With a 54-16 victory over Florida in the SEC Championship Game, Alabama completed its undefeated season and remained the top-ranked team in college football.

There was plenty of discussion surrounding this year’s College Football Playoff field, but none of it centered around the Crimson Tide. The Playoff Committee affirmed what everyone believed when it selected Alabama as the No. 1 seed on Sunday afternoon.

The Crimson Tide have been a contender in each of the three playoffs, and this is the second time they have been the top seed. Alabama was the No. 1 team in the inaugural Playoff but lost a thrilling 42-35 battle against Ohio State.

As the second-ranked team in last year’s Playoff, the Crimson Tide ran the table and defeated No. 1 Clemson to claim their fourth national title under Nick Saban.

Alabama’s quest to repeat as national champions and earn Saban his fifth title with the program has been unchallenged so far, but it only gets harder from here.

After Sunday’s announcement of the Playoff field, Alabama’s path is set. Let’s take a look at what the Crimson Tide are up against.

College Football Playoff Semifinal

No. 1 Alabama (13-0) vs. No. 4 Washington (12-1): On Saturday night, nobody knew whether Washington would be the fourth contender in the Playoff field or if it would lose its spot to Penn State or Michigan. The Huskies won the Pac-12 championship with a 41-10 victory over No. 8 Colorado, their fourth victory over a ranked opponent.

Washington’s lone blemish on the season was a 26-13 loss against No. 20 USC. The Huskies were held to 276 yards of offense, including just 17 rushing yards.

One of the top scoring offenses in college football, Washington averaged 44.5 points per contest this season. The Huskies have a very balanced offense led by quarterback Jake Browning, running back Myles Gaskin and wide receiver John Ross.

Defensively, Washington has that same tremendous balance. The Huskies are tied for eighth nationally in scoring defense, giving up 17.2 points per game. They are stout against the run, allowing 123.5 yards on the ground per game, and against the pass, holding teams to 192.6 yards through the air.

Browning has emerged as one of the best quarterbacks in the country and should get an invite to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York at year’s end. The sophomore has thrown for 3,280 yards with 42 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. He’s a traditional pocket passer but can pick apart defenses and make any throw necessary.

Ross is Browning’s favorite target. The junior receiver is one of the fastest players in college football and can beat nearly any defender down the field. Ross has 76 catches for 1,122 yards and 17 touchdowns this year and has only been held out of the end zone in three games.

Nov 5, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross (1) runs for a touchdown as wide receiver Dante Pettis (8) celebrates behind him during the first quarter against the California Golden Bears at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Washington has a deep and talented defense. The Huskies’ secondary is one of the best in the country, and their 19 interceptions are tied for fourth among all teams. True freshman safety Taylor Rapp leads the team with 4 interceptions and snagged two of them in the Pac-12 title game, returning one for a touchdown. Juniors Sidney Jones and Budda Baker are two more ball-hawking defensive backs.

The dominant secondary perfectly complements Washington’s front seven. The Huskies’ defensive line utilizes a blend of power and speed to plug gaps and harass opposing quarterbacks. Sophomores Vita Vea and Greg Gaines are two emerging stars along the line. Psalm Wooching is the name to know at linebacker. The senior leads Washington with 6 sacks this season.

The Huskies had the look of a team capable of making a run when the season began, but this is by far the most success Washington has had in recent years. With a 44-31 victory over Southern Miss last season in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl, Washington ended with a 7-6 record.

Washington last played an SEC team in 2012. The Huskies lost 41-3 at No. 3 LSU and finished the season with a 7-6 record.

Potential CFP National Championship Game

No. 2 Clemson (12-1): Alabama could be in line for a rematch with Clemson in this year’s title game. The Tigers enter the Playoff as the No. 2 seed after a 42-35 victory against No. 23 Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game.

Crimson Tide fans should be familiar with the Tigers. Deshaun Watson has followed up his incredible sophomore campaign with an equally impressive junior season. Watson has thrown for 3,914 yards with 37 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while running for another 529 yards and 6 touchdowns.

The return of receiver Mike Williams is the biggest addition for Clemson’s offense. Williams leads the Tigers with 1,171 yards and 10 touchdowns on 84 catches.

Clemson’s defense is again among the nation’s best, allowing 18.4 points per game. Defensive linemen Carlos Watkins and Dexter Lawrence have combined for 15 sacks and are the Tigers’ top pass-rushers. Safety Jadar Johnson leads the team with 5 interceptions and is part of another ball-hawking secondary.

No. 3 Ohio State (11-1): If the Crimson Tide make it past Washington in the first round, there will be a familiar foe awaiting it in the championship game. Alabama proved better than Clemson last season but could get revenge on Ohio State if the Buckeyes take down the Tigers in the semifinal.

Urban Meyer has had success against Saban in the past, and this year’s Ohio State team has plenty of talent. Quarterback J.T. Barrett has had another successful dual-threat campaign. The junior quarterback has thrown for 2,428 yards with 24 touchdowns and 5 interceptions while also running for 847 yards and 9 scores.

Freshman running back Mike Weber is another great weapon for the Buckeyes’ offense. Weber has run for 1,072 yards with 9 touchdowns this year.

Tyquan Lewis and Nick Bosa form the crux of Ohio State’s pass rush, combining for 12.5 sacks between them. Raekwon McMillan is a star at linebacker and leads the team with 87 tackles. In the secondary, Malik Hooker is a dangerous defensive back. Hooker has picked off six passes this season, returning three of them for touchdowns.

William McFadden covers the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama for Saturday Down South. For insight on these two SEC powerhouses, follow him on Twitter @willmcfadden.