Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy believes the College Football Playoff committee has sent a clear message to teams with one or more losses by reducing the Crimson Tide”s ranking by six spots. Following their defeat to No. 8 Oklahoma on Saturday, Alabama”s record fell to 8-2, resulting in a drop to the No. 10 position.
Despite having victories over four ranked opponents, the committee”s decision has raised eyebrows. McElroy stated, “For me, it”s my goodness, man, a close loss, minus three turnovers at home, you lose by two, you miss a field goal and you drop six spots.” He emphasized that teams like Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame should take notice of this precedent.
He cautioned, “If you”re Oregon, if you”re a team that messes around, if you”re Ole Miss, you better win out. I mean, you don”t want to take any chances because a six slots slide from the sixth spot or the seventh spot would have you out of the field. And the committee just did it to Bama, so they”ll do it to you.”
Alabama now finds itself in a position where its future is in its own hands; a win guarantees them a spot in the playoffs. However, uncertainty looms over the potential repercussions of losing in the SEC Championship should they advance to that game.
