Joel Klatt is currently bullish on the Big Ten’s chance to get 4 teams into the initial 12-team version of the College Football Playoff. If that happens, a key SEC program is liable to be on the outside looking in.

On Tuesday, the updated College Football Playoff rankings were released with the B1G carrying 4 of the top 5 overall spots. Only Texas from the SEC cracked the top 5, and Klatt pointed to that group as evidence that the B1G is poised to lock down 1/3 of the available spots.

“The Big Ten looks like they have the inside track if not just a sure lock on at least 4 spots with those teams all in the top 5 at this point,” said Klatt. “Obviously, Ohio State and Indiana still have to play. Oregon, they continue to win, they’re going to be in the B1G Championship Game and that will put them in the Playoff. Penn State doesn’t really have much left on that schedule, in particular for a team and a program under James Franklin that does not lose to unranked teams. That’s just not something they do anymore.”

The key to the formula is currently Indiana who jumped to the No. 5 slot after reaching 10-0 over the weekend. That means the Hoosiers have a serious shot to get into the final field even if they lose to Ohio State.

“Even if Indiana were to lose in Columbus, I think they would stay in those top 11 teams and I think they would get a spot,” Klatt explains.

So, what are the ramifications of the B1G getting 4 teams on the rest of the country? Klatt expects the Big 12 and the ACC to get one spot each, and the inclusion of Notre Dame and one Group of 5 team would leave the SEC with 4 spots and one key program getting left out of the final field.

At this point in the season, the first SEC program on the outside looking in would be Georgia. Klatt believes that makes Georgia’s game against Tennessee a must-win.

“What you see in this bracket that is a bit jarring is that Georgia would be on the outside looking in,” Klatt predicted. “This is why I maintain, if you start getting status quo up here, I think Georgia has to beat Tennessee.”