The Rebels entered the contest as the No. 7 team in the CFP rankings, but their second loss of the season dropped them out of playoff contention. The defeat also put a dent in Alabama’s hopes of reaching the final four.

“We’re very disappointed in the outcome,” Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said. “Florida played a great game, and we didn’t quite meet the challenge today.”

The loss has opened the door for other SEC teams to make a move in the playoff rankings. Alabama remains in the top four, but Georgia and Tennessee are now considered potential playoff contenders. Georgia defeated Missouri 26-22 on Saturday, while Tennessee rolled past South Carolina 63-38.

“This loss by Ole Miss shakes things up in the SEC,” said ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit. “Alabama is still in the mix, but Georgia and Tennessee are now positioned to make a run at the playoff.”

With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the SEC race remains wide open. Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee all have one loss, while Mississippi State and LSU are both 5-3.

The playoff committee will release its updated rankings on Tuesday, and the SEC will likely have a significant presence in the top 10.

“It’s going to be an exciting finish to the SEC season,” Kiffin said. “There are still a lot of quality teams in contention for the playoff.”