SEC standings: What Georgia's win against Tennessee means for SEC, College Football Playoff

No. 12 Georgia beat No. 7 Tennessee 31-17 on Saturday at Sanford Stadium to throw yet another wrench into the SEC and College Football Playoff race with two weeks remaining in the regular season. 

Carson Beck enjoyed a bounce-back performance with 340 yards, two TDs – and most importantly, no interceptions – which gave Georgia its eight straight victory against the Volunteers. The Bulldogs extended their home win streak to 29 games and had the ultimate bounce-back performance after a 28-10 loss to Ole Miss on Nov. 9. 

Georgia (8-2, 6-2 SEC) is now finished in SEC play. 

Tennessee (8-2, 5-2) suffered a set-back that likely will push them into a complicated argument with Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2) and Alabama (8-2, 4-2) for the last few playoff spots. 

A look at the implications from Saturday's game.

MORE: Updated SEC standings and tiebreakers

How Georgia beat Tennessee in SEC game with CFP implications 

Tennessee jumped out to a 10-0 lead with quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who cleared concussion protocol before the game. He led a 12-play, 78-yard drive on the opening drive, and he hit 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards in the first quarter, and it looked like the Volunteers might run Georgia out of the College Football Playoff once and for all. 

Beck had a slow start. He had just 12 passing yards after three drives, but he bounced back with a pair of TD drives in the second quarter. Beck hit 15 of 29 passes for 183 yards and two TDs in a game that was tied at 17 at halftime. 

What was the key? Six different Georgia receivers – including three tight ends – had receptions of 20 yards or more. Beck resembled the quarterback that was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate at the beginning of the season, and Georgia played complementary football in the second half without running back Trevor Etienne. 

Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson had 11 carries for 68 yards in the first half. He had eight carries for 33 yards in the second half. Iamaleava (20 of 33, 167 yards) was contained in the second half. Beck broke the tie with a 10-yard touchdown run with 5:32 remaining in the third quarter, and Georgia finished the Volunteers with a vintage 12-play, 92-yard TD drive in the fourth quarter. 

SEC standings

Here is a look at the six teams in the SEC with two losses or less after Week 12:                                   

Breaking down SEC playoff contenders 

Here is a look at the six SEC teams and where they stand after Week 13: 

Texas (9-1, 5-1) 

The Longhorns beat Arkansas 20-10 and control their own destiny as a one-loss team in the conference. Texas closes out the home slate against Kentucky before the much-anticipated showdown with Texas A&M on Nov. 30. Those teams have not played since 2011. 

Texas A&M (8-2, 6-1) 

The Aggies beat New Mexico State 38-3 and also control their own destiny in the SEC race. A head-to-head loss against Notre Dame counts more toward the College Football Playoff race, but Texas A&M can't look past Auburn in Week 13. 

Georgia (8-2, 6-2) 

The Bulldogs are done with SEC play, but they will need help to get to the SEC championship game. Still, victories against Texas and Tennessee should help off-set the losses to Alabama and Ole Miss in the CFP playoff race. The Bulldogs are back in the projected 12-team field now. 

Tennessee (8-2, 5-2)

Tennessee is ahead of Alabama and Ole Miss in the conference standings, but they are likely to drop out of the 12-team field in the next College Football Playoff rankings. Is that fair? The Vols have a head-to-head victory against Alabama, but they also have a loss at Arkansas. 

Alabama (8-2, 4-2)

The Crimson Tide have a head-to-head victory against Georgia, and despite losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee – a debate that could get heated – Alabama will probably win that argument. The LSU and Missouri losses in Week 12 hurt the Crimson Tide's chances to win the common opponent tie-breaker if there is a two-loss logjam at the end of the season. 

Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2)

The Rebels had a bye week, and despite losses to Kentucky and LSU they are in a favorable position if there is a two-loss pileup at the end of the season because of the head-to-head victory against Georgia. Ole Miss closes the season with Florida and Mississippi State.