College Football Playoff Rankings 2017: Projected top four after Week 12
By Brad Weiss
Alabama Crimson Tide (11-0)
Last week: W 56-0 vs Mercer
Last rank: 1
The Alabama Crimson Tide are in the driver’s seat when it comes to their season, and if they can win out, they will certainly be in the College Football Playoff. On Saturday, Alabama welcomed FCS team Mercer to town, and they throttled them to the tune of 56-0. The Crimson Tide got three touchdown passes from both of their quarterbacks, as Jalen Hurts was done for the afternoon after only one quarter.
With injuries up and down the defense, Alabama turned to freshman prized recruit Dylan Moses on Saturday. Moses did not disappoint, leading the team with 11 tackles, including ten solo stops, while snatching one interception. The Tide got it done on offense through the air, and on the ground, as they rushed for over 260 yards as a team against a Mercer team that had no business playing in this game.
Alabama has been the top team in the country all season long, and they will get to prove they belong there over the next two weeks. The Crimson Tide’s season will come down to next weekend when they take on the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl. This weekend was just a quick tuneup before that matchup, and whoever wins next Saturday will take on Georgia in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
Next: College Football Playoff Rankings, Week 12: 3 takeaways
Alabama would like nothing more than to avenge their loss in the national title game this January, but they have a tough road ahead of them still. Auburn is playing great football right now, and are fresh off a victory against the Georgia Bulldogs two weeks ago, when the Bulldogs were the top-ranked team in the country. The Iron Bowl will also be played at Auburn, so it is really anybody’s guess as to who comes away with the victory.