I thought (mistakenly, as it turns out) that the hubbub about the CFP Selections would have died down by now: But, NO!
Yesterday, at the bridge table, I heard another dark comment about Alabama’s inclusion.
Let’s put this to rest with a few simple statements. Depending on your selection criteria, the choices were clear:
If resume based, Florida State deserves to be in. That means Texas is also in based on its triumph in Tuscaloosa. Simple!
If based on best 4 teams, Alabama deserves to be in, despite its near calamity at War Eagle. The Tide beat the #1 team, in its home state, for the SEC title. If Alabama were to face a Florida State team today without Jordan Travis, the Tide would be roughly a touchdown favorite. Still pretty simple! If Alabama is in, Texas is in.
One fact that should be mentioned MORE. Every college football fan should want elite teams to play elite schedules. Certainly, ESPN and Fox should also crave that. For example, Michigan fans can be excused for not paying any attention to the Wolverines until Game 10. Alabama could have scheduled Cupcake U instead of Texas. In which case, Alabama would be undefeated today. In a close case, Roll Tide should not be punished for scheduling Longhorn U.
Last, the Odyssey does not want Donald Trump going around the Country saying “FAKE CHAMPION, FAKE CHAMPION” if the SEC were excluded. The CFP without a decent SEC champ is like:
Cain without Abel
Laurel without Hardy
Romeo without Juliet
Tinker without either Evers or Chance
Taylor Swift without Travis Kelce
You get the idea! (Plus, Las Vegas has the wrong team favored in the upcoming Rose Bowl tilt)