Where Alabama stands in CFP projections from around the country

No. 8 Alabama did what it needed to do to earn a College Football Playoff berth. But so did four other Power 5 conference winners, including No. 4 Florida State and No. 7 Texas.

The Crimson Tide (12-1, 8-0 SEC) claimed what many will argue is the best win in the country, however, after defeating No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Head coach Nick Saban and Alabama’s players believe that was enough to deserve a spot in the top four.

“We won the SEC,” said Saban after the 27-24 victory. “We beat the No. 1 team in the country, which everybody on the committee thought was the No. 1 team in the country and they won 29 straight games. So if we needed to do something to pass the eye test, I guess that probably contributed to it significantly. 

“… I think people should look at the whole body of work in terms of what the team was able to accomplish and what they were able to do, and I think this team is one of the four best teams and one of the teams that’s deserving to be in the playoff.”

Some agree with Saban after knocking off Georgia, the winner of back-to-back national titles. After all, the SEC champion has never been left out of the College Football Playoff since the postseason format was established in 2014. But others don’t. Never has an undefeated Power 5 champion been overlooked, while the No. 8 team in the penultimate rankings has never been able to make the kind of jump Alabama is hoping to see today.

No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 Washington handled their business and are locks to compete for a national championship. But what will happen at Nos. 3 and 4? Texas has a head-to-head win over the Tide and handled Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game. Florida State wrapped up an undefeated season by besting Louisville for the ACC championship, but the Seminoles are without their quarterback, a factor that goes into the CFP committee’s decision.

But those deciding the four-team field are tasked with picking the four best teams. 

“It is best,” said Bill Hancock, the executive director of the College Football Playoff. “Most deserving is not anything in the committee’s lexicon. They are to rank the best teams in order, and that’s what they do. Just keep that word in mind, best teams.” 

According to BetMGM, Alabama has the third-best odds to win the national championship.

1. Michigan – +115
2. Texas – +350
3. Alabama – +375
4. Washington – +500
5. Florida State – +1,400

So what will the selection committee do? We will all find out a little after 11 a.m. CT when the top four are revealed live on ESPN. Until then, BamaOnLine rounded playoff projections from 10 different football writers (and eight different outlets) from around the country.

On3’s Jesse Simonton – IN

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas
4. Alabama

ESPN’s Heather Dinich – IN

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas
4. Alabama

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach – IN

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas
4. Alabama

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura – OUT

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Florida State
4. Texas

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy – IN

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas
4. Alabama

The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel and Scott Dochterman – IN

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Alabama
4. Florida State

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm – OUT

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Florida State
4. Texas

Sporting News’ Bill Bender – IN

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Alabama
4. Florida State

USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg – IN

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas
4. Alabama

FOX Sports’ Bryan Fischer – IN

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Alabama
4. Florida State

Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!

Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $1! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!