SEC commissioner shuts down thought of conference being left out of CFP

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey didn't hold back when discussing his conference's outlook for the College Football Playoff on Saturday morning.

During an appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay," Sankey explained why he believes No. 1 Georgia and No. 8 Alabama belong in the playoff, regardless of what happens in the SEC Championship Game.

"Let's go back to like 'Sesame Street' so we're really basic — one of these things is not like the other, and that's the Southeastern Conference," said Sankey.

"GameDay" host Rece Davis asked Sankey about the possibility that the SEC could be left out of the playoff with an Alabama win in the conference championship game.

In that hypothetical, No. 2 Michigan, No. 4 Florida State and No. 7 Texas win on Saturday, joining No. 3 Washington in the four-team playoff.

"We have five of the top 15 [in the CFP rankings] ... So when you put us up actually against the teams, rather than in the committee rooms, we stand alone. And we stand alone this year, regardless of today's outcome," added Sankey.

While his point is fair, the results on the field must mean more than what we think we know about the teams in playoff contention.

Georgia, for instance, would probably be considered by most to be one of the four best teams in the country even if it loses to Alabama.

The Tide would have to be a top-four team, too. But what happens to potentially three undefeated conference champions and a Texas team with a head-to-head advantage over Alabama in that scenario?

Who gets left out because the committee simply thinks Alabama or a one-loss Georgia is better?

Sankey's comments are mainly a reminder of why the expanded playoff is necessary. Georgia earned the opportunity to play for the championship during the first 13 weeks of the regular season while Alabama should be able to play for a national title as a one-loss SEC champion.

In a 12-team playoff, both would likely have the chance to win a national title.

However, neither will garner much sympathy if left out of the playoff because of a Crimson Tide win. The Bulldogs can take the decision out of the committee's hands by winning and leaving no doubt about its place in the semifinals. Alabama could have guaranteed its spot in the playoff with an SEC title had it not lost earlier this season to Texas.

If the SEC misses the playoff, its teams will only have themselves to blame.