SMU Earns Final College Football Playoff Spot Over Alabama, Stirring Debate
The selection committee favored SMU's body of work despite Alabama's strong schedule, leaving the Crimson Tide out of the 12-team playoff field.
- SMU secured the final at-large playoff spot with an 11-2 record, despite losing narrowly to Clemson in the ACC Championship game.
- Alabama, finishing 9-3, was left out of the playoff due to losses to unranked teams like Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, despite key wins over ranked opponents such as Georgia.
- The selection committee cited SMU's undefeated conference record and losses only to ranked teams as decisive factors over Alabama's inconsistent performance.
- Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne expressed frustration with the committee's decision, questioning the emphasis on strength of schedule and hinting at future changes to non-conference scheduling.
- SMU will face No. 6 Penn State in the first round of the playoffs, while Alabama is set to play Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on December 31.
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