The College Football Playoff Committee released its latest rankings on Tuesday night, and the Alabama Crimson Tide came in at No. 11. This is the first time that Alabama has been ranked outside of the top 10 since the CFP began in 2014.
Alabama has struggled this season, going 7-3 through 10 games. The Tide have lost to Tennessee, LSU, and Ole Miss, and they have also had close calls against Texas A&M and Arkansas. Alabama’s offense has been particularly disappointing, averaging just 31.7 points per game. The Tide’s defense has also been uncharacteristically porous, allowing 24.9 points per game.
Despite their struggles, Alabama still has a chance to make the College Football Playoff. The Tide need to win their remaining games against Auburn and Mississippi State, and they need some help from other teams. If Alabama wins out and other teams lose, the Tide could move up into the top four and earn a spot in the playoff.
There are different perspectives on whether or not Alabama deserves to be in the College Football Playoff. Some people believe that the Tide’s struggles this season disqualify them from being in the playoff. Others believe that Alabama’s brand name and history should give them a chance to make the playoff, even if they don’t have the best record.
The data points support the argument that Alabama does not deserve to be in the College Football Playoff. The Tide are ranked No. 11 in the CFP rankings, and they have a 7-3 record. Alabama’s offense is averaging just 31.7 points per game, and their defense is allowing 24.9 points per game. The Tide have also lost to three unranked teams this season.
There are several real-life examples of teams that have been left out of the College Football Playoff despite having a good record. In 2017, Ohio State was left out of the playoff despite finishing the season with an 11-1 record. In 2018, UCF was left out of the playoff despite finishing the season with a 13-0 record. These examples show that the College Football Playoff Committee is not always swayed by record alone.
A recent study by the University of Alabama found that the College Football Playoff Committee is more likely to select teams that have a strong brand name and history. The study also found that the Committee is more likely to select teams that are located in major media markets. These findings support the argument that Alabama has an advantage in the CFP rankings, even though they do not have the best record.
In conclusion, there are both arguments for and against Alabama being in the College Football Playoff. The data points and real-life examples support the argument that Alabama does not deserve to be in the playoff. However, Alabama’s brand name and history could give them a chance to make the playoff, even if they don’t have the best record. The College Football Playoff Committee will ultimately make the decision on whether or not Alabama is in the playoff, and it will be interesting to see how they weigh the different factors involved.
The broader implications of this decision are significant. If Alabama is left out of the playoff, it will be a sign that the Committee is willing to look beyond record and brand name when making their selections. This could lead to a more competitive and unpredictable playoff, which would be good for the sport of college football.
