The potential path to the playoff for the Alabama Crimson Tide

On Tuesday night, the penultimate College Football Playoff Committee rankings were unveiled. They were as follows:

The elephant in the room Tuesday night was obviously the placement of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Being placed at No. 5, they certainly have a path into the Playoff, even after losing the Iron Bowl in their final regular season game.

Saturday is a day chock-full of huge matchups that will affect the committee’s final decision. The Tide may not be in action, but if you’re Nick Saban or any Alabama player or fan, it’s essentially game day. In every Power Five conference title game, this is who Tuscaloosa should be rooting for.

Big Ten Championship: (4) Wisconsin vs. (8) Ohio State

An undefeated Power Five conference champion, no matter how weak the schedule, has to be a lock to get in. As much criticism as Wisconsin has gotten for playing a slate full of sub-par teams, avoiding Ohio State and Penn State in the regular season, and a soft non-conference schedule, the Badgers would undoubtedly get in if they remain unbeaten.

That is why Alabama should be rooting for Ohio State. The case for the Tide over the Buckeyes is a far more feasible one. Both teams have the same number of top 25 wins, and Alabama has a far better looking loss column. While Alabama suffered a two-score loss on the road against the second-ranked team in the country, Ohio State was clobbered at home by Oklahoma and also suffered a 31-point loss at the hands of unranked Iowa.

On the CFP rankings broadcast, robotic Kirby Hocutt claimed that perception didn’t matter to the committee, but if they bend over backwards for Ohio State again, the process will be called into question more than ever before. In the fourth year of the CFP, this would make the third time that the Buckeyes, on the outside looking in, would be given the benefit of the doubt. Hocutt is a puppet that has to say all the right things, but there’s no doubt everyone in that room knows what happens if Ohio State is let in.

Big 12 Championship: (3) Oklahoma vs. (11) TCU

Should Oklahoma win, it’s a given that the Sooners are in. They, along with the rest of the top four, control their own destiny.

Sitting at No. 11, it’s questionable how far a win would cause TCU to jump. Conference titles are one of the important criteria for the committee, but they certainly don’t seem to love the Horned Frogs. Considering the rest of the factors that are in play, it’s likely that one-loss Alabama would get in over Big 12 champion TCU.

Like in the Alabama-Ohio State argument, it’s important to remember one key thing. As much as Hocutt, and Jeff Long in the past, talked about conference champions, they’ve had no problem leaving them out in the last three seasons. Just look at Penn State last year. Focus on what the committee does, not what they say.

ACC Championship: (1) Clemson vs. (7) Miami

For Alabama, this game is more about the argument between them and the loser. A win for Clemson would lock them into the playoff, and Miami, with a fairly weak resume, would be out. It’s a certainty that Alabama would get in over Miami, should the Hurricanes lose.

A Miami win makes things more complicated. The committee has made it clear that they love Dabo Swinney’s team. The punishment for a loss to Syracuse, who isn’t even bowl-eligible, was nonexistent. According to Hocutt, the committee has taken into account the fact that Kelly Bryant was injured in that game. At what point was it decided that injuries and depth weren’t a part of football? If the Kelly Bryant injury is a factor, do the Tide get a pass for the Auburn loss, considering their injuries at linebacker? What about if Kerryon Johnson can’t play Saturday and Auburn falls to Georgia? Will the Tigers get a pass for that loss with their leading rusher out? If injuries make losses disappear, what’s the committee’s take on all of USC’s defensive injuries?

Point being, it’s better for Alabama if Clemson wins and one playoff spot gets locked up, as opposed to Miami being in along with Clemson possibly taking a second spot.

Pac 12 Championship: (10) USC vs. (12) Stanford

It’s unlikely that either USC or Stanford would get in over Alabama, but for good measure, a Stanford win would fully eliminate both.

In that scenario, the Cardinal would be a three-loss conference champion, and USC would also have three losses.

More from Southbound and Down

• Texas A&M vs. Auburn: Line, Prediction, TV Channel & Live Stream for SEC Football
• 3 Up’s, 3 Down’s from Georgia’s 24-14 Win Over South Carolina
• Ole Miss Football: Looking back at the Rebels career of Zedrick Woods
• Alabama vs. Ole Miss: Line, Prediction, TV Channel & Live Stream for SEC Football
• “Horns Down” will not be a Penalty in the SEC

With a win, USC would be a two-loss conference champion, but with a resume that features a blowout loss and only one top-25 victory, it’s tough to imagine the committee going with USC over the Crimson Tide.

SEC Championship: (2) Auburn vs. (6) Georgia

This is the only game Saturday that ultimately doesn’t matter for Alabama. The winner will get in, and the loser will be eliminated.

Should Auburn win the conference title, along with such a late head-to-head victory, they will certainly be in over Alabama. If Georgia wins, they will be a one-loss conference champion and will have avenged that one loss to Auburn.

This is certainly a great game, but for the Tide’s playoff hopes, this one is inconsequential.