“We’ve scheduled tough,” Swinney said. “All you can do is play the schedule that you have. It is what it is. We basically have an SEC-Big Ten invitational; that’s basically what we’ve got in college football. So you’ve just got to focus on what you’ve got.”

For that, the conference can thank the 12-team College Football Playoff. Without it, this would be a much different season for the league. Were the four-team CFP still in effect this year, the SEC would likely be one Texas loss from missing the Playoff for the first time in the event’s 11-year history.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn't hold back his thoughts on perceived College Football Playoff favoritism for SEC and Big Ten.

Our college football staff likes Texas' chances against Kentucky. But what about the other top matchups this week? Opinions (and our picks) vary.

The SEC title race may still be a mess after this week. Six teams are still fighting for a trip to Atlanta, and if the favorites win their remaining games, five teams will end the