BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Alabama’s chances of making the College Football Playoff took a significant blow with the release of the latest rankings on Tuesday night.
The Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3) fell six places to No. 13 after being defeated by Oklahoma in Norman on Saturday.
Following earlier losses to Tennessee and Vanderbilt, Alabama had worked its way back into the top 10, but the latest setback now makes their path to the Playoff much harder, though still possible if unexpected results occur in the next two weeks.
Despite three losses, College Football Playoff Committee Chairman Warde Manuel noted that it’s not unprecedented for teams with three losses to be ranked in the top 12 at the season’s end.
“In the last 10 years, 22 teams with three losses have been ranked in the top 12,” Manuel explained during an ESPN appearance on Tuesday night. “The Committee has never hesitated to place teams with multiple losses in the top 12 if we believe they deserve it.”
The top four rankings remain unchanged, with Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, and Penn State occupying the top spots.
Losses by Indiana, Alabama, and Ole Miss led to a shake-up in the rest of the top 10.
Georgia, having secured a spot in the SEC Championship after Saturday’s game, remains at No. 7 and controls their own Playoff destiny.
Tennessee is just one spot behind Georgia, with only Vanderbilt standing between them and a likely Playoff berth.
Indiana, which entered Saturday ranked in the top five, dropped to No. 10 following their loss to Ohio State.
Manuel mentioned that the Committee was still impressed with Indiana’s performance despite the defeat.
“They played well at times against Ohio State, and Ohio State really pulled ahead in the second half,” he said. “But we were still impressed by some of the things Indiana did. They dropped five spots, but their body of work was strong enough to stay inside the top 10.”
Indiana is now the second-lowest ranked one-loss team, with two two-loss teams, Georgia and Tennessee, ranked above them.
Manuel emphasized that the Committee’s rankings are not solely based on the number of losses a team has.
“We rank the teams as we see them,” he said. “If we believe a team with one more loss than another should be ranked ahead, we will do that.”
With only two weeks remaining until the final College Football Playoff rankings are revealed, the picture will soon become clearer.
College Football Playoff Top 25
| Ranking | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | 11-0 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 10-1 |
| 3 | Texas | 10-1 |
| 4 | Penn State | 10-1 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 10-1 |
| 6 | Miami (FL) | 10-1 |
| 7 | Georgia | 9-2 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 9-2 |
| 9 | SMU | 10-1 |
| 10 | Indiana | 10-1 |
| 11 | Boise State | 10-1 |
| 12 | Clemson | 9-2 |
| 13 | Alabama | 8-3 |
| 14 | Ole Miss | 8-3 |
| 15 | South Carolina | 8-3 |
| 16 | Arizona State | 9-2 |
| 17 | Tulane | 9-2 |
| 18 | Iowa State | 9-2 |
| 19 | BYU | 9-2 |
| 20 | Texas A&M | 8-3 |
| 21 | Missouri | 8-3 |
| 22 | UNLV | 9-2 |
| 23 | Illinois | 8-3 |
| 24 | Kansas State | 8-3 |
| 25 | Colorado | 8-3 |
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