Alabama Beats Georgia In SEC Championship Game. Who Is Going To The CFP Playoffs?

The Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Georgia Bulldogs 27-24 in the SEC Championship, throwing the College Football Playoff rankings into uncertainty. Prior to the game, the Crimson tide were 11-1 and ranked 8th in the country. Their one loss was to Texas.

Georgia came into the game undefeated, the two time defending champions, and with a 29 game unbeaten streak. Georgia were the clear number 1 raked team in the country. Does their one narrow loss to Alabama warrant throwing them out of the top 4?

The Washington Huskies should definitely be in. They are undefeated Pac-12 Champions, who beat a very good Oregon team twice this year. Michigan should also be in, provided they beat Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game. 2 of the 4 spots should be reserved for those two teams.

After that, it gets more complex. If Florida State beats Louisville in the ACC Championship game, they will finish the season undefeated. And they are coming into the game ranked 4th, so would it be fair to drop them out of the top 4 after a win?

And then you have the aforementioned Alabama, with only one loss, who beat Georgia in the SEC Championship game, and Georgia, who has only 1 narrow loss this season. Add in Texas, who beat Alabama, also only has 1 loss, and is the Big 12 Champion.

Don’t forget Ohio State, who has only one loss, which was itself a very narrow one on the road at Michigan. This means that, provided Michigan beats Iowa, there are only 2 spots for Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Florida State. Each of them have compelling reasons to be chosen.

How could you put Alabama ahead of Texas, when both are 1-loss conference champions and Texas beat Alabama? How could you put Georgia ahead of Alabama, when Alabama beat Georgia. How could Florida State start in the CFP playoffs, win their game to finish the season undefeated, and be dropped out of the top 4? And is one 3 point loss in 30 games really enough to take the number 1 ranked and 2 time defending National Champion Georgia Bulldogs out of the top 4?

Obviously, it would be much easier on the CFP committee if Florida State loses. And it would have been much much easier for them if Georgia had beaten Alabama. But alas, College Football isn’t simple and straightforward. It’s what we love about it.

Who is going to the CFP Playoffs? There will be endless debate about it, and complaining on the selections, no matter what the CFP Committee chooses. We’ll just have to wait and see.