The College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings have been updated, and the Alabama Crimson Tide find themselves in a solid position at No. 11. With the season nearing its conclusion, Alabama is on the cusp of potentially securing a spot in the playoff for the ninth time in the last eleven years. This comes as they await the outcome of the upcoming ACC championship game between Clemson and SMU, which could impact their playoff aspirations.
In the latest rankings released by the CFP selection committee, Alabama sits just one spot ahead of the Miami Hurricanes, who are currently ranked No. 12. The Crimson Tide have faced challenges this season, suffering three losses under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer. One of the more significant defeats was a 24-3 setback against Oklahoma on November 23.
Miami, meanwhile, has also struggled recently, suffering a close defeat to Syracuse with a score of 42-38, marking their second loss of the season. The implications of these results are critical, as the current rankings indicate that Miami would be the first team excluded from the expanded 12-team playoff format. This is due to the fact that the fifth-highest-rated conference champion would leapfrog them in the rankings.
Both Alabama and Miami missed the opportunity to compete in their respective conference championship games, which complicates their chances of moving up in the rankings. According to Warde Manuel, the chairman of the CFP selection committee, teams that are not participating in championship games this weekend will not see their rankings altered. Manuel stated, “Any team that is not playing right now, we don’t have a data point to rearrange where we have those teams ranked, and so that is set in terms of how we see them going into the final week of championship week.” He further explained that the rankings for teams not playing will remain unchanged until the final evaluations are made.
Manuel highlighted the comparative performances of Alabama and Miami, noting that Alabama holds a record of 3-1 against teams ranked by the committee, while Miami has not yet secured a win against ranked opponents. Additionally, Alabama has a strong record of 6-1 against teams with winning records, compared to Miami’s 4-2.
Despite the setbacks both teams have faced, the selection committee’s analysis shows that Alabama has a slight edge over Miami based on their overall performance. Manuel commented, “Both have had some losses that weren’t what they wanted out of those games, but in the last three games, Miami has lost twice, and so for us, in evaluating that body of work, we felt that Alabama got the edge over Miami.”
In the broader context of the CFP rankings, the top spot remains firmly in the hands of the undefeated Oregon Ducks, who have showcased a dominant season thus far. Following Oregon, the rankings feature Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Georgia rounding out the top five. Ohio State, after a surprising loss to Michigan, has dropped four spots to No. 6.
As the championship weekend approaches, the landscape of college football is poised for potential shifts in the rankings, especially for teams vying for a coveted playoff spot. With Alabama holding their position and Miami fighting to stay relevant in the conversation, the final rankings will be eagerly anticipated by fans and analysts alike.
As the excitement builds for the conclusion of the college football season, all eyes will be on the outcomes of the championship games, which will ultimately shape the playoff picture and determine which teams will have the chance to compete for the national title.
