3 SEC teams project into Playoff? Relax
The season’s biggest non-conference matchup more than lived up to its billing, didn’t it? In LSU at Texas, we got the pageantry of Top 10 teams playing on campus. And then we got performance, too, as a Big 12-style shootout erupted.
It was all so very fun – and very revealing, too, as LSU’s long-awaited, often-promised offense lived up to the offseason predictions and projections. Joe Burrow emerged as a star, with several very dangerous receivers to throw the ball to. And get this: LSU’s coaches will let him do it.
The unlikely combination has propelled the Tigers all the way to No. 2 in the initial Football Four Playoff Projection of 2019, where they lead a very special trio.
The top spot is held firmly by Clemson, which heard the predictions by Texas A&M players of an upset and then clamped down and smothered the Aggies. Beyond Clemson, though?
This is that time of year when everyone either gets very excited because there are a bunch of Southeastern Conference teams near the very top of the rankings, or else they get very upset.
Relax, y’all. It will work itself out.
For now, though, the league’s fever dream is reality.
As always, remember we pick the bracket as if the season was over today.*
Football Four
1. Clemson – Remember how if Clemson had a weakness (or an area of lesser strength), it would be a defense that replaced all those guys who are in the NFL? OK, never mind. Through two weeks, a status report on the defending champions goes like this: Trevor Lawrence: Still super. Clemson’s defense: Same.
2. LSU – Go ahead and bask, Tigers, in the afterglow of that huge victory. Yeah, there are challenges ahead (see No. 3). And if we’re nitpicking, there are now questions about the defense. But LSU won’t face many quarterbacks like Sam Ehlinger, capable of inflicting that kind of damage.
3. Alabama – Nick Saban is not here for your questions about scheduling New Mexico State. He overstated it some, but give him some credit; he has consistently been a proponent of playing challenging schedules. Speaking of consistent, the Tide are … well, they’re really good as always.
4. Georgia – Two games in, the Bulldogs are 1-0 in SEC play and look every bit like the bunch that could win it all. The schedule hasn’t been challenging (yes, it was Vanderbilt), but considering the state of the SEC East – and as important, the strength of the Bulldogs – there aren’t many opponents who’ll present a legitimate challenge.
Four more
5. Oklahoma – Jalen Hurts in Lincoln Riley’s offense? Yeah, it’s gonna work just fine. Then there’s the detection of what appears to be an actual pulse from the defense. The level of competition so far makes it hard to tell for sure, but it’s possible the Sooners haven’t taken a step back – they might be better.
6. Ohio State – Through two games, this whole transition to Ryan Day and Justin Fields is going real well, thanks for asking. The Buckeyes are extremely potent. A 42-0 beatdown of a decent Cincinnati team was very impressive.
7. Wisconsin – The schedule has been pillowy soft. But so far, the Badgers have been fairly stingy. They’re currently allowing (checks notes) zero points a game. And the offense is more than Jonathan Taylor running through holes created by beefy guys who love cheese curds; with Jack Coan, Wisconsin has a legitimate passing threat.
8. Notre Dame – After beating Louisville on Labor Day, the Irish took the weekend off. In two weeks, they’ll visit Athens, Georgia, where they’ll need to be much better than their Week 1 selves.
*The season is not over today