Even the best team in the SEC isn't that much better than the 10th-best and that could cost the league's champion a first-round bye in the CFP.
The SEC is the deepest conference in the country. You can make a compelling argument for 10 different teams to make the College Football Playoff at year’s end and the league may take five of the 12 spots. However, with so much parity across the top of the league, even the SEC Champion may not claim a top-four seed and a bye through the first round.