Chase Daniel ‘perplexed’ by Alabama ranking above Tennessee in latest CFP rankings
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings were updated on Tuesday, and many fans and analysts are saying the same thing in its wake: Why is Alabama ranked so far ahead of Tennessee?
The No. 3 Crimson Tide lost to the No. 8 Vols by 16 points in October and both teams sit at 7-2 on the season heading into a crucial Week 11. Rankings chairman Hunter Yurachek cited Alabama’s superior strength of schedule when asked to break down the rankings on Tuesday, but many aren’t satisfied by his explanation.
That includes SEC Nation’s Chase Daniel. The former Mizzou QB said Saturday morning that he’s “perplexed” by the ranking, arguing that it gives Alabama a clearer path to the CFP despite Tennessee’s win and similarly impressive resume.
Here’s what Daniel had to say:
“Alabama is No. 3 with 2 losses. Tennessee is No. 8, and if I remember correctly guys, did Alabama and Tennessee play each other in a head-to head game? So why in the world is Alabama 3 and Tennessee 8?” Daniel said. “… You’re calling your good wins Kentucky, South Carolina, LSU. Here’s what this does and here’s my problem with it. I think Tennessee should be a little higher, but if Alabama somehow, some way slips up, say they get into the SEC Championship game and lose. They’re in. The committee is telling you they value their wins and they value that team. If Tennessee were to lose another game, the chances of them getting into the CFP is much lower… how in the world are they 5 spots higher? I don’t get it. That, to me, is the most perplexing thing of these rankings.”
Hear Daniel’s full argument below:
Alabama appears be benefitting from a frontloaded schedule as we enter Week 11. Walk with me here for a second.
The Crimson Tide boast 3 wins over teams currently ranked inside the top 25: Kentucky, South Carolina and LSU. For some reason, the committee also values Alabama’s win over Kamario Taylor and Mississippi State, despite the fact Taylor was injured prior to the matchup and was forced to leave the game early. Alabama has no top 25 opportunities remaining.
Tennessee, on the other hand, boasts top 25 wins over Alabama and Kentucky with a matchup still to come at home against LSU. The Vols own the highest-ranked win between the pair (over Alabama), but Alabama has more quality wins as of Saturday morning. Tennessee also lost to South Carolina, a team Alabama beat, which is viewed as a “worse” loss than Alabama’s pair of losses to Georgia and Tennessee.
Like it or not, this appears to be the basis of the committee’s argument for Alabama ahead of Tennessee post-Week 10.
If Tennessee and Alabama both finish the regular season 10-2, the committee’s argument vanishes. In this scenario, the Vols and Crimson Tide would both boast 3 top 25 wins with 2 top 25 losses (assuming current rankings hold) — what else is there to compare if not the head-to-head matchup?
For now, all we can do is throw around hypotheticals.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
