Alabama Football: CFB Contenders, Pretenders and Too Soon to Call

CFB ‘Contenders’

Without predetermining a certain number, this category sits at just 10 teams. It is heavily stilted to teams with a chance for a College Football Playoff berth.

There is a big if concerning one contender team. Should any Pac 12 team qualify for the CFB Playoff with a regular season of only seven games? The conference has no games until Nov. 7. With a Pac 12 Championship game scheduled for Dec. 19, some teams in the league, due to COVID cancellations, might play fewer than seven games.

The CFB Playoff Selection Committee has not excluded the Pac12, despite the reduced schedule. Practically, any team less than an undefeated Pac 12 Champion, has little chance of making the Playoff field.

• Alabama Crimson Tide – Listed first because it can be argued the Tide is the best team in CFB. Alabama football defensive consistency is so far lacking, but Nick Saban’s team is loaded with talent.
• Clemson Tigers – The college football world is convinced the Tigers are a Playoff lock.
• Notre Dame Fighting Irish – The Irish are Clemson’s greatest threat with the one-season membership in the ACC.
• Georgia Bulldogs – Oct. 17 in Tuscaloosa will be huge. The loser will not be out of Playoff contention.
• Florida Gators – The best team in Gainesville for many seasons might be the best in the SEC East.
• Oklahoma State Cowboys – With the collapse of Oklahoma and Texas the Cowboys have a strong chance for a Big 12 Championship.
• Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Wisconsin Badgers, and the Oregon Ducks – Yet to start, their preseason rankings make them current contenders.

A ‘Done’ category will be added to these lists soon. We expect it needs no explanation.