Alabama Playoff Chances: What needs to happen for Kalen DeBoer to secure CFP berthÂ
The No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide are one step closer to competing in the College Football Playoff. Coach Kalen DeBoer led the team to their ninth win against the Auburn Tigers in Week 14. On Dec. 3, the College Football Playoff selection committee decided to rank "The Tide" No. 11 after the win and positioned them to compete in the postseason tournament.
Alabama (9-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) won a commanding 28-14 victory over Auburn (5-7, 2-6 SEC) to increase their chances of making the playoffs.
Alabama's ranking has fans questioning why a team like the No. 12 Miami Hurricanes (10-2, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) is positioned below them. Miami ended their regular season with a 42-38 loss to the No. 22 Syracuse Orange (9-3, 5-3 ACC) on Nov. 30.
On the Dec. 4 episode of ESPN's "Get Up," host Mike Greenberg asked college football reporter Heather Dinich why the selection committee felt the Crimson Tide should be ranked No. 11. Dinich shared that the committee believed the team faced tougher opponents and had more success this season.
"In the selection committee meeting room, they had it [Alabama ranking ahead of teams like Miami] because of resume and strength of schedule and eye test," Dinich said.
"Greeny, what selection committee chair Warde Manuel said last night was he pointed to Alabama record against CFP top 25 teams compared to Miami, which is-0-1 now that Syracuse is ranked and also their better record against teams with winning records. Alabama is 6-1 against opponents with winning records, and Miami is 4-2," she added.
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Despite "The Tide's" ranking, they have not secured their spot in the CFP.
What needs to happen for Alabama to secure a College Football Playoff berth?
The ACC Championship matchup on Dec. 7 between the No. 17 Clemson Tigers (9-3, 5-2 ACC) and No. 8 SMU Mustangs (11-1, 8-0 ACC) could decide DeBoer's team their playoff chances.
If SMU wins the ACC Championship, they will get a first-round bye and play in the quarterfinals. The Crimson Tide is on track to compete against the No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) in the first round. However, the selection committee hasn't clarified what will happen if a lower-ranked team like Clemson defeats the Mustangs.
Alabama's placement could change if SMU loses and the Tigers get the first-round bye. The committee could also decide that Crimson Tide's schedule was stronger than SMU's this season and award them the playoff spot instead. The best-case scenario for DeBoer's team is for SMU to defeat Clemson to avoid any potential issues.