Alabama football earned College Football Playoff spot, as uncomfortable as that seems

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Champions were crowned Saturday night, but there were some restless hours for several coaches across the country into Sunday morning. Their teams did all they could, winning conference championships for some. Still, for all but Michigan and Washington, their destinies were left in the hands of the College Football Playoff committee.

Whether it occurred in those coaches’ minds, the general viewing public was of the assumption that one or more teams would leave Selection Sunday in unparalleled disappointment.

“Was just very anxious and hopeful that they will get the opportunity to (make the Playoff),” Alabama coach Nick Saban said Sunday. “So it made for a bit of a sleepless night in a lot of ways. We were trying to prepare for the opportunity if we got it but also concerned about what opportunities we’d have if it didn’t work out. But we’re excited about the fact that it did.”

In the end, Alabama was selected as the No. 4 seed. Above the Tide were Michigan, Washington and Texas. And there was one historic omission: Florida State.

Florida State reacting to missing out on the #CFBPlayoff
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 3, 2023

What was supposed to be the exclamation point on a dream season for the Seminoles turned into question marks within a nightmare as Florida State was the first ever undefeated Power 5 conference champion to be left out of the field. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips described the move as “unfathomable,” and Noles coach Mike Norvell used the words “disgusted and infuriated.”

And they’re absolutely right.

The Seminoles lost star quarterback Jordan Travis yet completed a win, albeit a comeback win, over North Alabama in the game in which Travis was injured. Then they won at Florida, but backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker was injured and couldn’t play in Saturday’s ACC Championship Game. The Seminoles still beat 10-win Louisville as the Florida State defense impressed to the tune of 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Yet it still wasn’t enough to sway the decision of the committee to include FSU over Alabama, a team with a 10-point loss at home to Texas that needed a miracle to win at 6-6 Auburn just one week ago as a heavy favorite.

It’s the toughest decision the committee has ever made, and it was right on the mark. As uncomfortable as it is, Alabama earned its spot in the Playoff. That’s not to say Florida State did not. But a four-team model with five Power 5 conferences and the occasional Group of 5 juggernaut always had the possibility of deserving teams on the outside. In design alone, a Power 5 conference champion is excluded from national championship contention every year.

But there have been so few years that it has mattered because there hasn’t been the depth of great teams there is this year. And ironically this, the final year of the four-team Playoff, was one of the times.

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The crux of the Playoff argument usually centers on “best” versus “most deserving.” Looking first from a resume standpoint, Alabama’s case is undeniable.

Of the selected playoff teams and Florida State, Alabama has the most wins of teams ranked in the final rankings with four (Washington could have four if both Oregon wins are counted separately). That includes the win over No. 1 Georgia on Saturday night, the back-to-back national champion and a winner of 29 straight games. Of the selected teams and Florida State, Alabama ranks highest in strength of schedule (fifth nationally) with a combined opponent record of 98-60 (a 62 percent winning rate).

Alabama has struggled against inferior competition at times this season, but who among the contenders hasn’t? Michigan scrapped by Maryland as a 20-point favorite. Washington posted consecutive single-digit wins against Arizona State and Stanford, which both finished 3-9. Texas had close calls against four-win Houston and five-win TCU, and Florida State edged Boston College early in the season and played closer-than-expected contests as a big favorite against Pitt and Miami.

The margin between Alabama and Florida State in that regard was close; Alabama is 9-4 against the spread and Florida State is 8-5. The biggest hurdle, rightfully so, is the fact Alabama has a loss and Florida State doesn’t, but the number of quality wins against that schedule is notable. The difference was a matter of the second part of the equation: Who is the best right now?

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“Florida State, certainly going undefeated, did everything they could to get in the playoffs,” Saban said. “And unfortunately, probably because of the injury of their quarterback, are not going to have that opportunity.”

The committee simultaneously showed Travis the ultimate respect and delivered a gut punch to his team: His season-ending injury was the catalyst in Florida State’s snub. Playoff committee chairman Boo Corrigan said it bluntly: “This Florida State is a different team than they were through the first eleven weeks.”

The selection rules state that extenuating circumstances such as player and/or availability are considered. Another consideration, Corrigan said, from a coaching standpoint is asking whom would you want to play again or not want to play. Again, Alabama wins that argument by a significant margin.

The Crimson Tide, as currently constructed and compared with Florida State, pose a significantly tougher challenge to Michigan. Additionally, history is on the side of Alabama as the SEC champion and the best team in the conference: The SEC champion has played in every single national championship game in the Playoff era except for the inaugural season and has six national championships from three programs.

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As for top-seeded Michigan, the team’s live reaction to Alabama’s selection tells it all. There wouldn’t have been a single moan or groan had Florida State been selected.

Michigan reacts to Alabama being selected at No. 4. Wolverines and Crimson Tide in the CFP semi.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 3, 2023

You certainly feel for Florida State, which can’t finish with a chance at a national championship despite being undefeated. The consolation prize, the Orange Bowl, is against defending champion and 12-1 Georgia. It’s not the same as the national title, but there’s an opportunity to make an emphatic closing argument.

But Alabama was a deserving entity and was rewarded as such. Now the onus is on the Crimson Tide to prove the committee right. History tells us that they likely will.

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(Photo of Jalen Milroe and Nick Saban: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)