How Alabama could cause College Football Playoff chaos

Alabama winning the SEC Championship Game could cause absolutely mayhem for the College Football Playoff selection committee. The Crimson Tide came in at No. 8 in the penultimate CFP rankings on Tuesday, meaning they have a long way to rise to make it in the top four.

However, if Alabama were to beat Georgia to win a conference title, it would be hard to deny the Crimson Tide a spot in the Playoff. That would create an interesting discussion for the committee. Does Georgia, which is currently ranked No. 1, fall outside the top four? If No. 7 Texas, which beat Alabama early this year, wins the Big 12 Championship, does it also get in?

Bama Online‘s Tim May joined On3‘s Andy Staples on Tuesday to discuss the many wild scenarios that could arise if the Crimson Tide take care of business to win the conference title.

“The committee, I’m not saying they’re biased, but they have to be rooting for Georgia to make it simplistic,” May said. “If Bama wins, you’ve got the Florida State situation with the quarterback out. You’ve got Oregon and Washington probably gonna swap losses against each other. Michigan soundly in. It blows my mind to even think that Georgia could be out with a loss. I still find it hard to believe Georgia’s not a top four team. Alabama could be out after beating a team riding a 30-game win streak, that blows my mind.”

Much of what happens depends on the results of the Big 12 and ACC Championship. If Alabama, Texas and No. 4 Florida State all win, it would make sense that Georgia falls outside of the top four. However, there’s only room for two more teams assuming No. 2 Michigan and the winner between No. 5 Oregon and No. 3 Washington in the Pac-12 Championship both get in.

If Florida State loses, however, it seems clear to Staples that both Alabama and Texas are getting in.

“If Alabama beats Georgia and Texas beats Oklahoma State, Alabama and Texas are both getting in,” he said. “I think you have to put Alabama in at that point and you cannot put Alabama in without Texas one spot above them.”

Of course, if Texas and Florida State both lose and Alabama wins, it would clear a path for Georgia and Crimson Tide to both make the College Football Playoff. It seems hard to imagine that the Bulldogs, who have won an SEC record 30 consecutive games, could potentially be out based on the result of one game.

Either way, it’s clear Alabama winning the SEC would cause a lot of drama. But isn’t that what makes this so entertaining, after all?

“It blows my mind to think Georgia could be out,” May said. “It blows my mind to think Alabama could be out with a win. FSU clearly probably would’ve been in with an undefeated season and the quarterback, how do you adjust for that? Obviously struggled against a Florida team that’s not that good. I think right now it’s good to be Michigan. I feel pretty good if I’m Oregon. You probably win and you’re in. You’re a 10-point favorite, which is crazy.

“Other than that, there’s a lot of people sitting on the edge of their seats and I love it. I love what we’re discussing. I know there’s a very good chance that something frustrating happens. There’s gonna be some mad people on this final four, but I’m here for it.”

Kickoff for the SEC Championship is set for 4 p.m. ET in Atlanta.