Alabama vs Texas A&M: SEC Dominates College Football Playoff Debate
The college football season’s really heating up as Week 9 creeps closer. Anticipation for that first College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings reveal? Yeah, it’s everywhere right now.
With just two more weekends of conference play before the selection committee gets together, teams are scrambling. Everyone’s trying to lock down a spot in that new 12-team bracket.
This year’s extra wild. The committee will rank teams 1 through 12, totally separate from the five auto-qualifiers and seven at-large picks. Let’s take a look around—who’s moving up, who’s hanging on, and what could shake out for the playoff picture?
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Ohio State: A Cut Above the Rest
Ohio State has been on a different level, especially on defense. Only Illinois has managed to score more than 10 points against them, and even that game was a comfy 34-16 win for the Buckeyes.
They were a unanimous No. 1 in the Coaches Poll and nearly swept the AP rankings too, grabbing 60 of 66 first-place votes. With top-10 wins on their resume, they’re looking like the clear favorite for a first-round bye in the CFP.
Unbeaten and Unchallenged
That defense is the backbone of their success. They’ve beaten multiple top-10 teams, so it’s not just a soft schedule propping them up.
If Ohio State keeps this up, it’s hard to see anyone knocking them off their perch.
Alabama: The Hottest Team in College Football
Alabama started off shaky, but wow, have they turned it around. Four straight wins against top-25 opponents—nobody else is on that kind of roll right now.
This run has pushed them into a strong spot, probably ahead of Texas A&M in the pecking order, even though the Aggies are still the SEC’s only unbeaten team.
Quality Wins Over Quantity
Alabama’s got quality wins stacked up. Four victories over ranked teams? That’s a resume that makes the committee sit up.
Texas A&M, while still unbeaten, hasn’t faced as many tough teams and just barely scraped by Arkansas, giving up 42 points and over 500 yards. That’s not ideal.
Georgia Tech: Unbeaten but Unproven
Georgia Tech’s still unbeaten, but let’s be honest, their schedule hasn’t been a gauntlet. They’ve squeaked by with one-possession wins over Colorado, Clemson, and Wake Forest.
Their only ranked win was against Clemson, and that’s a program teetering on its first losing season since 2009.
Strength of Schedule Matters
The committee’s going to look hard at who they’ve actually beaten. Georgia Tech needs to show more against tougher opposition if they want to stay high in the rankings.
Oregon: Eyeing a Home Game
Oregon’s had a solid year, but not without a few bumps. They’re 1-1 against top-10 teams after dropping a game to Indiana earlier this month.
With no more ranked opponents left on the schedule, Oregon’s got to impress on style and the so-called “eye test” if they want to land a home playoff game.
Style Points and Eye Test
The Ducks blew out Rutgers, showing off their offense. But with no big games left, they’ve got to keep the pedal down to stay in the committee’s good graces.
Miami: A Tumbling Giant
Miami’s season has been all over the place. Even after dropping in the AP poll, they’ve still got three top-25 wins—only Alabama has more.
Losing to Louisville hurt, but Miami’s overall body of work means they’re not out of the playoff conversation yet.
Body of Work Ranking
They’ve been strong at the line of scrimmage, which always helps. The ACC title race is out of their control now, but their resume could still get them a decent seed if things break right.
Other Contenders and Projections
The fight for those last playoff spots? Wide open. A few teams are hanging around with strong cases.
- Texas Tech: They lost to Arizona State, but projections still have them running the table and taking the Big 12.
- South Florida: Right now, the Bulls are the favorite for the Group of Six spot, which would put them in the playoff bracket.
- Notre Dame: If the Irish finish 10-2 and pick up some quality wins, they’re definitely in the mix.
Key Matchups to Watch
Week 9’s got a handful of games that could really shake up the playoff picture:
- No. 9 Georgia Tech at No. 8 Oregon: Both teams need this one to boost their standing.
- No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Ole Miss: High stakes here, and the rankings could get a serious shuffle.
- No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 6 Georgia: Vanderbilt’s looking to make a statement with a win over a top-15 team.
- No. 12 South Florida at No. 5 Miami: Miami’s playoff hopes are on the line—they have to win this one.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
The first CFP rankings reveal is coming up fast on Nov. 4. The next two weekends? Absolutely massive for college football fans.
Teams are scrambling to make their final statements to the selection committee. Every game suddenly feels like it could change everything.
Ohio State’s been rolling, Alabama’s heating up, and the matchups ahead are honestly pretty wild. The finish line’s in sight, but it’s anyone’s guess how things shake out.
If you want to dive deeper into projections and analysis, the full article’s over at CBS Sports.
