Alabama or SMU? Fans, media debate final at-large berth in College Football Playoff

The first-ever 12-team field for the College Football Playoff is nearly set.

Following conference championship weekend, there are 5 teams who have more-or-less punched their tickets to the dance. In no particular order: Oregon out of the Big Ten, Georgia out of the SEC, Arizona State out of the Big 12, Clemson out of the ACC and Boise State out of the Mountain West.

Given where idle teams were ranked in the penultimate committee rankings, it’s safe to assume 6 other teams are also going to be in the final CFP bracket when it is revealed on Sunday. Again, in no particular order: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas, Indiana and Penn State.

That leaves 1 at-large berth still up for grabs at the committee deliberated into tomorrow. Presumably, that final bid will come down to Alabama or SMU.

Alabama entered the weekend in pole position to earn the final spot, but the Crimson Tide may have been bumped from the Playoff due to Clemson’s game-winning field goal at the buzzer in the ACC Championship Game over SMU on Saturday night.

Of course, the committee could drop the No. 8 Mustangs out of the field altogether — although plenty have argued that a team shouldn’t be pushed from the Playoff for losing a conference title game in favor of another team who wasn’t good enough to play this weekend.

On the other side of the argument, Alabama has a win over the SEC Champs in Georgia and has faced the 18th-toughest strength-of-schedule this season, per FPI. SMU’s SOS ranks 75th.

Those are, broadly speaking, the factors that the CFP selection committee will weigh before releasing a final bracket on Sunday. In anticipation of that decision, here’s some of the reaction from college football fans and media:

After Tuesday I pledged to never, ever predict Alabama to miss the Playoff again, but man, if they knock SMU out for losing on a 56-yard FG there may never be another conference championship game.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 8, 2024

The playoff picture is now simple.

SMU has earned the final at-large spot.

If Alabama jumps them, it’s the most corrupt moment in a sport with a long history of corruption. Buckle up.

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 8, 2024

Clemson is in. SMU should be in. A 3-loss Alabama team with two losses to 6-6 teams should not be in. That's my take.

Will the committee agree? I don't know.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 8, 2024

SMU’s resume

-75th ranked strength of schedule (worst in the P4)
– 0-2 against ranked teams
-12 in FPI

Alabama’s resume

-18th ranked strength of schedule
-3-1 against ranked teams including a win over the SEC champion
-4 in FPI

Alabama is the easy winner when comparing these

— Austin Randolph (@austinsrandolph) December 8, 2024

If SMU doesn’t get in, the message is “don’t play in championship games” and that will ruin college football.

— BeardedBlevins (@BeardedBlevins) December 8, 2024

Committee on Tuesday: “we fell asleep when SMU was down 17 so Alabama gets the nod”

— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) December 8, 2024

Regardless of what plays out tomorrow, somehow Alabama had the worst possible scenario present itself: SMU mounts an incredible comeback only to be walked off.

Bama fans shouldn’t be sick over tonight though. Be sick over the fact that y’all inexplicably no-showed the OU game.

— Barstool SEC (@SECBarstool) December 8, 2024

Dabo swinney choked a 17 pt lead on purpose so that smu and clemson both get in and Alabama doesn’t get in

Chess not checkers

— John (@iam_johnw) December 8, 2024

It should be a criminal offense if the committee jumps Alabama over SMU.

Don't punish a team for losing a conference title game at the buzzer, especially one that sat at 11-1 coming into the week.

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) December 8, 2024

There is absolutely no reason that Alabama should make the playoff over SMU.

— Badger Barstool (@badgerbarstool) December 8, 2024

If SMU loses by a FG and the committee still let's Alabama in, it'll be outrageous.

— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D. (@neoavatara) December 8, 2024

Spenser Davis

Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.