UPDATE: The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee is under fire following the release of its Week 13 rankings, which saw Alabama plummet to No. 10 after a tight 23-21 defeat against Oklahoma on November 11, 2023. This shocking drop has ignited fierce debate among college football fans and analysts alike.
Just days after Alabama’s loss, which marked their second defeat this season, the committee ranked Notre Dame at No. 9, drawing ire for placing the Fighting Irish above the storied Crimson Tide. Alabama now sits behind Notre Dame, despite an impressive record of 8-2 and wins over top teams like No. 4 Georgia and No. 22 Missouri. Many argue this decision undermines the integrity of the ranking system.
Fans took to social media to express their frustrations. One user tweeted, “Notre Dame being ranked above Alabama is a joke,” highlighting the perceived inequity in the rankings. Another fan remarked, “What an absolute joke. Alabama has beaten more teams in this committee’s rankings than anyone else,” emphasizing Alabama’s strength of schedule.
The latest rankings have significant implications for the playoff picture. With the new bracket, Notre Dame would face No. 8 Oklahoma in the first round, while Alabama is set to play against No. 7 Oregon. This positioning could drastically alter the path for both teams as they seek a spot in the playoff.
As the controversy brews, Notre Dame prepares to host Syracuse (3-7) this Saturday, while Alabama aims to rebound against Eastern Illinois (3-8), an FCS team. A strong performance by Alabama could be crucial in convincing the committee to reevaluate their ranking, but many fans are left questioning the criteria used in these decisions.
In the wake of these developments, the CFP committee’s credibility has come into question. Critics argue that the committee is prioritizing perceived “better losses” over actual wins, with one fan stating, “We gotta start valuing wins and losses instead of confirming our biases with the rankings.”
As the college football landscape shifts rapidly, all eyes will be on these two teams this weekend, with the potential for further shakeups in the rankings. Expect significant fallout from these games as fans and analysts alike await the next round of CFP rankings.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.
