SEC Champion Alabama landed as the fourth and final team in the College Football Playoffs in a highly controversial decision on Sunday afternoon.
Alabama, coming off of a 27-24 victory over then-No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship game, jumped over undefeated ACC Champion Florida State to make it in as the final team in the playoffs.
With Texas being selected as the No. 3 team in the playoffs, it means that both the Longhorns and Crimson Tide jumped over the Seminoles despite both having one loss on the season.
The stumbling block for Florida State in terms of the committee’s decision revolves around the critical late-season quarterback injuries that the Seminoles have had. Heisman contending quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a serious leg injury on Nov. 21 which was followed by the backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker not being able to play due to a head injury. Third-string freshman quarterback Brock Glenn started the ACC Championship game against Louisville on Saturday night and only completed eight passes for 55 yards in the win.
Ultimately, the committee chose Alabama over Florida State because the Tide have done nothing but gain momentum throughout the season while Florida State is not believed to be the same undefeated team they presented this year with all the quarterback questions they have moving forward.
“Florida State is a different team than they were in the first 11 weeks,” committee chairman Boo Corrigan said on the playoff reveal show.
Controversial? Certainly. Correct? That’s up to you to decide. But, at the end of the day, the SEC survives to live another day to the combined cheers and groans of Southeastern Conference fans everywhere.
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Michigan is the No. 1 team and will play No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Washington landed as the No. 2 team and will take on No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl. The winners of both semifinal games will then meet in the National Championship game.
Here’s a look at how the top six teams from the final College Football Playoff rankings shook out:
No. 1 Michigan
- 13-0
- Big Ten Champion
- Wins against: Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa
No. 2 Washington
- 13-0
- Pac-12 Champion
- Wins against: Oregon x2, Arizona, Oregon State
No. 3 Texas
- 12-1 (Oklahoma)
- Big 12 Champion
- Wins against: Alabama, Kansas State, Oklahoma State
No. 4 Alabama
- 12-1 (Texas)
- SEC Champion
- Wins against: Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU, Georgia
No. 5 Florida State
- 13-0
- ACC Champion
- Wins against: LSU, Clemson, Louisville
No. 6 Georgia
- 12-1 (Alabama)
- SEC Runner Up
- Wins against: Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee
