Alabama football made an unexpected rise in the College Football Rankings after their dominant win over Mercer on Saturday. Quarterback Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide offense have been performing at a high level since their tough loss to Tennessee, propelling head coach Kalen DeBoer’s team to the No. 7 spot. This ranking would place Alabama as the nine-seed if the 12-team playoff began today. One notable team Alabama leapfrogged on Tuesday was the 9-1 Miami Hurricanes, who were on a bye that week.
This move sparked backlash from fans online, questioning how beating an FCS team like Mercer could push Alabama past the Hurricanes in the rankings.
Some fans expressed their frustration on social media, pointing out the inconsistency in the selection committee’s decisions. For example, in Week 11, BYU was ranked No. 9 and Tennessee No. 7. After both teams played unranked opponents, BYU moved up to No. 6 in Week 12, while Tennessee stayed at No. 7, leading to confusion among fans.
The committee’s logic has often been hard to follow, and fans have every right to question why Alabama is now ranked higher than Miami. However, when looking at the bigger picture, the Crimson Tide should have been ranked ahead of the Hurricanes the previous week. Miami has not defeated any top-25 teams this season, while Alabama has three top-25 wins, including a signature victory over No. 10 Georgia. Alabama’s losses came against Vanderbilt and No. 11 Tennessee, while Miami’s only loss was to Georgia Tech in Week 11. The difference in strength of schedule is also significant, with Alabama ranking 16th in strength of schedule compared to Miami’s 54th.
Looking at the overall strength of record, Alabama is ranked 7th, while Miami is 9th. Alabama also outperforms Miami in nearly all key metrics, both basic and advanced.
While the fan backlash is understandable, the truth is that after Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech and Alabama’s strong win over LSU on November 9th, the Crimson Tide should have moved ahead of the Hurricanes in the rankings. The selection committee’s lack of consistency has fueled unnecessary debate. Fortunately, if both teams win out, they are likely to secure spots in the inaugural 12-team playoff.
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