This season was special for the 12 teams that made the College Football Playoff. Some experienced their first playoff appearance, while others made their return. The No. 9 seed Tennessee Volunteers (10-3) made their first-ever playoff appearance.

The Big Ten and SEC have played five head-to-head games during Bowl Season. The Big Ten is 4-1 in those contests, the only loss being Iowa ‘s 27-24 Music City Bowl loss to Missouri. The conference also boasts two CFP Semifinal participants ( Ohio State, Penn State) to the SEC’s one ( Texas ).

Paul Finebaum compared current conversations around Georgia to another SEC powerhouse with high expectations. On Monday's McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, Finebaum addressed a perception that the SEC is no longer a dominant entity.

Paul Finebaum has worked in sports media for over 40 years, including for the Birmingham Post-Herald and, later, the Mobile Press-Register. From 2011 to 2012, he wrote a college football column for Sports Illustrated before joining ESPN in 2013.