Alabama Crimson Tide Lands at No.11 in CFP’s Latest Rankings
If You Know College Football, Then You Know Never to Count Alabama Out of the CFP Picture
No Matter When You Read This, the Committee Loves Alabama
Raise your hand if you thought with this year being the first in which the College Football Playoffs would be played with 12 teams instead of four, things would be different.
Ok cool.
Now raise your hand if you honestly believed Alabama, a perennial CFP giant, and usual betting odds favorite, would find a way to make it into the rankings entering the last week of the season, considering we’re talking about a three-loss team.
The college football playoff committee in 2031 trying to justify putting 5-7 Alabama in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/B3IZBA8D1Z
— College Football Live (@CollegeFBonX) December 4, 2024
Now that we have that out of the way, did everybody catch the latest NCAAF news bomb? Alabama took the #11 spot in the penultimate CFP rankings this past Tuesday, beating the Miami Hurricanes by one and putting them in a premier place to head back for a ninth appearance in 11 years in the CFP.
Sounds easy enough, right? Well, let’s add a little Miami and Clemson drama into the mix for fun.
Does Miami Have a Point in Hating Alabama Right Now?
Sure, Miami has every point to be upset with Alabama’s preferential treatment by the CFP committee. As echoed by NCAAF rumors sites, committee chairman Warde Manuel was adamant that ranked teams wouldn’t see their rankings changed even if they are not participating in any conference title games this week.
“Alabama is 3-1 against current top-25 teams and Miami is 0-1. Alabama is 6-1 against teams above .500 and Miami is 4-2.”
CFP Selection Committee Chair Warde Manuel on why Alabama is ranked above Miami in the latest CFP rankings. pic.twitter.com/0gWteS5nA8
— ESPN (@espn) December 4, 2024
But then again, when looking at things rationally, the Hurricanes have no other option than accepting their fate.
Miami and Alabama’s record against bowl eligible teams on the road this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/SylLggw5hw
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 2, 2024
Yes, Miami has one less loss in its season record than Alabama. Still, in hindsight, Alabama is 3-1 playing against teams currently ranked by the committee, while Miami is 0-1, with that loss coming against Syracuse this past weekend.
So, where does this leave Cam Ward and the Hurricanes? Simple, out of the playoffs. But not because of Alabama; it’s all because of them.
It’s All up to Clemson Now
Ok, the Hurricanes are covered. Now, let’s talk about the Tigers. In an unexpected turn of events, Alabama’s hopes of making it into the final CFP brackets will be hanging on if Clemson can come up with the upset win against SMU in the ACC title game this weekend.
If No. 17 Clemson beats No. 8 SMU in the ACC Championship game, should No. 11 Alabama Football be knocked out of the CFP? @PatMcAfeeShow and the crew discuss 💭 pic.twitter.com/qwbAhEsejV
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 4, 2024
Clemson, who have lost three college football games this season and is currently ranked at #17, would love nothing more than to finish out the season as conference champions once again. But considering the budding rivalry the team has had with Alabama in the past few years, one can’t beg to wonder if the Tigers could give ‘Bama something to sweat over this Saturday.
Clemson realizing they hold Alabama’s college football playoff hopes in their hands. pic.twitter.com/UOxAc0660V
— At The Buzzer (@AtTheBuzzer1) December 4, 2024
When looking at it from a business perspective, there’s no other way to see this. Alabama in the playoffs means much better business than other ranked teams. If the Crimson Tide were already slated within the top 5 ranked teams, there would be an uprising of fans taking them as one of their college football picks today.
Since Kalen DeBoer’s team will be watching from home and praying for a Clemson miracle, though, maybe taking the Tigers in a college football picks and parlay ticket could be the way to go for Bama fans.
