Let's say a 2-loss SEC Team, sitting 10th in the playoff order, plays an unbeaten SEC team, sitting #2 in the playoff order, for the SEC Championship. Pretty obvious that should the unbeaten team get upset, they'll still be in the playoffs albeit as a lower seed. However, the 2-loss team might very well not make the playoffs at all with a 3rd loss while the top G5 team (let's say they have 1-loss) makes it automatically. Does the 2-loss SEC HAVE to play for the SECC or can they decline and wait for playoffs assuming they'd still be included even opting out of the SECC game (which will have very little meaning except seeding for the 12-team playoff)? Would the unbeaten SEC team allow/encourage their stars to sit out the SECC game to avoid an injury which would torpedo their hopes of winning the NCAA championship?
Looking at this year's situation, if I know there is a 12-team playoff and I'm Georgia, I might very well hold out Bowers, my QB, my best RB, my best OL/DL, hell - most of my starters. Why risk losing a key player in a game that literally means nothing to them? Would you rather get beat in the SECC game and win the 12-team playoff or vice versa? Seems pretty obvious.
Very quickly, I believe conference championship games will become utterly meaningless in much the same way that minor bowls where many of the stars opt out of have become.
Looking at this year's situation, if I know there is a 12-team playoff and I'm Georgia, I might very well hold out Bowers, my QB, my best RB, my best OL/DL, hell - most of my starters. Why risk losing a key player in a game that literally means nothing to them? Would you rather get beat in the SECC game and win the 12-team playoff or vice versa? Seems pretty obvious.
Very quickly, I believe conference championship games will become utterly meaningless in much the same way that minor bowls where many of the stars opt out of have become.