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Alabama Crimson Tide holds on to No. 5 in Playoff ranking … and more

By Ronald Evans

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 8: The National Championship Trophy sits on display to members of the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship Head Coaches Press Conference on January 8, 2017 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 8: The National Championship Trophy sits on display to members of the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship Head Coaches Press Conference on January 8, 2017 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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The latest CFB Playoff rankings had the Alabama Crimson Tide holding on to No. 5, with no changes in the Selection Committee’s top seven.

Three rankings down and three more to go, the Alabama Crimson Tide held firm Tuesday night, at No. 5. All the changes in the latest Selection Committee rankings were at No. 8 and below.

Alabama Crimson Tide fans, knowing well the Alabama football fatigue nationally, had been worried the Committee would punish the Tide because of Tua’s injury. Selection Committee Chair, Rob Mullens said, ” Bama continued on to a convincing win so it (Tua’s injury) didn’t impact the rankings this week.”

Will Tua’s injury ever become a reason the Alabama Crimson Tide fails to make the final four this season? Earlier on Tuesday, former Crimson Tide player, Barrett Jones had this to say.

"Picked up an interesting note talking with a CFP committee member this week: the committee is not allowed to use predictive powers or projections after a player is injured. They can only rank teams each week based on their current body of work (games already played)."

Assuming what Barrett was told is an opinion held by a strong majority of the Selection Committee, the Crimson Tide may have a solid chance to make the Playoff field again. A two-plus touchdown win over the Auburn Tigers might be enough.

There are too many games yet to be played to draw a conclusion. There are some strong indications favoring the Crimson Tide. The Selection Committee does not appear to have much respect for the Big12. It certainly does not rate Baylor highly.

It is harder to guess how the Committee rates the Pac 12. Either Oregon at No. 6 or Utah at No. 7 should be the Pac 12 Champion. The best guess, three weeks out, is that Champion or an 11-1 Alabama Crimson Tide get a Playoff slot.

While the Tide does not control its own destiny, it does not need multiple upsets to be in the position defined above. It just needs Ohio State to win out and for LSU to do the same, beating the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship.

A strong win over now No. 15 Auburn, on the road, would enhance the Tide’s resume. Particularly if the Pac 12 Champion is Oregon, things might end up with the Crimson Tide somewhat playing its way into the Playoff field.

Next. Thank you, Tua!. dark

The complete CFB Playoff Selection Committee rankings are here. The Committee will publish two more rankings before the final one on Dec. 8.

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