Top 25 Takeaways: Tide-Dawgs rematch; Michigan's CFP path

Showdown Saturday disposed of the SEC pretenders and set up a rematch that seemed inevitable since last January.

Alabama vs. Georgia in Atlanta, this time for the Southeastern Conference championship instead of the national title. It is the earliest the SEC championship game has ever been set.

BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Nick Saban look on while playing the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alabama won the game 29-0. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The much-hyped SEC doubleheader that decided both divisions turned out to be a dud: The top-ranked Tide toyed with No. 4 LSU . The sixth-ranked Bulldogs left No. 11 Kentucky in the dust.

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 03: D'Andre Swift #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field on November 3, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. Georgia won 34-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The Tigers and Wildcats can still go on to good seasons, maybe New Year's Six bowls, but they were out of their league Saturday. Alabama and Georgia have work to do over the next three weeks to set up one of the most highly anticipated SEC title games ever.

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies runs on the field prior to facing the Auburn Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

It's hard to fathom the Tide not arriving at the Benz with a 12-0 record. The Tide offense was sometimes slowed but the supposedly vulnerable defense feasted on LSU's limited offense. Tua Tagovailoa is the Heisman Trophy front runner, but there is a case to be made that Alabama's best player is defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who was unblockable against LSU.

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts in the first quarter of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field on November 3, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Georgia is not as safe a bet as Alabama to get through without another loss. And are the Bulldogs really a threat to take down the Tide? Comparing scores can dicey, but the Bulldogs lost at LSU a month ago.

BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 03: Damien Harris #34 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a second half touchdown while playing the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alabama won the game 29-0. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Both Alabama and Georgia can probably afford a loss before they get to Atlanta and still make the College Football Playoff. No doubt Alabama would get in as a 12-1 SEC champion. Georgia, with a victory against 'Bama, could make a good case as an 11-2 SEC champ. The real question is: If Alabama enters the SEC championship game undefeated does the result even matter for the Tide?

A lot would depend on what else happens around the country.

BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 03: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a third quarter pass while playing the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alabama won the game 29-0. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Let's hope the selection committee is not so quick to give Alabama mulligan if it doesn't win the conference championship. There is little doubt Nick Saban's team is the best in the country — maybe the best he has ever had — but it's not as if the Tide has had to run a gantlet of a schedule this season.

There will be much complaining in advance about even the possibility that Alabama could make the playoff for a second straight season without winning its conference — which would also likely put two SEC teams in the CFP for the second straight year.

Alabama is probably going to make all of that talk moot by stomping everything in its path.

A'MAIZE 'N BLUE

No. 2 Clemson may be the closest thing to Alabama right now. No. 5 Michigan is making a case that it is not be that far behind the top two.

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 03: Michigan Wolverines Head football coach Jim Harbaugh watches the pregame warms ups prior to the start of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

The Wolverines have one last big hurdle remaining before what would be their first College Football Playoff appearance, and it is an Ohio State team that still looks lost.

The Game is three weeks away. Michigan plays at Rutgers next week and has Indiana at home the week after. Then the Wolverines go to the Horseshoe. For the first time since Jim Harbaugh became the head coach in Ann Arbor, Michigan will clearly have the better team when it faces the Buckeyes.

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 03: Brandon Watson #28 of the Michigan Wolverines returns 62 yards for a third quarter touchdown during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Penn State 42-7. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Michigan humiliated Penn State in the Big House. Its defense might be the best in the country and its offense has found an identity behind quarterback Shea Patterson and running back Karan Higdon.

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 03: Karan Higdon #22 of the Michigan Wolverines runs for a short gain as Garrett Taylor #17 of the Penn State Nittany Lions makes the stop during the third quarter of the game at Michigan Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Penn State 42-7. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

The Buckeyes have dominated the rivalry with Michigan for more than a decade, winning 13 out of 14 and all three since Harbaugh took over. But Ohio State in its current state will be hard pressed to keep Michigan out of the Big Ten championship for the first time. The Big Ten West is likely to throw out Northwestern as its representative in Indianapolis.

EVANSTON, IL - SEPTEMBER 29: John Moten IV #20 of the Northwestern Wildcats is chased by Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines at Ryan Field on September 29, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Wildcats were the last team to come close to beating the Wolverines, jumping out to a 17-0 first-half lead on Sept. 29. Since then, Michigan has outscored the opposition 163-48. It's not quite the run Clemson has been on since that same day, when it rallied from 23-13 in the fourth quarter against Syracuse. Clemson has outscored its opposition 254-36 since that point. Michigan's run has come against better competition, though.

FOR THE WIN

Dana Holgorsen and No. 12 West Virginia were going for the win all the way on their final drive against No. 15 Texas , and Will Grier converted the winning 2-point conversion to keep the Mountaineers in first-place in the Big 12.

MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 06: Head coach Dana Holgorsen of the West Virginia Mountaineers looks on in the first quarter of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountaineer Field on October 6, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Holgorsen rarely gets mentioned as being among the best coaches in college football, and that's probably fair. He has only won one conference title and that was when West Virginia was still in the Big East. But in some ways Holgo has become a little undervalued during his seven seasons at West Virginia, known as much for his mad-scientist hair and love of Red Bull than being a sharp offensive who fields winning teams without highly ranked recruits.

The transition for West Virginia to the Big 12 was no small task. Holgorsen guided the Mountaineers through it with only one losing season. Holgorsen's overall record is 60-38, and in the Big 12 he is 37-30.

MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 19: Dana Holgorsen of the West Virginia Mountaineers enters the field against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 19, 2016 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

There are always rumblings that Holgorsen might be on the lookout for another job and that he and athletic director Shane Lyons don't exactly see eye-to-eye. Now Holgorsen's team is a legit playoff contender heading down the stretch, with a home game against No. 7 Oklahoma to finish the season. At this point, Holgorsen is the conference's coach of the year.

AROUND THE COUNTRY

Just when you thought the ACC Coastal was the most muddled and mediocre Power Five division — first-place Pitt!— the Pac-12 South stepped up on Saturday, with Arizona State knocking off No. 16 Utah . Arizona, which was 3-5 and looking like a massive disappointed just a few weeks ago, is now tied for first in the division with Utah and USC at 4-3 ... Next week's big game? Try Clemson going to No. 24 Boston College . Clemson can clinch the ACC Atlantic with a victory, but BC would have the inside track to the division title if it can pull the upset. It will be the first time this season ESPN's "College GameDay" goes to the site of an ACC game ... After losing at home to Duke for the first time since 1976, Miami holds the title of most disappointing team in the country. The Hurricanes were No. 8 preseason and if not for a frantic rally against a terrible Florida State team their last victory would be in September against North Carolina. ... Navy looks like it is headed toward its worst season since going 2-10 in 2002. The Midshipmen were shutout for the first time since 2012, losing to Cincinnati.

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