There are three primary reasons why the Alabama Crimson Tide is in the Playoff field. One is Alabama's full season body of work, which, based on Strength of Schedule, is Playoff worthy. A second reason is that Alabama survived the SEC Championship Game beatdown by Georgia because the Tide beat the Dawgs in Athens.
For the first time in weeks Hunter Yurachek made sense explaining why Alabama made the field, "We evaluated all of those conference championship games and felt like in the end, regardless of Alabama's performance yesterday, their body of work in those first 12 games when they had probably the best win, arguably, this whole season, winning at No. 3 Georgia, having to win against Vanderbilt, win against Tennessee as well, that their strength of schedule was the highest in the top-11."
The third reason Alabama made the playoff field requires speculation that is shared by others. The CFB Playoff Selection Committee was unwilling to endanger the future of the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama Crimson Tide and Oklahoma are closely matched
Alabama football fans are relieved and immediately grasped optimism that the Alabama Crimson Tide can win in Norman on Dec. 19, against the Oklahoma Sooners. Per FanDuel, the game opened on Sunday with the Crimson Tide as a 1.5-point favorite.
Based on the regular season, the two teams are equally matched. The Sooners won 23-21 in Tuscaloosa and also beat Tennessee on the road, winning their last four games. Ole Miss beat Oklahoma in Norman, 34-26, and the Sooners lost to Texas in Dallas, 23-6. Based on ESPN's FPI algorithm, Alabama had the nation's sixth-toughest schedule, and Oklahoma was No. 12. Alabama is ranked No. 8 in ESPN's FPI and Oklahoma is ranked No. 15. Brian Fremeau's FEI Ratings has the Alabama Crimson Tide ranked No. 10 and the Sooners ranked No. 13.
Oklahoma has a strong defense, but Alabama had 406 yards against the Sooners in the close loss. Three turnovers and a missed field goal cost the Crimson Tide a win.
Brian Fremeau's opponent adjusted rankings as the Crimson Tide with the No. 12 offense among all FBS teams in Offensive Efficiency. Oklahoma's offense is ranked No. 52.
The Sooners have a defense that will provide a major challenge to the currently struggling Alabama football offense. In Defensive Efficiency, the FEI Ratings have the Sooners ranked higher than Georgia. Oklahoma is No. 4, and the Bulldogs are No. 15. For the same stat, Alabama is ranked No. 10.