ROLL DAMN… hold on, what? How did Alabama end up as the fourth-ranked team in the college football ranking? How did a team with a loss to Ole Miss and wins over Middle Tennessee, Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas leap frog more noteworthy undefeated teams? How did they jump ahead of Michigan State, TCU, Baylor, just to name a few?
Is this SEC bias or just complete stupidity on the part of the selection committee?
Again, let’s take a look at Alabama’s tough road in the 2015 season.
What is Alabama’s biggest win this season? pic.twitter.com/LNszeTE1U4
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) November 4, 2015
Yes, it’s early, and, in the long run, teams like Michigan State and Baylor will be in the playoff if they run the table. But still, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth of college football fans who are sick of the Tide being shoved in their face.
See here.
Just on the inside of the first #CFP25 rank. @AlabamaFTBL sits at No. 4. https://t.co/y6XbfXyWdV
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 4, 2015
Let’s start with the conspiracy folk, the ones with the tinfoil hats. Because who doesn’t love a good conspiracy?
The SEC blows. Literally the reason they get the rankings is because ESPN controls sports media, ESPN partnered with SEC to make more money.
— The Original Pancake (@ClementJackson_) November 4, 2015
Alabama could be 4-4 and they'd be one of the teams "just out" of the top 4 #conspiracy
— Thomas Boldon (@TomBoldon) November 4, 2015
My conspiracy theory is that the committee put Alabama at #4 just so they can sell this weekend as a top five matchup.
— Ben Cramer (@Run_BMC) November 4, 2015
https://twitter.com/Mecheverria84/status/661704093505843201
Well, to be clear, ESPN owns the SEC Network, so maybe you’re on to something here (no, you’re not).
Then the media weighed in.
Jeff Long says Alabama has three quality wins. That’s an interesting take.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 4, 2015
Look if Bama wins the SEC by all means put them in. But for now they are evaluated differently than everyone else, plain and simple.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 4, 2015
The message to the teams is schedule tough out of conference. Unless you're in the SEC. Then don't worry about it.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) November 4, 2015
Long essentially says that the lopsided nature of Alabama's 3 quality wins is why they're ranked ahead of Florida (who beat Ole Miss).
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 4, 2015
Would someone please let this committee know they play football in the Big 12.
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) November 4, 2015
Nice to see Paul Finebaum acknowledge football outside of the South. That’s mildly shocking. As for the rest of the Internet, this tweet from SB Nation’s Luke Zimmermann sums up everyone’s feelings.
https://twitter.com/lukezim/status/661704531634462722
