Georgia Bulldogs fans need to root for shocking SEC rivals this week if they want a College Football Playoff first round bye

Georgia fans need to be rooting for the Auburn Tigers, Texas Longhorns, and Ole Miss Rebels this weekend if they want to reach all their 2025 goals

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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The Georgia Bulldogs might look like they’re “sitting pretty” after this week’s College Football Playoff rankings, but the truth is that Kirby Smart and company still need quite a bit of specific help to make sure they lock in a first round bye in the College Football Playoff. This could shock some fans considering they’re currently slated to be the four seed according to the playoff selection committee, but a lot can change in the final week of the regular season and championship weekend.

Which shocking SEC rival teams should Georgia fans surprisingly be rooting for this weekend if they want to make it to the SEC Championship Game and secure a first round bye in the College Football Playoff? Let’s jump into the most important games for Bulldogs fans this week.

Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies

Georgia fans might not think they need to care if the Bulldogs make it to the SEC Championship Game, but they should. If Georgia doesn’t make it to their conference championship game then teams like Texas Tech and perhaps a couple others could push them out of the first round bye for the College Football Playoff by playing in and winning theirs. All Georgia needs to make it to the SEC Championship and likely secure a first round bye is a win over Georgia Tech, then a loss from either Texas A&M or Alabama this week. They could lock in both on Friday if they take care of business in the afternoon and the Texas Longhorns upset the Aggies in the evening. A win for Texas also boosts Georgia’s playoff resume since they just crushed the Longhorns 35-10 a couple weeks ago.

Auburn Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

If Texas A&M handles the Longhorns on Friday then Georgia fans only have one more shot at the SEC Championship. The Auburn Tigers need to pull off some wild magic — as they are known for doing — in the Iron Bowl against Alabama. The Crimson Tide obviously defeated Kirby Smart and his Bulldogs earlier this year, so Alabama holds the head-to-head tie-breaker over Georgia in conference standings. However, a loss to Auburn would give Alabama their second SEC loss, knocking them out of the SEC Championship running and more than likely the College Football Playoff entirely. This would knock out a major title contender (who already beat Georgia), send the Bulldogs to the conference championship, and boost their resume since they defeated Auburn earlier this season. Win, win, win.

Ole Miss Rebels vs. Mississippi State

This one isn’t as obvious, but Georgia fans should be rooting for the Ole Miss Rebels to absolutely annihilate Mississippi State this week. First, a win for Ole Miss only further solidifies Georgia’s elite resume as a team that deserves a bye since they beat the Rebels this season. Second — and this is a bit of a 4D-chess consideration here — a win for Ole Miss potentially increases the likelihood that Lane Kiffin stays with the Rebels. Why does that matter? Truth be told, the ceiling is likely much, much higher for Kiffin and the LSU Tigers if he goes to Baton Rouge. Georgia fans should want Kiffin to stay at Ole Miss where there’s still a likely a cap on high school recruiting potential. The last thing Bulldogs fans should want is a red hot LSU with a coach and offensive mind in Kiffin who has given them problems already at a lesser program.

We’ll be back with more Georgia Bulldogs coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

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