Louisiana could encounter Toledo, while Miami University is expected to play against Georgia Southern. Other projected games include Michigan State versus Buffalo and Kansas against Rutgers. Notably, Florida could square off against Virginia Tech in a Sunshine State showdown.

Looking at more projections, Oklahoma's significant victory over Alabama has stirred excitement, with Brent Venables' team now eyeing favorable bowl positioning. Ole Miss finds itself in a tough spot after a shocking loss to Florida, potentially leading to a draft-heavy team during bowl season.

Clemson's playoff hopes linger if they defeat South Carolina and see a Syracuse win over Miami. Missouri might face Duke, and Georgia Tech could go against Michigan. A fascinating potential first-round CFP clash is Indiana versus Penn State, promising an enthralling Big Ten encounter. All eyes remain on the SEC and broader college football landscape as we head into the final, decisive weekends.