Oklahoma produced the most consequential Week 12 result in Tuscaloosa.
The Sooners are now 8-2 with two home games remaining in SEC play. If they win out and finish 10-2, they will be in the playoff field as an at-large team.
Oklahoma owns four Top 25 victories and its only losses are to Ole Miss, a playoff team, and the Texas Longhorns, a top-20 team.
Alabama has a clear path to 10-2 as well with its only tough test coming in the Iron Bowl against the Auburn Tigers.
If Alabama wins out, it could get into the SEC Championship Game, which would put the Crimson Tide in an interesting spot.
Alabama would be safely in the field as a 10-2 at-large team, but a third loss would spark a bit of debate about its status, especially if the loss is by double digits.
While Alabama’s safety net is gone, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and the Georgia Bulldogs still have it and reside in comfortable spots inside the top 10.
A&M survived an upset bid from the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday. The Aggies are safely in the playoff field, but whether they earn a first-round bye will be determined by results against Texas and in the SEC Championship Game.
Ole Miss outlasted the Florida Gators to move to 10-1 and essentially clinch a playoff berth. No matter what happens against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thanksgiving weekend, Lane Kiffin’s side will be in the 12-team field.
Georgia cleared Texas out of the playoff discussion for now with a 35-10 thumping in Athens. UGA can strengthen its case for a first-round bye in two weeks against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
At minimum, the SEC will get four teams into the 12-team field. A fifth team is dependent on what happens with Alabama.
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