Everything Alabama needs to secure a spot

The Alabama Crimson Tide would rather be in the SEC Championship Game than sit at home, but they can still come away from the weekend with reason to celebrate.

In the latest College Football Playoff rankings, Alabama was ranked No. 11, which would give them the same spot in the playoff round. This ranking is a big advantage for the Crimson Tide, which would have been in danger of missing the field if it had been behind Miami or another three-loss SEC team.

A chaotic rivalry weekend turned out perfectly for Kalen DeBoer and Co. However, they are not yet guaranteed a place. This is what they need to get their ticket punched.

Alabama does not control its own destiny. Clemson does. (And theoretically UNLV.)

If SMU wins the ACC, the Crimson Tide are as good as there. Committee chairman Warde Manuel made that clear when he said teams not active this weekend will not be able to advance because there are no new data points for them. That means that as long as Clemson doesn’t steal a bid, Alabama will be superior to Miami and other playoff contenders in the battle for the final playoff spot.

The Tigers pose a threat to Alabama’s playoff hopes as a win over SMU could result in two ACC teams taking the field. Clemson would hold the autobid while the Mustangs might not fall behind the Crimson Tide. After all, a loss in an extra game shouldn’t punish them, right?

Well, that’s not entirely clear. Manuel opened the door for SMU to move beyond Alabama. If the committee feels this way, the Tide are all but assured of a spot.

We simply don’t know what the committee will do until it does. As Chris Vannini pointed out, the committee gave TCU a playoff spot in 2022 despite the loss in the Big 12 Championship Game.

The big difference there? TCU was undefeated before the conference title game and Alabama suffered two losses.

In the first year of the 12-team field, it’s hard to predict anything. So let’s make it simple: Alabama fans should be excited for an SMU win. That is the result that does not give the committee any basis for making a decision.