In a recent development, Alabama’s Athletic Director, Greg Byrne, expressed the need to reassess the university’s nonconference scheduling strategy following the team’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff (CFP).
Greg Byrne shared his disappointment on social media regarding Alabama’s absence from the 12-team CFP field. The team’s losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma were significant, and Byrne emphasized the necessity of revisiting their approach to nonconference games. He acknowledged that understanding how the CFP evaluates strength of schedule is essential for future participation.
This year, Alabama played only one Power 4 (P4) nonconference game, a decisive victory against Wisconsin. Looking ahead, they have plans for two P4 nonconference games against Florida State and Wisconsin. This decision aligns with Byrne’s belief in the importance of a strong schedule. Notably, six of Alabama’s eight victories were against bowl-eligible teams, including a standout win over SEC Champion Georgia.
Despite Alabama’s strong record, SMU secured the final at-large spot in the playoff. SMU Coach Rhett Lashlee highlighted that reputation doesn’t guarantee playoff selection, signaling satisfaction with the decision-making process. Alabama, however, edged out SMU in several categories, holding a higher strength of record, ESPN’s Football Power Index ranking, and possessing more Top 25 wins.
The CFP selection committee’s chair, Warde Manuel, affirmed that Alabama’s challenging schedule justified their ranking above other teams with fewer losses. However, this assertion was contested on social media by Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, who publicly questioned the committee’s statements.
The current CFP structure has drawn criticism, especially regarding its seeding process. Under existing rules, the top four conference champions automatically receive a first-round bye, regardless of their overall rankings. Teams like Texas expressed frustration as they fell to a fifth seed despite higher rankings than some conference champions. Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian compared the seeding process unfavorably to that of the NCAA basketball tournament, advocating for a more ranking-focused approach.
Before the CFP announcement, there were varying opinions on playoff structure. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark argued against giving Group of Five teams a bye over Power Four champions. Conversely, Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez supported Boise State’s qualification based on their impressive season performance.
Alabama’s exclusion from the CFP has sparked a reevaluation of nonconference scheduling strategies across college sports. As debates continue over the CFP’s selection criteria and seeding approach, institutions like Alabama are prompted to adapt their strategies to better align with the playoff goals.
