By the end of the night on September 26, one popular preseason College Football Playoff pick is going to be completely out of the race. We’re talking about a loser-goes-home type game between No. 23 Texas A&M and No. 10 LSU before October even hits the calendar, and the stakes could not be higher.
The Brutal Truth About an 0-2 Hole
Look, folks, this is not hyperbole. History tells us the cold, hard truth: no team that started 0-2 in conference play has ever made the College Football Playoff. Ever! Think about that for a second. Sure, maybe a bigger playoff field down the road could change things, but right now, for these two teams, that 0-2 is a death sentence. If No. 23 Texas A&M drops this game, they’re staring down an 0-2 hole in the SEC, and their schedule doesn’t get easier. We’re talking about having to face No. 1 Texas, No. 8 Alabama, No. 14 Tennessee, and No. 19 Missouri *after* starting 0-2. You want to talk about a gauntlet? That’s not just a gauntlet, that’s a whole demolition derby in the new 9-game SEC slate! Their season would be toast, and it’s barely even October.
When Millions Don’t Guarantee Wins
Then there’s No. 10 LSU. This team, under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin, has what many are calling college football’s most expensive roster, pushing nearly $50 million! The school brought in Kiffin on a massive 7-year, $91 million contract, beating out Ole Miss and Florida for his services. You drop that kind of cash, you expect immediate returns, right? But some of their biggest investments, quarterback Sam Leavitt and offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, who cost a combined eight figures, looked inconsistent in their 32-24 loss to Ole Miss last weekend. If LSU loses this Saturday, an 0-2 start is a significant disappointment for supporters who expected to win right away after that kind of spending. Their road ahead is just as brutal, facing No. 1 Texas, No. 8 Alabama, No. 14 Tennessee, and No. 24 Mississippi State. Just like LSU, Texas A&M also rolls into this game with one of the sport’s most expensive rosters, landing around the $40 million range. They spent like a program expecting to make a return trip to the College Football Playoff, not one playing for their season in September.
The bottom line is simple: Saturday night’s loser would have to be absolutely perfect for the rest of the season. Even if they somehow pull that off, only one three-loss team, Alabama, has ever made the playoff, and that third loss came in an SEC Championship game. You can squint all you want, but the odds are stacked sky-high against finding a way into the playoff field. For two programs that invested so heavily in this year’s rosters, Saturday, September 26, is everything. This isn’t just a game; it’s a make-or-break moment for two powerhouses. Get ready for some high-stakes college football, because somebody’s dream season is about to crash and burn!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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