ESPN analyst Greg McElroy has challenged the prevailing view that Alabama“s chances for the College Football Playoff (CFP) were dashed following their 28-7 defeat to Georgia in the SEC Championship. Speaking after the ACC title game on Saturday night, the former quarterback for the Crimson Tide argued that Alabama remains “comfortably in” the 12-team playoff picture, even with three losses.
During the discussion, a graphic illustrated the potential playoff scenarios, highlighting teams such as Notre Dame and Miami, which are directly behind Alabama in the rankings. The Crimson Tide entered the championship weekend ranked No. 9, a position McElroy believes was strategically placed in anticipation of a possible loss.
McElroy referenced last season”s example of SMU, which qualified for the CFP despite falling in their conference championship. “The committee did this last year,” he noted, emphasizing that they tend to avoid harsh penalties for teams that compete in conference title games. “They do not want to de-incentivize conference championship participation.”
Even though Alabama”s loss was more significant than SMU”s narrow 34-31 defeat to Clemson, McElroy contends that the margin of defeat will not be sufficient to eliminate the Tide from contention. Alabama”s resume includes a 2-2 record against Top 25 teams, which is comparable to the combined records of both Miami and Notre Dame.
Further complicating the playoff picture are Alabama”s losses to Florida State, Oklahoma, and Georgia. McElroy acknowledged that Miami”s victory over Notre Dame will ignite discussions, especially with BYU expected to drop in the rankings, further tightening the playoff race.
Despite the competitive landscape, McElroy maintains that Alabama is still safely above the cut line. Ultimately, the playoff selection committee will announce its decisions on Sunday at noon ET, at which point the intricate debates surrounding the final playoff spots will come to a head.
As the college football season approaches its climax, all eyes will be on the committee”s verdict and how it will impact the teams vying for a shot at the championship.
