Alabama fans will be focused on ESPN Tuesday night as the latest College Football Playoff rankings come out.
The Crimson Tide moved to No. 6 in Sunday’s Top 25 Associated Press poll. After its victory over Auburn, Alabama head coach Nick Saban told reporters he is willing to campaign for his team to get into the CFP. He stated Alabama is still a good team deserving of the playoff, despite having two losses. Saban hopes the CFP Committee sees this team how he sees it.
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“I think it is a great opportunity for our team to be considered for the playoff,” Saban said after the Iron Bowl. “We lost two games against two top 10 teams by four points, so we are a good football team. Hopefully, people will recognize it.”
Saban said if campaigning for his team gets it into the playoff he will do it.
“I have not really thought about it,” he said. “My whole focus was to win this game. That was the best opportunity we had for anything good to happen to us. To win the Iron Bowl is a significant accomplishment for our team and fans, which we certainly appreciate, and this team won 10 games. I have not thought of anything beyond that. I am proud of our players because I don’t think they were thinking about anything except that as well.”
Will Anderson Jr., a veteran outside linebacker, said Alabama is good enough to make the playoff.
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“Most definitely,” Anderson said about is the Tide good enough for the playoff. “We had a quarterback that went through adversity with a shoulder injury, but we fought hard in every game we played in. We did a good job. The effort was there. We lost to two teams by a combined four points, so I think we have a good team. Our guys have worked hard.”
Bryce Young said the team has to control what it can.
He wants an opportunity at the playoff, but adversity has taught him to be ready for anything. Saban campaigned in 2017 for the Crimson Tide to be in the CFP. Alabama suffered a loss to Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium; however, the Tide got in at No. 4 and won a CFP National Championship. Louisiana State University won a BCS National Championship in 2007 as a two-loss team so anything can happen in this sport. Alabama suffered a 6-9 loss to LSU in 2011, but it got help from schools losing and found itself rematching the Tigers in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game. The Tide is at the mercy of the CFP Committee.
We will see how it rules tonight via ESPN. If Alabama comes in at No. 5, it has a shot to slip into the playoff.
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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.
