College Football Playoff team No. 18: Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 2021
Play Alabama in Semifinal (Rose Bowl)
Two things can be true about the 2020-21 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. They can be one of the best teams in the country this season, which is clear given that they weathered an ACC schedule to emerge with an unbeaten record prior to the ACC Championship Game, but they can also be a team that is simply not on par with the clear-cut best teams in the country. That was shown when they had to face Clemson with Trevor Lawrence and a full-force defense.
Notre Dame’s defense is littered with playmakers that can make life hard for most teams but that’s simply not the case against truly elite offenses. And that’s also where the Irish get into trouble because, for as much of a leader and gamer Ian Book is, he is a flawed quarterback. His inefficiencies as a passer can come to roost against the best teams in the country, which is why it’s hard to put them any higher than No. 18.
College Football Playoff team No. 17: Alabama Crimson Tide, 2015
Lost to Ohio State in Semifinal (Sugar Bowl), 42-35
Much like when we talked about Clemson when they had Kelly Bryant at quarterback, it’s hard not to look back at the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first-ever Playoff and think that they could’ve cruised to a National Championship had they not had Blake Sims at quarterback.
This iteration of the Tide was loaded with NFL talent on offense, namely with T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry at running back to go with Amari Cooper at wide receiver. And the defense continued to be littered with talent, though you wouldn’t be able to tell that from the way that they defended the run in the Sugar Bowl.
The talent on the Alabama roster is evident considering that they only lost by one score despite their run defense and the fact that Sims threw three picks. But with a better quarterback, it’s hard not to think that the Tide could’ve advanced comfortably.