Which FOUR SEC teams are headed to the College Football Playoff? Could Jimbo Fisher actually return to Florida State? Sports Illustrated college football writer Connor O’Gara is joined by Jim Dunaway of The Next Round for a wide-ranging episode of The Connor O’Gara Show, featuring bold 2026 CFP predictions, SEC football debates, the Florida State coaching search and unforgettable stories from Ireland.
The first College Football Playoff rankings have arrived, and the SEC race is anything but settled. Connor and Jim debate how many bids the SEC and Big Ten will earn, whether a three-loss team can reach the 12-team playoff, and which contenders are positioned to survive a brutal November schedule.
🏈 SEC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS: Is Alabama’s margin for error gone heading into its trip to LSU? Can LSU overcome its road-game concerns? Is Missouri a real threat if it beats Texas? Can Kentucky handle Tennessee, Missouri and Louisville? And what happens when Georgia visits Ole Miss? They also examine the postseason paths for Texas, South Carolina and Florida.
🔥 FOUR SEC TEAMS IN THE CFP? Connor projects Georgia, Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss. Jim goes with Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri, while leaving the door open for Alabama with a win over LSU. Their biggest disagreements could reshape the entire playoff picture.
🎯 FLORIDA STATE COACHING SEARCH: After FSU’s decision to move on from Mike Norvell, Jim floats a surprise possibility: a Jimbo Fisher reunion at a reduced price. They also discuss why hiring the right athletic director matters, with Jim advocating for former Arkansas State AD and Alabama administrator Jeff Purinton. Connor explores other names in the conversation, including Manny Diaz, Glenn Schumann, Corey Hetherman, Charlie Weis Jr. and New Mexico coach Jason Eck. These are discussion candidates, not confirmed finalists.
🇮🇪 JIM’S IRELAND ADVENTURE: Before the football arguments, Jim shares his travels through Dublin, Belfast, Galway, Cork and Killarney, from Irish pubs and the Guinness Storehouse to the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle. Plus, why he isn’t convinced Ireland is the ideal place for every neutral-site college football game.
The episode wraps with game-day food talk, chili dogs, Nebraska’s chili-and-cinnamon-roll tradition, and more Week 10 college football conversation.
Who are YOUR four SEC teams in the College Football Playoff? Drop your picks below, subscribe to The Next Round, and join us for more SEC football news, analysis and predictions.
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