Recently, three CBS analysts on the Cover 3 Podcast examined the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) push to have its three-loss teams viewed as equals to one-loss teams from other conferences. This argument argues that the SEC’s brutal schedules justify more losses, but these analysts weren’t entirely buying it.
The SEC’s Strength-of-Schedule Argument: Valid or Overstated?
The SEC has built a reputation as college football’s toughest conference, and they have a point. Their teams often face a gauntlet of ranked opponents, especially within their league. During the 2024 CFP selection process, this narrative was loud and clear as the conference argued that teams like Alabama, Ole Miss, and South Carolina, all with three losses, deserved a seat at the table alongside one-loss teams from other conferences.
Bud Elliott, one of the feature analysts, responded to Chip Patterson, noting, “This whole argument in the SEC is ridiculous that their schedule strength was not given consideration. It was the fact that Alabama, Ole Miss, or South Carolina were considered at all speaks to them out of consideration.” In other words, the committee didn’t ignore the SEC’s tough schedules; those teams in the conversation prove it.
Looking at the 2024 season, the SEC’s case holds some water. Alabama, for instance, finished 9-3, with losses to Vanderbilt (40-35), No. 6 Tennessee (24-17), and Oklahoma (24-3), according to the final CFP rankings. All losses were on the road.
Meanwhile, Indiana, a one-loss Big Ten team, ended 11-1. Their only defeat was a 38-15 loss to No. 5 Ohio State. Indiana’s schedule, while solid, didn’t feature the same density of top-tier opponents.
Elliott highlighted a key sticking point: “The problem was you had Indiana, which had just one loss, and you’re trying to compare a three-loss team to a one-loss team.” Alabama made the top 12 as the No. 11 seed, but Indiana still landed at No. 10, suggesting wins still carry significant weight.
The committee factors in the strength of schedule, using metrics like the NCAA’s official strength of schedule rankings and game-by-game evaluations. In 2024, Alabama ranked ahead of two-loss teams like Miami (10-2) and BYU (10-2) despite their three losses, showing the SEC’s schedule strength gave them an edge.
Still, the cutoff at 12 teams left little room for three-loss squads to leapfrog teams with better records, raising the question: Does the SEC’s argument hold up, or are they asking for too much credit?
Case Study: Indiana vs. SEC Teams in the 2025 CFP Race
Fast-forward to the 2025 season, and the same tug-of-war could dominate the CFP conversation. Imagine Indiana repeating a strong campaign, finishing with one loss, while an SEC team like Alabama or Ole Miss ends up with three.
Elliott foresaw this scenario, stating, “You’re trying to compare a three-loss team to a one-loss team, and those three losses are either like two legitimately pretty … teams like Oklahoma or in Ole Miss, whereas Indiana hung pretty competitive and oftentimes took care of business and blew out teams themselves.” This sets up a classic clash: a team with fewer losses but a lighter schedule versus a battle-tested squad with more stumbles.
Who Has The TOUGHEST Schedule In College Football In 2025? Strength Of Schedule Rankings & MORE! https://t.co/HSAM66cEnc
— Cover 3 Podcast (@Cover3Podcast) June 11, 2025
In 2024, Indiana’s dominance was evident. They won nine of their 11 by 14 points or more, often crushing unranked opponents like Western Illinois (77-3) and Charlotte (52-14). Their loss to Ohio State was respectable. They trailed by only eight points at halftime before fading.
Alabama’s season told a different story. While their losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee were tight contests against elite teams, the 24-3 blowout at Oklahoma, a team that finished 6-6 and unranked, stood out as a red flag. The committee slotted Alabama into the playoff, but their seeding below Indiana hints that a single loss, even against a weaker slate, can trump three losses, no matter the competition.
KEEP READING: ‘There’s No One Who’s Clearly Gonna Be Ahead of Them’ — Analyst Gets Honest About No. 1 Team in the SEC
For 2025, the SEC will likely lean on their depth again. Eight SEC teams made the final 2024 CFP top 25, compared to four from the Big Ten. If that trend holds, an Alabama or Ole Miss could rack up losses to ranked programs and still claim their schedule justifies a playoff nod.
Indiana, or a similar one-loss team, would need to keep piling up convincing wins to stay ahead. The analyst doubts the committee will fully buy the SEC’s push, suggesting that a one-loss record will be tough to topple unless those three-loss teams show late-season dominance.
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