Greg McElroy debates how Oregon, Alabama resumes match up
In the College Football Playoff committee’s eyes, there is no real debate over who the best one-loss team is. They have consistently gone with Oregon, much to the frustration of Alabama and Texas fans. Both of them argue the resume, while Dan Lanning‘s team has been reliant on the eye test since their loss to Washington.
Those outside of the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine, TX still have questions though. Specifically when it comes down to the resume of Alabama when going up against Oregon. ESPN’s Greg McElroy cannot find a spot where the Ducks look better there.
“They don’t have a better resume right now,” McElroy said on Oregon. “And they’re still ahead of a one-loss Alabama at the moment. Alabama’s resume is superior to that of Oregon.
“Alabama has three wins over ranked teams currently in the CFP. Oregon has one. That team is Oregon State and they are ranked 20th. It would be as if Alabama had only beaten Tennessee this year and that was their only good one. That’s the comparison.”
When Oregon took down Colorado and Utah, those two were ranked at the time. But we have seen how Deion Sanders has fallen and the Utes have taken a few losses through a tough Pac-12 schedule. Neither of them is expected to be in the final College Football Playoff rankings on Sunday morning.
Alabama, on the other hand, should maintain all three of their wins. Ole Miss, LSU, and Tennessee are all idle and will be watching the SEC Championship from home. Two top-15 wins plus another ranked one on the Third Saturday in October should remain intact.
The eye test has been why Oregon has been the top one-loss team in the country, winning their last six games by an average of 25.7 points per game. But at some point, McElroy believes the resume should play a factor.
“What people have been comparing is the eye test,” McElroy said. “Why is it that Oregon is kind of put on a platform a little bit? I think Oregon is excellent, I think they’re a really good football team. But shouldn’t we have a conversation about their resume?”
If Alabama were to win the SEC Championship against Georgia, they would surely have the best win in the country. Kirby Smart is on an incredible win streak and has won back-to-back national championships. Taking them down would be a major addition to an already impressive resume.
But Oregon would be adding their best win of the season too with a win. Friday night against Washington would give the Ducks a true signature win, most likely being too much for Alabama to overcome if the CFP has to decide between the two programs.