As the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee prepares to reveal the four teams that will compete for the national championship, there’s a hot debate brewing: Should Alabama or SMU (Southern Methodist University) earn the final at-large spot? According to CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm, Alabama is poised to secure that coveted position, while SMU will be left on the outside looking in.
Alabama’s case for the CFP is grounded in their pedigree as a powerhouse program. Despite a few missteps during the regular season, including a close loss to Texas and another narrow defeat to SEC rival LSU, the Crimson Tide has rallied late in the season, delivering impressive wins, including a dominant victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship. Alabama’s resume features wins against ranked opponents and a historic strength of schedule, which are key criteria for selection. The SEC remains widely regarded as the toughest conference in college football, and Alabama’s performance against the nation’s elite teams cannot be ignored. Their consistent success, coupled with a top-tier recruiting class year after year, further solidifies their place as one of the most respected programs in the country.
On the other hand, SMU’s case for the College Football Playoff is compelling in its own right. The Mustangs finished the season undefeated, making them one of the few teams in college football to boast a perfect record. Their offense has been prolific, and they’ve demonstrated an ability to beat opponents by significant margins. However, the lack of strength in their schedule has been the major obstacle. While SMU has looked dominant within their conference, the American Athletic Conference (AAC), it has not been able to compete with the same level of competition that teams from power conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 face week in and week out. The committee places a premium on strength of schedule, and SMU’s relatively weak slate of games has hindered its chances of cracking the top four.
In addition to schedule strength, the overall quality of opponents is another key factor. While SMU’s undefeated record is impressive, the selection committee is unlikely to view it in the same light as Alabama’s one-loss record, particularly given that the Crimson Tide has played and defeated several top-tier teams. Alabama’s loss to Texas, for instance, came in a close game on the road, which is seen as more forgivable compared to the margins by which some of SMU’s victories were achieved against lesser opponents.
Alabama’s ability to compete with the nation’s best, including their SEC championship victory over Georgia, provides a stronger case than SMU’s undefeated season against a weaker field. The committee also weighs conference championships heavily when determining the final teams in the playoff, and Alabama’s victory in the SEC Championship puts them over the top. Their performance in that game, particularly on defense and in the second half, demonstrated the type of dominance that could make them a dangerous playoff contender.
While SMU has certainly made waves with its perfect season, Alabama’s combination of a tougher schedule, conference championship, and ability to win against top-tier competition likely gives them the edge in this debate. As the CFP selection committee evaluates all the factors, Alabama’s resume appears to be the stronger one, earning them a spot in the College Football Playoff over SMU.
