Unraveling the College Football Playoff Drama

Does Alabama Still Have a Playoff Chance?

Believe it or not, despite getting blown out by a seemingly weaker opponent, Alabama still holds a glimmer of a playoff pulse. Its inconsistent performance leaves it with some room for maneuver, but it also means there's no room to complain if it's left out. Alabama's schedule was one of the toughest in the nation, with wins against Georgia, South Carolina, and LSU bolstering its resume. However, losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma have dragged it down. Currently ranked No. 13 in the US LBM coaches poll, the Tide's fate will be decided in the coming days as the playoff rankings are updated on Tuesday night. If the committee needs a three-loss team, Alabama will be at the top of the list. But it must win the Iron Bowl and likely get some help. The best path? South Carolina beats Clemson, Syracuse beats Miami, and SMU wins the ACC championship. That would leave the ACC with just one team with fewer than three losses, potentially changing the landscape.

Alabama's journey to the playoffs is far from certain, but it's not over yet. The team will need to pull off some impressive wins and hope for some favorable outcomes elsewhere. It's a tall order, but Alabama fans are holding out hope for a playoff berth.

What Went Wrong with Ole Miss?

Good teams find a way to win even in tough situations, but Ole Miss struggled to do just that. Despite having a talented roster, the Rebels lacked the mental fortitude needed to handle pressure. They surrendered a fourth-down miracle in an inexplicable loss to Kentucky and missed a field goal that could have forced overtime. Against LSU, they failed to protect a second-half lead and couldn't make a critical fourth-quarter stop. And against Florida, they scored zero points on three red-zone trips. The lasting image of this Ole Miss season will be Lane Kiffin's stunned look as he realized he had been outcoached by Billy Napier. Kiffin managed to do well in his early tenure, but this year was a different story. With a schedule designed for playoff qualification, the Rebels lost to one mediocre opponent after another. It's clear that even a strong NIL collective can't buy a killer instinct.

The lack of calm, cool, and composed play from Ole Miss caught up with them this season, leaving fans disappointed and coaches scratching their heads.

Is the 12-Team CFP Bracket Here to Stay?

I suspect more changes are on the horizon. Fan reaction to the 12-team playoff format has been overwhelmingly positive, and the system has delivered some of the most dramatic seasons in recent memory. But with the SEC potentially qualifying fewer teams than the Big Ten and the ACC snagging two or even three spots, there's bound to be some discontent. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey wields a lot of influence, and he may be looking to make some adjustments in 2026 to stack the deck in favor of the "Super Two" conferences. Whether or not the playoff needs to change remains to be seen, but it's clear that the current format is not without its challenges.

The future of the College Football Playoff is uncertain, but one thing is for sure: it will continue to be a topic of discussion and debate among fans and experts alike.

Who Could Win the National Championship?

This is a tough call, as there isn't a clear-cut favorite this year. Even undefeated Oregon shows some vulnerability. If I had to draft four teams that I think could win the national championship, in order, they would be Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, and Texas. Each of these teams has the talent and potential to bring home the title, but it's a close race. And while I would feel good about my choices, they don't hold a candle to the dominance of teams like 2019 LSU or 2020 Alabama. The era of the superpowers may be coming to an end, as parity reigns supreme in college football.

As the season winds down, it will be interesting to see which team emerges as the champion and how the College Football Playoff landscape continues to evolve.