In the latest issue of the College Football Playoff ranking, the Alabama Crimson Tide were ranked as the No. 13 team in the country. What should be made of the Crimson Tide’s latest ranking? What does it mean for Alabama moving forward?
First and foremost, the College Football Playoff committee is of the belief that Alabama is the best three-loss team in the country. Meaning the committee values the Crimson Tide’s three conference losses over three-loss teams like Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Colorado. Alabama has the upper hand in that regard.
However, Alabama sits behind a 9-2 Clemson team that has a relatively weak resume. The Tigers’ two losses have come in the form of double digits against the best opponents that they have seen this season — against Louisville and No. 1 Georgia at the time. Outside of Louisville and Georgia, the Tigers have played one team with a record better than .500 — a 7-4 Pittsburgh team. Clearly, the committee believes that Alabama has to show something this weekend against Auburn in order to be considered for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.
The Crimson Tide have struggled significantly to perform at a consistent level this season. Their biggest wins have come against ranked opponents like Georgia, LSU, and Missouri. However, two of Alabama’s losses have come against unranked opponents in Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. If you consider a loss as being strong, it would have to be Alabama’s loss to No. 11 Tennessee on the road.
Altogether, Alabama has not helped itself out this season. Alabama controlled its own destiny just a week ago leading up to the Oklahoma game. If the Crimson Tide have found a way to beat Oklahoma, they would have been penciled in for the SEC Championship game and increased their chances of reaching the College Football Playoff. Now, Alabama sits on the outside looking in and needs additional help to be considered for the College Football Playoff.
In all likelihood, Alabama needs any combination of losses from teams like No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 6 Miami, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 9 SMU, or No. 10 Indiana. If any of those teams lose, it should only increase the Crimson Tide’s chances of reaching the College Football Playoff if they fend off Auburn this weekend. Alabama has to do what it is supposed to do and welcome any additional help from other teams. That is all that they can do at this point in time.
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Brody Smoot is a team reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “follow” him on X, via @brodysmoot.
