Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit debate Tennessee, Alabama College Football Playoff chances

After last weekend’s huge win for Tennessee over Alabama, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and the ESPN College GameDay crew weighed the College Football Playoff chances of both teams.

While many believe the Volunteers have to simplest path to the dance, Corso doesn’t agree with that sentiment.

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“I don’t agree with you, I think Tennessee has to win every game to get in,” stated Corso. “… There’s a lot of football to be played.”

In rebuttal, Herbstreit evaluated all the scenarios where Tennessee could be left out, even with only one loss to their name.

“It’s interesting because when they beat Alabama, you start to think about, what if they lose to Georgia? What if they beat Georgia, obviously it’s a moot point but if they were to lose in Athens, fight hard and end up 11-1 and they don’t go to Atlanta, what Lee’s saying I think is, who knows how it plays out,” added Herbstreit. “Ohio State, Michigan, you’ve got Clemson out there, Alabama still out there, Georgia.

“… What could hurt Tennessee if if they lose to Georgia, Tennessee skips a trip to the SEC Championship and Alabama were to beat Georgia, Bama’s going. Then you look at Georgia-Tennessee head to head, Georgia’s ahead of Tennessee. So Tennessee still needs to keep going.”

Evidently, Chris “The Bear” Fallica believes there’s simply too many teams who can win out and be in the College Football Playoff to declare Tennessee one of the final four teams already.

“If Ohio State wins out, they’re in. If Michigan wins out, they’re in. If Clemson wins out — there’s too many teams I think that are in win and you’re in scenarios,” stated Fallica. “If Alabama wins out, they’re in. If Georgia wins out, they’re in.

“If Alabama beats Georgia in the SEC Championship and Georgia has the win over Tennessee, they’re in. It’s only four teams.”

Then, Pat McAfee referenced the idea of recent success affecting Tennessee, wondering if Josh Heupel will have enough credibility with the College Football Playoff committee. In response, Herbstreit agreed, saying, “It gets political.”

Meanwhile, Corso believes the Crimson Tide have to make a statement over the remainder of the season if they’re going to get back to the Playoff.

“They must win every game impressively to make it,” added Corso. “Alabama is still in it, but they must win every game impressively.”

Still, Herbstreit recognizes that this is far from uncharted waters for the Crimson Tide, as history would tell us they’re still more than in the thick of things.

“Think about this, ‘14 is when the Playoff started. Six of the eight national championship games, Bama has played in. If you think about how they got there, two of the national championships, they lost in the regular season and still ended up getting there and winning,” elaborated Herbstreit. “Last year they lost in the regular season against A&M and still got there. 

“… I don’t think Coach Saban ever wants to lose, but I do think he has a way of saying I tried to tell you and gets them locked in.”

Alas, there’s plenty of season left, but Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and the entire College GameDay crew make some interesting points regarding the chances Tennessee and Alabama have at the College Football Playoff.