Rivalry Week and the SEC Championship Stakes
Rivalry Week consistently delivers some of the most exhilarating moments in college football. This year, things are no different, given the stakes involved.
As we kick off the final week of the 2025 college football regular season, four SEC teams are in the running for a coveted spot in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. Texas A&M and Alabama are the only two teams that can dictate their own fate, while Ole Miss and Georgia still have paths to the championship, contingent on a few other outcomes.
Now, let’s break down the rankings and what each team needs to do.
SEC Standings Overview
Here’s a snapshot of the SEC standings, with the four teams vying for a championship spot highlighted.
| Team | SEC Record | Overall Record |
|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | 7-0 | 11-0 |
| Georgia | 7-1 | 10-1 |
| Ole Miss | 6-1 | 10-1 |
| Alabama | 6-1 | 9-2 |
| Texas | 5-2 | 8-3 |
| Oklahoma | 5-2 | 9-2 |
| Vanderbilt | 5-2 | 9-2 |
| Tennessee | 4-3 | 8-3 |
| LSU | 3-4 | 7-4 |
| Missouri | 3-4 | 7-4 |
| Kentucky | 2-6 | 5-6 |
| Florida | 2-6 | 3-8 |
| Auburn | 1-6 | 5-6 |
| Mississippi | 1-6 | 5-6 |
| South Carolina | 1-7 | 4-7 |
| Arkansas | 0-7 | 2-9 |
Upcoming Matchups: Texas A&M vs. Texas, Friday, 7:30 PM ET
The Aggies not only need to win against Texas to secure their place in the championship, but they also require specific outcomes. A crucial win over the Longhorns is essential.
If they lose, they would still depend on Alabama losing to Auburn and Ole Miss losing to Mississippi State to reach the SEC Championship against Georgia.
Upcoming Matchups: Alabama vs. Auburn, Saturday, 7:30 PM ET.
If Alabama reaches the SEC Championship Game, they might owe a favor to Vanderbilt’s quarterback, Diego Pavia.
Vanderbilt’s victory over Kentucky last week gives Alabama an advantageous tiebreaker. So, as long as Alabama defeats Auburn, they will be in good shape for the SEC title.
However, dropping the game against the Tigers would not only knock Alabama out of the championship but also jeopardize their playoff chances.
Upcoming Matchups: Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, Friday, 3:30 PM ET
Now, something intriguing about the Bulldogs: they face Georgia Tech in a rivalry clash, but they’ve already wrapped up their conference agenda. Thus, their game won’t directly influence their chances of advancing. For Georgia to join the championship, they’ll need Alabama to lose to Auburn or Texas A&M to lose to Texas.
Upcoming Matchups: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State, Friday, 12 PM ET
If Ole Miss intends to make history by reaching the SEC Championship for the first time, they must win against Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. Then, they’ll need to watch the scoreboard closely.
Simply beating Mississippi State won’t cut it; they also need Auburn to defeat Alabama and Texas A&M to lose to Texas. Should these events unfold, Alabama would fall to 6-2 in conference play, pushing them out of the title race. That would leave Georgia, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss tied at 7-1, but with Georgia and Ole Miss boasting superior winning percentages, they would advance to Atlanta.
Of course, all this is set against the backdrop of uncertainty around Kiffin’s future in Oxford.
