CFP Committee Chair Explains Rating Alabama Forward of Miami, Ole Miss, South Carolina

The most recent Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings have been unveiled on Tuesday, and three-loss Alabama got here in at No. 11 forward of two-loss Miami and a pair of three-loss groups in Ole Miss and South Carolina. These three faculties have been ranked Nos. 12-14, respectively.

Faculty Soccer Playoff chair Warde Manuel justified the choice during his appearance on ESPN, noting that Alabama is “3-1 towards present top-25 groups, and Miami is 0-1. Alabama is 6-1 towards groups above .500, and Miami is 4-2. Each have had some losses that weren’t what they wished out of these video games, however within the final three video games, Miami has misplaced twice.”

That has the Crimson Tide in prime place to in the end safe a playoff berth:

Alabama’s rating was not a well-liked one outdoors of Tuscaloosa:

Many of the convention championships will not have any bearing on Alabama’s potential playoff bid. Texas and Georgia, each enjoying the SEC Championship Sport, are locks to get into the playoff whatever the outcome. Ditto for Oregon and Penn State within the Massive Ten Championship.

The winner of the Mountain West title recreation between Boise State and Nevada will get an computerized bid because the highest-ranked convention champion outdoors of the Energy 4. The winner of the Massive 12 Championship between Arizona State and Iowa State will get in, whereas the loser is out.

The ACC Championship Sport is the one recreation that would harm Alabama’s playoff hopes. If Clemson beats SMU, securing the automated playoff berth, the CFP Committee must determine between the two-loss Mustangs and three-loss Crimson Tide for the ultimate at-large berth.

It is not a stretch to suppose SMU might drop beneath Alabama, although it could set the precedent that reaching a convention championship however dropping it’s extra detrimental to a playoff résumé than not reaching a convention title recreation in any respect.

“SMU is within the match,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips instructed Chris Vannini of The Athletic on Monday. “I do not see any method you’ll be able to’t maintain SMU in no matter what occurs on Saturday. Enjoying in a convention championship recreation, there can’t be a adverse residual to that if you’re within the subject going into that weekend. If you’re within the high 12, there must be no draw back.”

Regardless of Phillips’ argument above, SMU’s exclusion is a risk:

SMU is 0-1 towards groups at the moment ranked within the high 25, the identical file that was used towards Miami by the Committee. However SMU is 5-1 towards groups above .500, and the crew’s solely loss got here on Sept. 6 towards BYU by simply three factors.

The Mustangs have been higher down the stretch than Miami, and a loss towards Clemson—except it was an embarrassing blowout—would not be seen as a foul loss.

SMU can finish the dialog by merely beating Clemson, which might guarantee each they and Alabama made the playoff subject. However the state of affairs turns into far more controversial if the Mustangs lose.