Alabama Football: CFP rankings simplify Tide’s path

Alabama football knows what has to happen this Saturday

The penultimate CFP rankings were released, and Alabama football stayed third despite Ohio State losing the week before. Michigan jumped into the top 4 and vaulted over the Tide to be ranked second.

While the CFP rankings don’t matter until next week, this announcement clarified a potential “what-if” that Tide fans have debated. What if Alabama football barely loses to Georgia? Will they stay in?

After this, it is clear that no one can expect Alabama to make the College Football Playoff without upsetting the Georgia Bulldogs.

History is already against the Tide. No two-loss team has ever reached the Playoff. Even some two-loss conference champions lost out to one-loss teams without a divisional championship.

This year, the competition is too muddied. Cincinnati should win its conference and reach the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma State remains in the race if they beat Baylor. Michigan is already favored to make it over the Tide. Even if everything goes crazy this weekend, Notre Dame is sitting right outside the top 5 with a chance to squeak in.

With this conversation settled, fans can now focus on the task at hand. Consider this a playoff game for Alabama football. If they win, they are in. If they lose, they are out.

Alabama is an underdog this week, but the Tide still have a talented roster. At separate times, each position group has stepped up and carried the Tide. The offense dominated against Arkansas. The defense took over against LSU and Auburn. If everything comes together, the Tide have what it takes to beat Georgia and reach the College Football Playoff.

Either way, the Tide’s fate will be settled on Saturday. If they win, we’ll just have to see who they play. If they lose, they will prepare for the Sugar Bowl instead.