The College Football Playoff selection committee is facing one of its most complex tasks yet: determining the inaugural 12-team playoff field.
While many decisions hinge on the outcomes of this coming weekend’s conference championship games, several teams on the bubble are making their cases for inclusion.
Some of those teams include No. 13 Alabama, No. 14 Ole Miss, and No. 15 South Carolina.
Each of these teams will be closely watching Saturday’s SEC Championship Game between No. 3 Texas and No. 7 Georgia.
The result could significantly impact their playoff chances.
If Georgia prevails, it could pave the way for both the Bulldogs and Longhorns to secure spots in the CFP.
However, a Texas victory might leave Georgia, with three losses, struggling to outpace other bubble teams in the rankings.
As the committee wrestles with factors like strength of schedule, common opponents, and victories over ranked teams, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin decided to make his own pitch.
The polarizing coach took to Xr to present his argument for why the Rebels deserve a spot in the 12-team field over Alabama and South Carolina.
In his detailed post, Kiffin highlighted several metrics that favor Ole Miss…
“After all the chaos (Saturday) there looks to be three bubble teams fighting for the last remaining playoff spot,” the post begins.
“All three are 9-3 and represent the SEC: Ole Miss Football, Alabama Football, South Carolina Gamecocks.
“South Carolina lost to the both of them and their best win is against Clemson. Ole Miss and Alabama best win is against Georgia. Georgia beat Clemson 34-3.. safe to say that SC is out and it’s between Ole Miss & Alabama.”
Kiffin’s post went on to provide further details which he hopes will help his argument.
“Ole Miss has 9 wins outscoring their opponents 390-94 (+296).
Alabama has 9 wins outscoring their opponents 371-119 (+252).
In the three losses Ole Miss was outscored 73-60 (-13).
In the three losses Alabama was outscored 88-55 (-33).
Common opponents:
Both beat Georgia… Rebs won by 18. Bama won by 7.
Both beat South Carolina. Rebs won by 24. Bama won by 2.
Alabama beat LSU by 29. Ole Miss lost to LSU by 3 in overtime.
Ole Miss beat Oklahoma by 12. Alabama lost to Oklahoma by 21.
Clearly Ole Miss should be in the playoff over Alabama, but Bama is the bigger brand and more than likely will get in over Ole Miss,” the post concluded.
Kiffin’s arguments certainly bolster Ole Miss’s case, but the Rebels face an uphill battle.
Many analysts believe that if the decision comes down to Ole Miss or Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s stronger reputation and broader body of work could give them the nod.
The playoff selection committee will finalize its choices after the conference championship games conclude.
For bubble teams like Alabama, Ole Miss, and South Carolina, the wait will be nerve-wracking as they hope to make history in the first-ever expanded College Football Playoff field.
What are your thoughts on Kiffin’s post? … Do he and the Rebels have a legitimate case for a playoff spot???
