Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Rick Neuheisel Knows Why Alabama Is in Position to Make Playoff

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Taylor Reed | Last updated Dec 3, 2024 9:51 PM ET

No matter how many programs are involved with the College Football Playoffs or how big the playing field becomes -- there's bound to be controversy. A committee deciding who is worthy of making the playoffs, what could go wrong?

On Tuesday night, the last playoff rankings of the regular season were revealed. The only games left of meaning are conference championship games, then onto bowl games.

Programs not taking part in a conference championship game are quite safe. One program under the spotlight is Alabama, as the Crimson Tide finished the regular season with a 9-3 record.

There were four teams on the bubble for the final playoff spot, with the first 11 teams already being essentially penciled in. Miami, South Carolina and Ole Miss were with Alabama on the bubble of making the playoffs.

Alabama got the bid over 10-2 Miami and the other two 9-3 SEC programs, which isn't all that surprising.

Assuming SMU takes care of business over Clemson, the Crimson Tide will be in the playoffs. Even with a Clemson ACC Championship Game win, Alabama can out-rank SMU to make the playoff field.

Rick Neuheisel doesn't believe it's all that much of a secret as to why Alabama is in the playoffs, as he explained on CBS.

"Since the inception of the College Football Playoff back in 2014, the two most important words to the CFP committee have been 'Roll Tide,'" Neuheisel said.

"Since the inception of the College Football Playoff back in 2014, the two most important words to the CFP committee have been 'Roll Tide.'" -- @CoachNeuheisel @CoachNeuheisel and @JonesN4mo react to Alabama sneaking into the CFP bracket in the latest rankings pic.twitter.com/4IgVHZxH7e
— CBS Sports College Football (@CBSSportsCFB) December 4, 2024

Nick Saban might be retired and considered a pundit, but the program he built remains. Alabama is among the most notable college football programs. There is no secret that the playoffs are better with that brand in the field.

The committee getting the Crimson Tide in over the likes of Miami, Ole Miss and South Carolina isn't all that surprising. Again, it's a subjective formula with no exact science. This was bound to happen.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: