Alabama Football: Polls punish Crimson Tide after LSU loss

After the overtime loss to LSU, Alabama Football dropped in the traditional polls. It is tempting to suggest the Crimson Tide is unfairly punished in the polls, given it has two SEC, road losses by a total of four points – one coming in overtime and the other on the last play of a game.

Let’s not cave to such temptation. In the end, a two-loss team, one week into November is not a contender. LSU fans will disagree, with the Bengal Tigers being the top-ranked two-loss team. They are not entirely wrong. Win out, including beating Georgia in Atlanta, and LSU can become the first two-loss CFB Playoff team.

The Crimson Tide now faces an unfamiliar gut check, needing a win on the road against an 8-1 Ole Miss team ranked at No. 9 in the Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the AP Poll. Alabama is ranked lower than Lane Kiffin’s Rebels in the Coaches Poll at No. 11 and one spot above Ole Miss in the AP Poll at No. 10.

In the category of being interesting, but currently not mattering, Alabama Football is No. 3 according to the current ESPN FPI and also No. 3 in Jeff Sagarin’s computer rankings.

An Alabama Football loss always thrills College Football

The college football world is rejoicing in the Crimson Tide’s fall, along with Clemson stumbling on Saturday in a road loss to Notre Dame.

Not to complain about the polls, but as an aside, how is it that Tulane is ranked as high as No. 16 in one poll and Liberty is ranked No. 19 in both polls? Have we not learned from past experience of too-high rankings for Coastal Carolina, that the quality of Group of Five teams is often over-valued? And no, Liberty beating Arkansas on Saturday does not prove otherwise.

What this college football season might be indicating is NIL becoming an equalizer, creating more than the normal number of three to five actual Playoff contenders each season.

Returning to the current results of the main polls, the SEC remains well-represented. In the Coaches Poll, Georgia is No. 1; Tennessee, is No. 5; LSU, No. 8; Ole Miss, No. 9; Alabama , No. 11 and Kentucky, No. 24. In the AP Poll, Georgia is No. 1; Tennessee is No. 5; LSU, No. 7; Alabama No. 10; and Ole Miss, No. 11. Five SEC teams in the top 11 of both polls is impressive.

This week, for Alabama Football, current poll rankings don’t much matter. That could change next week.