The Alabama Crimson Tide put on a show against Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. Should they have made the College Football Playoff?
There’s a clear argument to be made — surely by Crimson Tide fans, most of all — that Alabama should’ve made the College Football Playoff over the likes of Ohio State. Yet, Bama had to settle for an invite to the Sugar Bowl.
“We’re obviously disappointed,” Saban told ESPN at the time. “We wanted to see our team have an opportunity to play and get into the playoffs. We’re going to get an opportunity to play someone somewhere in a good game. That’s going to be an opportunity for our players to create value for themselves and show what kind of team we really have.”
In said Sugar Bowl, which took place on Saturday prior to the CFP semifinals, Nick Saban’s bunch put on a dominating display against poor ol’ Kansas State. The Tide had something to prove, and the elephant in the room is rather obvious — maybe we overthought keeping Alabama out of the College Football Playoff.
Still don’t believe me? Well, here’s some proof.
SEC bias kept Alabama…out of the playoff?
Eventually, we all get tired of seeing the same old thing. Alabama and Georgia making the CFP just a year after meeting up in the title game would’ve represented more of the same. Instead, some new blood was needed.
This is not to say TCU or Ohio State weren’t deserving. The Horned Frogs won the Big 12, while OSU has one of the more prolific offenses in the country.
But the Buckeyes, much like the Crimson Tide, were forced to watch their conference championship game from home. In Ohio State’s last game, they were blown out by rival Michigan in a humiliating display at home.
While the Tide has lost twice, both of those defeats came by a field goal or less to Tennessee and LSU, two teams in the top-25. Both defeats came on the road, as well.
The SEC is the best conference in all of college football, even better than the Big Ten. Alabama’s resume was good enough to surpass that of Ohio State. Should the Buckeyes lose to Georgia — perhaps by multiple scores — it’ll only strengthen Saban’s argument that his team was left out for the wrong reasons.