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Danny Kanell dunks on Alabama over College Football Playoff following ReliaQuest Bowl loss

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•12/31/24•

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Danny Kanell
© RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

After the final College Football Playoff rankings reveal, Alabama found itself as one of the first teams out – leading to questions about whether the Crimson Tide should’ve been in the field. Those grew louder after a first round filled with blowouts, as well.

But after Tuesday’s ReliaQuest Bowl loss to Michigan, Alabama finished the year 9-4. To Danny Kanell, it showed the Tide’s ranking was appropriate.

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Kanell called out the fans and analysts who thought Alabama should’ve been in the 12-team College Football Playoff. The decision led to questions about strength of schedule and other factors, and he called the Tide’s performance on Tuesday proof teams need to “earn” a spot in the field.

“People actually ‘thought’ Bama was one of the Top 12 teams in college football,” Kanell wrote on X. “That is exactly why teams have to EARN their way in.”

Alabama was one of three SEC teams with three losses vying for the final bids to the new-look bracket. The Crimson Tide entered Championship Week on the bubble, but Clemson’s win over SMU meant the Tigers stole a bid, leaving Kalen DeBoer’s group on the outside looking in.

But the first round of the College Football Playoff saw a slew of blowouts. Both SMU and Indiana lost handily, and debate began about whether those two teams belonged. Tennessee also got blown out at Ohio State, and Clemson lost to Texas by 14 points after a quick surge.

“So far, the CFP selection committee has given us some blockbusters,” SEC Network host Paul Finebaum wrote on X during the first round. “Notre Dame led late over Indiana 27-3 and Penn State just went up on the committee’s final team 28-0 at the half. Take a bow.”

The conversation about SMU and Indiana’s entry into the CFP generated plenty of buzz. Alabama fell out of the final rankings after the Mustangs fell to Clemson in a close ACC Championship, and Indiana’s strength of schedule was a major point of discussion throughout the year.

Indiana’s regular-season slate ranked No. 67 in the country, according to ESPN’s FPI, which was the second-weakest of the 12-team bracket. Only Boise State had an easier schedule at No. 80. SMU, meanwhile, entered its first-round game with the No. 60-ranked strength of schedule following IU’s game against Notre Dame.

That led to a conversation about whether IU and SMU deserved to be in over some three-loss SEC teams. Ole Miss, Alabama and South Carolina were among the first teams out of the field despite having higher strength of schedule – ranking No. 33, 18 and 13, respectively, as of Dec. 20, according to ESPN.