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ESPN analyst weighs in on whether Alabama could make CFP with loss in SEC Championship Game
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ESPN college football analyst Adam Rittenberg spoke Tuesday about a dirty little subject that just might come up in the next few weeks as Alabama closes out its season.
And that is, what if the Crimson Tide beat Oklahoma and Auburn, get to the SEC Championship Game and then lose in that SEC title game? Would they still get into the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff despite having 3 losses?
“I don’t think it’s going to keep them out. You look at who they beat this year, Georgia, one of the best wins in the country. They shut out Missouri, a blowout win,” said Rittenberg. “That matters that they’ve had blowout wins against ranked teams, and their only 2 losses are single digits on the road.”
In October, Alabama lost at Vanderbilt by 5 points and fell at Tennessee by 7 points.
“I don’t think they’re the type of team that would get knocked out based on a loss in the SEC Championship Game,” said Rittenberg, who pointed to the dominance that Alabama has showed since losing its 2nd game of the season at Tennessee a month ago. “I don’t think it’s the case for everybody, but I think Alabama would get the benefit of the doubt (despite a loss in the SEC title game).”
“I don’t think they’re the type of team that would get knocked out based on a loss in the SEC Championship Game.” @ESPNRittenberg makes a case for a 3-loss Alabama team in the expanded @CFBPlayoff! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Xnxc1t7YqD
— 3 Man Front (@3ManFront) November 19, 2024
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin revealed recently that there are SEC head coaches who don’t want to play in the SEC title game because of the fear that a loss there would knock their team out of Playoff contention.
But Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker would beg to differ with Kiffin, saying in effect, bring on Atlanta, that the Crimson Tide want to be in the game and then win the game. It will all shake out in due time, of course.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
