Beyond the wins and losses, there is a narrative at stake here that’s more than just wins and losses. A loss in the College Football Playoff opener can steer conventional wisdom — right or wrong — about a team, or in this year’s case, whether half the sport even belongs in the format at all.
Eight teams are will kick off the CFP festivities in this year’s format that gives us straight seeding, opposed to last year where four of the five highest-ranked conference champions earned the first-round byes. So, going matchup by matchup, what would a loss mean for each team that plays in the first round?
Let’s have a look at the potential consequences …
Alabama: The Kalen DeBoer “will he or won’t he” will only get turned up to 11 if Alabama is unable to come away with the victory for a second time this season against Oklahoma. When you stack it up, losses to Oklahoma would be the bookends to a wretched final third of the season for Bama. After four wins in a row against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri (with Beau Pribula) and Tennessee, no team was hotter than the Crimson Tide in October. It looked like they had moved past their embarrassment against Florida State. Then, they lost to OU in Tuscaloosa in a turnover-fueled showcase. Then, they nearly lost to Auburn after going up 17-0. Then, got drubbed by Georgia in the SEC title game.
Now, if they fall to the Sooners for a second time this fall? It will begin a loud offseason of is he the right man for the job for DeBoer, which is a drumbeat that feels like it barely every really faded since he showed up in the wake of Nick Saban’s dynastic run. That is, of course, if he is telling the truth when saying he plans on being Alabama’s coach next season amid the Michigan rumors.
Oklahoma:…
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