Alabama Football: Latest CFB Playoff Ranking has Tide alive at No. 5

Alabama football fans watched closely tonight as the Playoff Committee released its next to last rankings. Let’s look at what the Tide needs to happen this weekend.

Alabama football fans are in the uncomfortable position of having to agonize over every nuance of possible CFB Playoff Committee decisions. The essential question Tide fans want the committee to answer is “Does the committee believe Alabama is one of the best four teams?”

The answer Tuesday night was no but take a deep breath Tide fans, the answer for Sunday’s last ranking is maybe. How good are the odds that maybe turns into yes on Sunday is anyone’s guess. Anyone claiming to know what the committee will do in every scenario is delusional.

Alabama football needs help to make the Playoff field for the fourth straight season. At least one team ranked above Alabama tonight will need to lose this weekend. As much as it may pain Tide fans, it will be better for the Tide if Auburn is not one of those teams.

An Oklahoma loss to TCU is the best scenario for Alabama. The next best result for the Tide would be a Wisconsin loss to Ohio State.

Only eight teams remain with any chance to make the final four.

Rankings for November 28th

1. Clemson
2. Auburn
3. Oklahoma
4. Wisconsin
5. Alabama
6. Georgia
7. Miami
8. Ohio State

The best news on Tuesday was Auburn jumping to No. 2. Perhaps avoid watching the SEC championship game Tide fans, but root for the Tigers to beat Georgia on Saturday.

Alabama football now needs an Oklahoma or Wisconsin loss to make the field. A TCU win against the Sooners will not propel the Horned Frogs into the top four. An Ohio State win over Wisconsin might nudge out the Tide in the fourth slot but the gap between the No. 5 Tide and No. 8 Buckeyes favors the Tide.

Are there solid arguments for why the Tide should make the final Playoff field? Absolutely. Some national pundits (Ryen Rusillo and Booger McFarland) are beginning to make those arguments. Alabama easily has the best loss compared to Miami and Ohio State. Tonight’s rankings indicate the Committee may agree.

Our best guess going forward

Should Miami upset Clemson, is there a chance the ACC does not get a playoff spot? We doubt it. But a Canes win could still benefit the Tide. If Miami and Auburn win, the Tigers will move to No. 1. In our opinion, the committee would not pick a one-loss Wisconsin, a two-loss Clemson, a two-loss Oklahoma or a two-loss Ohio State over a Tide team whose only loss came against the No. 1 team.

Of course, none of the above paragraph matters unless Oklahoma or Wisconsin lose. What could matter is the dynamic of the committee. Not to say the committee is not 100 percent dedicated to choosing the four best teams. Brad Edwards tweeted this,

"If the Bama-OSU scenario plays out, there’s a good chance 3 committee members would be recused, leaving 10 to vote. If all agreed those teams were 4 & 5, but half had the opposite order, they’d keep revoting until the tie was broken."

Edwards is not suggesting any conspiracy but he is pointing out the choice of the final Playoff spot could come down to a slim margin.

To inject some confidence into Alabama football fans for the wait until Sunday, check out this tweet from Peter Burns.

Next: SEC got it wrong with Sexton as 'Freshman of the Week'

Each Alabama football fan will have to make a personal decision of who to root for this weekend. For this fan, it will be the Canes, the Horned Frogs, regrettably the Buckeyes and (while holding a nose) the Auburn Tigers.