The only sure way Alabama football can clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff would be by beating Georgia next week to win the SEC Championship. That would earn the Crimson Tide an automatic bid to the playoff. A loss, however, puts their fate into the hands of the committee, which has proven to be inconsistent in its evaluations.
Sure, a loss in the conference championship game shouldn't hurt Alabama. But until a couple of weeks ago, we didn't know that rushing yards would be such a large part of the CFP criteria until Arkansas AD - and CFP chair - Hunter Yurachek opened his mouth.
Perhaps Alabama's 158 rushing yards in the Iron Bowl will be enough to impress Yurachek. The Crimson Tide's 27-20 win over Auburn on Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium was enough to clinch the team's spot in Atlanta next week opposite Georgia with the SEC Championship on the line.
Whether it was enough to clinch a spot in the playoff will be determined if Alabama falls to the Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz next week.
According to Kalen DeBoer, he believes his team has done enough regardless of the outcome of next week's game against Georgia.
"That would blow my mind," DeBoer said of the prospect of getting left out now. ..."We're 10-2 and 7-1 in the SEC with all these ranked wins, and some wins on the road. We got more than a playoff-caliber football team. There's not a question in my mind."
Alabama's best bet is to beat Georgia and take the decision away from the CFP committee
Alabama simply can't leave the decision in the hands of the College Football Playoff committee. It's anybody's guess what they would decide to do if the Crimson Tide loses next week to Georgia. Despite setting the precedent last year by keeping SMU in over Alabama despite the Mustangs losing to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, there's no guarantee they would make the same kind of decision two years in a row.
The doomsday scenario for Alabama would be losing to Georgia and then seeing BYU upset Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game. That would almost certainly mean the Big 12 gets two teams in, and could knock Alabama out of the CFP.
But it's a simple reality for DeBoer and the Tide. Beat Georgia next week, and you're in the College Football Playoff. Hell, it might be enough to earn you a bye. Worst case, a win gets you a home playoff game.
Lose, and well, you're leaving your fate in the hands of 12 guys sitting in a room who have already proven to the world that they don't know ball.