For the fifth time of the College Football Playoffs, the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0) are in. The Crimson Tide have passed all the tests of the playoff committee in terms of wins, dominance, and overall stability. The Crimson Tide are one of four undefeated teams that finished through conference championship week. Only three of them in #1 Alabama, #2 Clemson, and #3 Notre Dame are appearing in the College Football Playoffs. So far so good for the Crimson Tide from a high list of goals going back to before the season started. Alabama will face the #4 Oklahoma Sooners (12-1) in the Orange Bowl in Miami on December 29th.
Alabama Easily Won The Playoff Committee’s Favor
There are many factors that’ll give a team a favorable view of a playoff spot in the eyes of the committee. Last season, the Crimson Tide shocked the world by getting into the playoffs without winning a conference championship. The Tide would end up winning the National Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs 26-23 in overtime. Alabama, this season, did not have to worry about getting in the playoffs by getting an SEC Championship with a 35-28 over Georgia this past Saturday. The Crimson Tide were able to achieve a perfect record through the conference championships for the first time since 2016. The Tide ranks 1st overall in Football Power Index and 24th in strength of schedule. Alabama is winning by an average margin of 33.1 points per game against all their opponents played this year.
Reviewing Alabama’s Performance Resume
Since 2008, the Crimson Tide have been known to become a defensive juggernaut with an above average offense. This season has been the most potent the Alabama offense has been even with two Heisman Trophy winners in running backs Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015). Alabama ranks second in the nation in points per game (47.9), seventh in total yards per game (528), and first in offensive efficiency (96.6). This is due to Heisman Trophy finalist in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with his explosive, consistent play making ability. His contributions have been huge for a Tide team that experienced some turnover on defense. The Tide lost eight starters from last year’s team to the NFL. Although the Tide started out rough, they rank fourth in scoring defense (14.8), fifth in sacks accounted for (42), and second in defensive efficiency (88.4).
Some Worry For Alabama Starting Out #1 In The Playoff Rankings
Alabama is the only team in the brief history of the College Football Playoff system to appear in all five playoffs. Through that time, Alabama has won two National Championships coming in 2015 over Clemson and last season over Georgia. Only Alabama and Clemson have started out the College Football Playoffs as the #1 ranked team. No team that has started out #1 in the College Football Playoffs has won the national championship. This is an area where the Crimson Tide must be concerned. While the Tide are not strangers to being the main target, there comes a mental block in preparation. Alabama head coach Nick Saban will make the situation known that the Tide have lost out on a title while they were ranked #1.
