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SEC Shakeup: Oklahoma's Upset Reshapes College Football Postseason
17 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Oklahoma's win at Alabama likely secures a 5th SEC bid to the playoffs
- Alabama's potential 2-loss season poses a quandary for the selection committee
- SMU projected to earn the ACC's automatic playoff bid
On November 17, 2025, the college football landscape was shaken up by Oklahoma's stunning victory over Alabama. This upset not only likely secured a fifth bid to the SEC for the playoffs, but it also dramatically reshaped the bowl options for nearly every league.
The result poses a significant quandary for the selection committee regarding where to rank Alabama should they win the SEC with two losses. While the Crimson Tide still have a path to the SEC title game, their upcoming matchup against an interim-coached Auburn team is expected to be a win. However, their potential showdown with undefeated Texas A&M could be a tougher challenge.
Amidst the chaos, one team that has emerged as a projected playoff participant is SMU, which is now slated to earn the ACC's automatic bid. The Mustangs have had an up-and-down season but are poised to make it to the conference title game and potentially exorcise their demons from last year's heartbreaking loss.
The ripple effects of Oklahoma's victory have created a host of intriguing potential first-round playoff matchups, from the Sooners traveling to Oregon to a potential all-Texas quadrant of the bracket featuring North Texas and Texas A&M. The rest of the bowl landscape has also been shaken up, with teams like Miami, Clemson, and Florida State finding new destinations.
