Tide Rolls in at No. 11 in Latest CFP Rankings – Playoff Dreams Still Alive

The Alabama Crimson Tide’s path to the College Football Playoff hangs by a thread, but hope isn’t lost. Sitting at No. 11 in Tuesday’s penultimate rankings, the Tide’s playoff destiny could hinge on this Saturday’s ACC showdown between Clemson and SMU.

Under first-year maestro Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide weathered three losses this season, including a bruising 24-3 setback at Oklahoma. Yet they’ve landed one spot ahead of Miami in the rankings, creating an intriguing subplot in the playoff race.

The Hurricanes’ journey hit turbulence last weekend with a heart-stopping 42-38 loss at Syracuse, marking their second defeat. This stumble could prove costly, as Miami risks being the first team left out of the expanded 12-team playoff format, thanks to the automatic bid awarded to the fifth-highest ranked conference champion.

With both powerhouses watching conference championship weekend from home, Miami faces an uphill battle to leapfrog Alabama in Sunday’s final rankings. CFP committee chairman Warde Manuel made this crystal clear during Tuesday’s ESPN broadcast, explaining that teams not competing in championship games are essentially locked into their current positions.

“The rankings for idle teams are set in stone,” Manuel emphasized. “Only championship game performances can shuffle the deck at this point.”

The numbers tell an interesting tale: Alabama boasts a 3-1 record against ranked opponents and a solid 6-1 mark versus winning teams. Miami, meanwhile, stands 0-1 against ranked foes and 4-2 against winning records.

The broader playoff picture shows Oregon leading the pack, followed by Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Georgia. Ohio State tumbled to No. 6 after their shocking loss to Michigan, while Tennessee, SMU, Indiana, and Boise State complete the top 10.

Based on current standings, the 12-team playoff would feature first-round byes for conference champions Oregon, Texas, SMU, and Boise State. The opening round would serve up some mouth-watering matchups, including Alabama potentially facing Notre Dame.

However, Clemson could throw a wrench in the works by upsetting SMU in the ACC title game. This scenario would force the committee to choose between an 11-2 SMU and the 9-3 Tide.

The rankings sparked immediate controversy, particularly from ACC circles. Commissioner Jim Phillips didn’t mince words, expressing shock at Miami’s position and advocating for their inclusion. Hurricanes’ coach Mario Cristobal highlighted his team’s 10-win achievement and close losses, drawing a sharp contrast with 9-3 teams.

Yet the committee’s decision seems rooted in recent performance – Miami’s late-season stumbles and lack of ranked wins telling against them. Alabama, despite their three losses, bolstered their case with victories over ranked Georgia, South Carolina, and Missouri, though setbacks at Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma left their own marks.”