This may not seem like much at the time, but it could make all the difference in the end for a playoff-caliber team like the Georgia Bulldogs. They entered Week 9 on their second bye of the season ahead of next week's Cocktail Party in Jacksonville vs. Florida. While Georgia had over an 80-percent shot of making the playoff coming into this week, that will surely go up after what we just saw in Norman...
Ole Miss, a team Georgia beat last week at home, got an impressive seventh win on the season at Oklahoma by the final score of 34-26. This second loss on the season not only puts Oklahoma's playoff chances on life support, but inflates Ole Miss' just a bit with that win. With only unranked teams left on the Rebels' schedule, Ole Miss stands a fantastic chance to make the playoff at 11-1.
As for Oklahoma, the Sooners only play ranked SEC teams the rest of the way. They could go as bad as 6-6, but do not expect them to run the gauntlet en route to 10-2. At this point, a 9-3 season out of OU is not compelling enough to make the 12-team playoff. They face a tough schedule, but their best win is at home over what might be the fourth-best team in the Big Ten in a two-loss Michigan team.
When it comes to Ole Miss, the chances of the Rebels winning out will do wonders for Georgia, too.
Ole Miss' schedule the rest of the way should help prop up Georgia a bit
Look. Even with five games the rest of the way, Georgia is going to be favored in every single one of them. Their two toughest games are arguably at home vs. Texas and vs. Georgia Tech in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to end the year. They do have two other conference games vs. Florida in Jacksonville and at Mississippi State in Starkville. Their fifth game is at home to seven-loss Charlotte.
So what this Ole Miss win over Oklahoma does is essentially guarantees Georgia will have at least one win over a team that wins 10 games. Ole Miss is a lock to be ranked inside the top 15 at season's end, probably making the playoff as one of four or five SEC teams. If Georgia loses to either Texas or Georgia Tech, those would be quality losses at this current place in time. That Ole Miss win is clutch!
Even with a second loss, Georgia will have one of the best wins in the country, especially if teams like Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Texas fade down the stretch. Georgia could have four wins over ranked teams, as well as one loss to Alabama. That is a quality playoff resume anyway you slice it. Again, Ole Miss potentially being able to finish the season with 11 wins does wonders for Georgia making it in.
The Dawgs have to take care of business, but they should root for the Rebels the rest of the way, too.