Nick Saban and his Alabama team have had a remarkable run in college football. In three out of his final four years coaching, they made it to the College Football Playoff. However, in 2022, the Crimson Tide faced an unexpected setback as they were on the bubble and ultimately left out.

Understanding the Controversy

The regular season ended with a 10-2 (6-2) record for Saban's team, with losses totaling just four points. Yet, a 12-1 TCU team managed to sneak into the CFP ahead of them. It was a tough pill to swallow for Saban."When we look at the facts, we would've been 13-point favorites over TCU if we had played them. But they got in and we didn't," Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show. TCU's credit goes to their victory over Michigan in a playoff semifinal game. But later, they were soundly beaten by Georgia in the national title game, falling 65-7. Alabama didn't play Georgia that year but had a tough SEC schedule."I'm not criticizing TCU. It wasn't their fault," Saban emphasized. "But that's the subjective part of it. There are always going to be these types of situations in college football."

The Impact on the Playoff Format

Saban added that the good news is that with the current 12-team playoff format, such issues may be less likely to occur. If teams have one of the best resumes in the country, they will get in moving forward."I think the good news about this, and I've said this many times before, is they will get the best five or six teams in, for sure," Saban said. "There have been times in the past when there were debates about who should get in or not. But I don't think that's going to happen anymore. They'll get the best teams in. However, the way some teams get in and others don't is still an issue that needs to be addressed."

Alabama's Past Playoff Experiences

In 2003, when Alabama won, there were discussions about Southern Cal should've got in. There were also times when Alabama didn't get in or Florida State didn't get in. These past experiences show the complexity of the playoff selection process. But Saban believes that with the current format, the focus will be on getting the best teams in.Alabama's presence in the playoff has had a significant impact on the sport. Their success has set a high standard for other teams. And the close calls like in 2022 only add to the excitement and drama of college football. It's a reminder that in this sport, anything can happen on any given weekend.