ESPN's Updates College Football Playoff 2026 Bubble Watch After Week 5

ESPN’s Heather Dinich released her latest College Football Playoff Bubble Watch following Week 5, and the SEC is well represented.

Dinich currently has six SEC teams in the playoff field if the season ended today: Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, and LSU.

quote:

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If the playoff were today

Would be in: Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, LSU

Wrong side of the bubble: Tennessee

Too early to tell: Auburn, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi State

Out: Arkansas, South Carolina

Bracket

First-round byes
No. 1 Texas (SEC champ)
No. 2 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 3 Georgia
No. 4 Miami (ACC champ)

First-round games
On campus, Dec. 18 and 19
No. 12 Boise State (highest Group of 6) at No. 5 Alabama
No. 11 LSU at No. 6 Notre Dame
No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 7 Indiana
No. 9 Florida at No. 8 BYU (Big 12 champ)

Quarterfinal games
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 30, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential on Jan. 1.
No. 12 Boise State/No. 5 Alabama winner vs. No. 4 Miami
No. 11 LSU/No. 6 Notre Dame winner vs. No. 3 Georgia
No. 10 Ole Miss/No. 7 Indiana winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
No. 9 Florida/No. 8 BYU winner vs. No. 1 Texas

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