Alabama football survived Starkville in week 11 of CFB. Georgia and Notre Dame were thrashed in road games, shaking up Playoff possibilities.
For Alabama football fans, hopes of another championship run dimmed amidst the cacophony of an overamped sound system and thousands of clanging cowbells. Late on an SEC Saturday night, those hopes were revived by an Alabama football team that fought its way to victory.
Some Playoff dreams were crushed in week 11 of CFB. On Friday night, Stanford ended any hope the PAC 12 would get a playoff slot by knocking off Washington. Saturday night, Miami exposed an over-hyped Notre Dame team, ending the Irish playoff chances. Oklahoma beating TCU took the Horned Frogs out of the playoff picture.
A surging Auburn Tigers team demolished No. 1 Georgia. The loss did not take the Bulldogs out of Playoff contention but it did catapult the two-loss Tigers into potentially making Playoff history.
In the short history of the CFB Playoff, the committee has never selected a two-loss team. That precedent will almost assuredly change this season if Auburn can beat Alabama and Georgia for a second time in the SEC Championship game. Though far less likely, a second loss by Oklahoma and Clemson might not exclude them, though those losses would have to be close ones in conference title games. Even less likely but not impossible, a two-loss Ohio State might sneak in with impressive victories over Michigan and Wisconsin the B1G title game.
What about Alabama Football?
We have been saying for weeks that a one-loss Tide team could still make the Playoff field. Losing to Mississippi State would not have eliminated Alabama from the Playoff picture. The Tide cannot overcome a loss to Auburn. Depending on what other teams do, a close loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship game might not exclude the Tide.
A nightmare scenario for the Playoff committee would be Alabama 12-1; Georgia 12-1 and SEC Champion; Clemson 12-1 and ACC Champion; Miami 12-1; Wisconsin 12-1; Ohio State 12-2 and B1G Ten Champion; Oklahoma 12 -1 and Big 12 Champion or Oklahoma 12-2.
After week 11, CFB has three Power Five undefeated teams. Alabama football and Wisconsin are 10-0 and Miami is 9-0. The one-loss Power Five group, all at 9-1, are Georgia, Oklahoma and Clemson.
CFB Playoff Top Eight Projection for the Nov. 14, ranking.
BIG Disclaimer: This is nothing more than the opinion of the author. It is only one fan’s best guess about week three of the CFB Playoff rankings.
- Alabama
- Clemson
- Miami
- Oklahoma
- Wisconsin
- Auburn
- Georgia
- Ohio State
It is impossible to sort through all the permutations with three weeks of CFB yet to be played. However, it is increasingly looking like the eyeball test will dictate final committee decisions. A PAC 12 conference champion will not qualify. A two-loss Big 12 champion may not make the final four. A two-loss B1G Ten champion might be left out. So much for conference championships.
What is left is head-to-head, strength-of-schedule (SOS) and the eye-ball tests. Alabama football is not in a great position with SOS. The best Tide win is Mississippi State. Beating Auburn will certainly improve the Tide’s SOS. Should Georgia trip up against Kentucky or Georgia Tech, the Tide might not survive a loss in the SEC Championship game.
Next: Mississippi State blitzed one time too many
Check in with us Tuesday night. We will take a deep dive into week three of the CFB Playoff committee rankings.