Notre Dame’s Sugar Bowl flop vs. Alabama proves Texas A&M belonged in College Football Playoff

Notre Dame flopping against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl proves Texas A&M was more deserving of the No. 4 spot in the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame earned the No. 4 spot in the 2020-21 College Football Playoff after losing to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, but some observes questioned the selection, citing the Irish’s history of getting pulverized by blue-blood programs in major bowl games.

That ominous feeling surrounding the Irish as they matched up with Alabama once again rung true, as Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith and Nick Saban’s stockpile of offensive weapons ran the Irish out of the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Kellen Mond, Jimbo Fisher, and Texas A&M, who ranked No. 5 in the final playoff rankings, had some legitimate complaints after they failed to leapfrog the Irish in the standings, and those grievances look more worthwhile by the quarter.

Texas A&M likely would’ve given Alabama a tougher challenge than Notre Dame

Not only was A&M kept out of the SEC Championship game, but they were kept out because Alabama took home the SEC West title via 52-24 demolition that made the Aggies look more like Rice or Texas State.

Still, with a national champion in Fisher on the sidelines, a quarterback that has given the best in the SEC fits for years in Mond, and a parade of top recruits that could match up with the freaks of nature Saban sports, the Aggies might be able to give the Tide a matchup they’ll sweat over. At the very least, they won’t go into the game as a three-touchdown underdog before proceeding to play like a four-touchdown underdog.

Every year the Irish make it into, or at least close to, the playoff, the media swears up and down that this year will be different, only for a traditional power to pound them into the dirt. Alabama likely would’ve beaten the Aggies, but their high-powered passing attack, dual-threat quarterback, and depth on both sides of the ball could’ve presented problems for Saban.

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