The College Football Playoff Selection Committee may find itself in a tough spot if Clemson defeats SMU. A win by the Tigers could force the committee to decide between an 11-2 SMU team and a 9-3 Alabama squad, which won’t be as straightforward as it seems.
In theory, the decision should be simple: Alabama’s record is worse than SMU’s, and the committee could look back at previous decisions, like the one between Alabama and Miami, to guide them. However, the situation is more complex due to the committee’s previous stance that teams should not be penalized for losing in their conference championship games. The current Playoff format places significant emphasis on these games, and the committee might hesitate to pick a 9-3 Alabama over an 11-2 SMU, especially considering the potential backlash.
Greg McElroy, former Alabama quarterback, expressed concerns about the committee punishing SMU for playing a 13th game in their conference championship, which could set a dangerous precedent. McElroy is right that undermining the value of conference title games could have serious long-term effects on the sport. However, the committee might feel conflicted about the broader implications of their decision.
Alabama fans do have some hope, though. Joel Klatt, a sports analyst, provided some justification for Alabama’s inclusion, citing the Tide’s far superior strength of schedule (17th nationally vs. SMU’s 75th). Klatt pointed out that the committee should consider the paths each team took to their respective conference championship games, with SMU’s path being much easier.
The committee now faces a tough choice. If Clemson beats SMU, they must decide whether to rank Alabama above SMU, knowing it could fuel the debate about whether teams should opt out of conference championships. Choosing SMU over Alabama might be the less controversial option, but it remains to be seen if the committee will make that call.
