The College Football Playoff committee has given Alabama a second life, ranking the Crimson Tide No. 11 and setting up the team to make a deep playoff run. This surprise move comes after two brutal losses to Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, which left many fans questioning whether Alabama was good enough for a spot in the four-team playoff field.
However, with the committee’s emphasis on quality victories over top 25 teams, Alabama’s impressive record against those opponents begins to shine through. The team boasts a 3-1 record against top 25 teams and a 6-1 mark against teams above .500.
Alabama fans will be thrilled that their team is back in contention, but the journey won’t be easy. A win by No. 17 Clemson over No. 9 SMU in the ACC title game could still push Alabama out of the playoff field. Additionally, if No. 20 UNLV wins the Mountain West and No. 10 Boise State remains at No. 10, it could jeopardize Alabama’s spot.
Despite the controversy surrounding this move, committee chair Warde Manuel is standing firm in his assessment: “Alabama got the edge over Miami.” The team’s impressive body of work, including victories over top-ranked teams like Georgia and South Carolina, has earned them a spot in the playoff field.
While some will argue that Alabama’s losses to .500 teams don’t matter, it appears that they won’t be a major factor. With two weeks left until the final decision, the question on everyone’s mind is: can the Zombie Tide make a deep playoff run?
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/the-zombie-tide-are-alive-alabama-has-inside-track-to-cfp-after-controversial-penultimate-rankings-005324253.html