Alabama football left out of the College Football Playoff

Alabama football was left out of the College Football Playoff on Sunday in favor of ACC Championship Game loser SMU.

Last night was the worst-case scenario for the Crimson Tide with SMU battling back from a 17-point 4th-quarter deficit to tie the game against Clemson with 16 seconds left to play. Clemson then hit a walk-off 56-yard field goal to clinch an automatic berth into the playoff and open up the possibility of the ACC getting two bids to the playoff.

It's a bitter day for the Alabama Crimson Tide to miss the College Football Playoff. I don't agree with the committee's decision to put SMU in over Alabama, but in fairness, the Tide got what they ultimately deserved thanks to three regular-season losses including a lifeless performance against Oklahoma in Norman in late November.

Brett McMurphy of the Action Network spoiled big reveal on ESPN by scooping SMU being in and Alabama being out right before the selection show went on air:

Alabama's bowl fate remains to be seen. The Crimson Tide is likely to head to the Citrus Bowl for a likely matchup with Illinois from the Big Ten. All eyes will now turn to who opts out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft and which remaining players decide to enter the Transfer Portal.

The offseason essentially began for Alabama on Sunday with the non-playoff bowl games being devalued.