Alabama football will not compete in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. On Sunday, the CFP committee selected the two-loss SMU Mustangs over the three-loss Alabama Crimson Tide for the 7th and final at-large spot. After losing three conference games, Alabama did not compete in championship weekend, failing to qualify for the SEC title. Meanwhile, the then-one-loss Mustangs lost a heartbreaker against the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship, losing 34-31 after a walk-off field goal.
With Clemson earning the auto-bid for winning the ACC, the College Football Playoff committee picked SMU over Alabama for the final at-large bid, dividing fans. Notably, CFP committee member Warde Manuel spoke on the group’s decision, reiterating that the strength of the schedule metric played a significant factor. According to Sports Reference, Alabama held the 24th most formidable strength of schedule this year. Conversely, SMU had the 48th most demanding schedule. Following the committee’s decision, the Alabama faithful and their director of athletics called for a weaker non-conference schedule in the future, drawing the ire of college football fans.
Alabama Football Fans Berated After CFP Miss
According to Director of Athletics for Alabama football Greg Byrne:
We have said that we would need to see how strength of schedule would be evaluated by the CFP. With this outcome, we will need to assess how many P4 non-conference games make sense in the future to put us in the best position to participate in the CFP. That is not good for college football.
Byrne, Alabama football’s AD, also wrote he believed his team to be one of the 12-best teams in the country, specifically for snagging nine wins on a highly challenging schedule. However, with Alabama becoming the first team out regarding the College Football Playoff, Byrne questioned the SEC power’s non-conference schedule. The Alabama Crimson Tide played four non-con games this season, going 4-0, beating Western Kentucky, South Florida, Wisconsin, and Mercer. Only Western Kentucky posted at least seven wins, while Mercer does not compete in the FBS.
Meanwhile, Alabama, who went 9-3, lost all their games in the SEC, going 5-3 in conference. They beat SEC champion Georgia and a still-ranked Missouri squad, each at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Conversely, Alabama lost three games on the road, lowlighted by a 24-3 loss against the Oklahoma Sooners. With Alabama football’s AD and devotees calling for a weaker non-conference schedule in the future despite that playing zero factor in their commission from the College Football Playoff, fans clowned them on social media:
https://x.com/ProjSports/status/1865870509998526574
https://x.com/AllKindsWeather/status/1865869394296910208
https://x.com/biggsy8818/status/1865881808904360125
You went undefeated against the non-conference opponents you scheduled
Don’t lose by 21 points to a bad Oklahoma team or lose to Vanderbilt for the first time in 2 generations and this doesn’t happen
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) December 8, 2024
I really don't understand how the reaction to losing to Vandy/Oklahoma is saying "we aren't going to schedule tough non-conference games." I just don't get it. pic.twitter.com/cucCuNWt0b
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) December 8, 2024
Alabama threatening to change their non conference scheduling because they got left out the CFP is LAME.
They already play 3 sure wins in non-con games including a November cupcake. Only reason they don't have 4 is bcuz the SEC requires a P4 game.
we supposed to feel sorry? pic.twitter.com/Xzd2LIa6Za
— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) December 8, 2024
Non-conference SOS:
SMU #20
Alabama #29Don’t let sore losers gaslight you into believing they were kept out because they scheduled tough games. They got rocked by Diego Pavia and Jackson Arnold.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 8, 2024
You mean like
Western Kentucky and USFor you mean like
Mercer— 🔙THE🅰️ (@BackTheA_Ray) December 8, 2024
They're two most critical losses were to conference opponents. I don't get the scheduling argument
— NashvilleHawk (@mw66896684) December 8, 2024
I mean they basically did with Oklahoma and still lost haha
— Malik Rosier (@MalikRosier12) December 8, 2024
More Alabama Football News by Gridiron Heroics
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Alabama Crimson Tide: Why The Tide’s Playoff Hopes Are Alive And Well Ahead Of Conference Championship Weekend
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Alabama Football: ACC Champion Game Holds Massive Implications For Crimson Tide’s 2024 College Football Playoff Berth
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