Alabama football did not even play on conference championship week, but it remained at the forefront of every conversation. Commentators made references to the Crimson Tide upon watching Jalen Hurts lead Oklahoma to a Big 12 Championship and fans of both Georgia and LSU took shots at trolling Alabama in last week’s Southeastern Conference title game.
Many forms of politicking or “Alabama fatigue” have occurred this season, from snubbing student-athletes for national awards to dropping the Tide to No. 12 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Despite both things being unjust, the final piece of the cake was done on Sunday as the CFP committee pushed Alabama to No. 13 – despite it being off last week.
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The group of Georgia, Wisconsin, Auburn and Utah either have more losses than the Tide or suffered one embarrassing defeat; however, all four schools are ranked higher than Alabama.
Take a look at the final #CFBPlayoff Top 2️⃣5️⃣ rankings for the 2019 regular season.
Is your team in?
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 8, 2019
Combined points in losses
Georgia, 30 points (two defeats)
Wisconsin, 45 points (three defeats)
Auburn, 19 points (three defeats)
Utah, 29 points (two defeats)
Alabama, 8 points (two defeats)
Along with carrying the fewest amount of points combined in its losses, the Crimson Tide did not suffer a horrendous blemish.
LSU escaped Bryant-Denny Stadium with a five-point victory, 46-41, and the Tide delivered a prize fight in the second half.
If a stop would have been made on defense, there is a good chance Alabama secures a comeback win at home.
It took extracurriculars for Auburn to beat the Tide – including Alabama starting its backup quarterback and poor officiating among other things.
Regardless of this, Nick Saban’s group dropped by three points (48-45).
Georgia not only lost to an unranked South Carolina team (4-8), but it also got dominated by LSU (37-10) in a game where it had the home-field advantage.
Jake Fromm had rough outings in both matchups, tossing five interceptions combined.
The Bulldogs laid an egg versus the Tigers, yet it’s being rewarded with a trip to the Allstate Sugar Bowl, while Alabama dominated nearly every team it played and yet its destination is the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
Rob Mullens, the CFP’s selection committee chair and executive director, can say “football judgment” led to the Tide’s ranked at No. 13 but Tide fans are not buying the nonsense. At the very least, Alabama deserves to be in a New Year’s Six bowl.
The troublesome defeats of others were not taken into the consideration, versus the competitive misfortunes of Alabama that was.
Saban is hitting the recruiting trail at the moment, but he will remember this for next season.
The revenge tour that was meant for this year will be in full force for 2020.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
