Alabama football was ranked No. 1 again on Tuesday night. The CFB Playoff committee will make just two more rankings in setting the Playoff field.
Whether we like it or not Alabama football fans, the Iron Bowl is a CFB Payoff elimination game. The almost always above-average significance of the Iron Bowl includes in-state bragging rights, and Division and potential Conference Championship honors.
For almost every other college football program, winning bragging rights, along with Division and Conference Championships makes for a great season. It should probably still be that way at Alabama, but it is not. Unparalleled success in the Saban era has brought with it the most demanding expectation in all of college football. Anything less than a national championship is viewed as a failure.
ICYMI: Alabama will beat Auburn
CFB Playoff Rankings – Nov, 21st
Last week’s Top Ten teams all won. But the committee did change the Top 10. Miami and Clemson changed places. The new top four is Alabama, Miami, Clemson and Oklahoma. The committee saw fit to adjust Miami upward but did not do the same for Wisconsin.
The next four were unchanged, starting at No. 5 are Wisconsin, Auburn, Georgia and Notre Dame. Ohio State and Penn State again rounded out the Top Ten.
Other upward movers were Washington State (13), Mississippi State (14), Michigan State (16). Washington (17) and LSU (18). A sixth SEC team made it into the Top 25, with South Carolina at No. 24.
In the short history of the CFB Playoff, the committee has never selected a two-loss team. Auburn could become the first with wins over Alabama and Georgia in the SEC championship game. Two-loss Auburn has a chance to break CFB Playoff precedence if it beats the Tide.
The Playoff selection process only has one more weekly update and the final ranking on December 3rd. Undefeated Power Five teams are normally considered Playoff locks. Wisconsin fans are growing nervous the Badgers may not be a lock.
What about Alabama Football?
The Crimson Tide is hampered by the unexpected 2017 demise of Florida State. Beating Auburn will certainly improve the Tide’s strength of schedule (SOS). Mississippi State and LSU moving up in the rankings also benefit the Tide. Still, the Tide’s SOS may not be enough to overcome a loss to Georgia. Alabama football needs Georgia to win against Georgia Tech and Mississippi State and LSU to finish with wins against Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
The eyeball test could perhaps shape final committee decisions, possibly overcoming a narrow Tide loss in the SEC championship game. Conference championships may be less important this season. The PAC 12 champion will not qualify. Two-loss Big 12 and B1G Ten champions could also be left out.
‘Just win baby’ is the theme this week. With Auburn ranked at No. 6, a narrow win will likely impress the committee almost as much as a larger margin. Bring on the Iron Bowl!