Advertisement

Alabama missed the College Football Playoff and fans were thrilled the committee did the right thing

prince j. grimes
·2-min read
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Jalen Milroe #4 talks with head coach Kalen DeBoer of the Alabama Crimson Tide after a receiver was ruled out of bounds on the 11-yard line instead of scoring a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776172185 ORIG FILE ID: 2185666226

The decision was maybe not so simple for the College Football Playoff selection committee, but the message they'd be sending with Sunday's bracket reveal was. Either they were going to put Alabama in the CFP and make it known teams could be punished for making (and losing) their conference championships. Or they were going to leave Alabama out and put SMU in, rewarding the Mustangs for making their conference championship in the first place -- but perhaps disincentivizing tougher schedules.

The committee made the wise decision of not devaluing conference championships. They put SMU in, leaving the Tide as the first team out. And fans were thrilled, if maybe even a little stunned the committee actually did it.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Alabama missed the College Football Playoff and fans were thrilled the committee did the right thing