Nov 30, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is upset with officials after a Tide player was called for a personal foul during the second half against the Autumn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
The Alabama Crimson Tide look to be in a good spot to make the 12-team College Football Playoff entering championship weekend.
Alabama was ranked No. 11 in the updated CFP rankings, released Tuesday night. As of the committee’s penultimate rankings, Kalen DeBoer’s team has the final at-large playoff berth after beating the Auburn Tigers 28-14 in last Saturday’s Iron Bowl, and after the Miami Hurricanes fell 42-38 in an upset loss at Syracuse.
But one question seems to be lingering: what happens to Alabama if Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers knock off the SMU Mustangs in the ACC title game Saturday night in Charlotte?
Currently, SMU is the projected ACC champion and No. 3 seed in the committee’s bracket. The Mustangs are No. 8 in the current CFP rankings. But if SMU loses to Cade Klubnik and a Tigers offense that has shown flashes of explosiveness this season, and the debate comes down to a three-loss Alabama team vs. a two-loss SMU team, who would get the nod by the selection committee?
USA TODAY Sports columnist Paul Myerberg called a Clemson win over SMU a “doomsday scenario” for the selection committee. It’s also the only scenario, Myerberg says, that could keep Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide from reaching the playoff.
Myerberg explains:
“The Mustangs argument rests on just two losses, both to ranked teams; a nine-game winning streak featuring six wins against bowl teams; only two Power Four wins decided by single digits; and being one of two Power Four teams, along with Oregon, to go unbeaten in conference play.
“Alabama’s case…
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