Alabama’s path to the SEC Championship and potentially an easy route to the inaugural 12-team playoff seemed simple: win their remaining games. However, a shocking loss to the unranked Oklahoma Sooners in Norman dashed those hopes, eliminating the Tide from the SEC Championship race and possibly the playoff picture as well.
While Alabama has notable victories over ranked teams like Georgia, Missouri, and LSU, two unranked losses and a defeat to a ranked Tennessee have left their postseason hopes in a precarious position. However, with enough chaos, the Tide might still find their way into the playoff discussion.
Greg McElroy suggested a few scenarios that could help Alabama this week, but they involve extreme circumstances. If Alabama can beat Auburn at home, and California manages to upset SMU in their final game, Alabama could surge ahead as the next team in the playoff race, according to McElroy. Additionally, if SMU defeats Miami in the ACC Championship, the committee would have to decide between SMU and Alabama, weighing which team would fit better in the playoff bracket.
Meanwhile, Miami faces a tough test traveling to Syracuse this weekend in their final regular-season game. The 8-3 Orange could pose a significant challenge to the Hurricanes ahead of their conference title game, adding more confusion to the playoff picture.
Alabama’s road is tough, but several factors could fall in their favor. If those events unfold, chaos will reign, and the committee will have to carefully consider all the angles before potentially placing Alabama back in the Top 12 for the playoff decision.
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