The expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff presented drama in its first year.
And in a somewhat surprising change from the four-team postseason of the last decade, a big brand was left out.
Alabama, punished for its three losses, was passed over for SMU.
It was the major question mark entering the announcement, after the Mustangs lost a heartbreaking ACC championship game to Clemson on a 56-yard field goal at the horn Saturday night.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe runs for a touchdown against Auburn on Nov. 30, 2024. Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Alabama had the far better win, a victory over SEC champion and No. 2 seed Georgia.
But also two bad losses, to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma.
SMU’s two defeats came by a combined six points to top-25 foes Clemson (16) and BYU (17).
“Brands like Alabama, brands like Clemson — the blue bloods of our sport — they’ve earned that right, but that doesn’t mean they should get the nod in situations like this,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “I was really proud and thankful that didn’t play into the final decision.”
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings runs against Clemson in the ACC championship game on Dec. 7, 2024. Bob Donnan-Imagn ImagesSMU wound up ranked 10th by the committee, one spot ahead of Alabama at 11.
Arizona State (12) and Clemson received automatic bids for winning their respective conferences, jumping Alabama.
So after all the talk about how dominant the SEC would be after adding Oklahoma and Texas, it wound up with one fewer bid than the Big Ten (four).
“We looked at the number of wins that Alabama had against ranked opponents. We looked at SMU’s schedule and they were undefeated in conference, their losses were to ranked teams,” committee chairman Warde Manuel said on ESPN shortly after the announcement. “But we also looked at Alabama’s loss to unranked teams. And it was quite a debate. I mean, we value strength of schedule — that’s why Alabama as a three-loss team is ranked ahead of other teams that have two losses. It is something that we talk about quite a bit.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is upset with officials after a Tide player was called for a personal foul during the second half against the Autumn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con“But in the balance of it, in the way SMU played in that game [against Clemson], losing on the last-second field goal. Great win by Clemson, great game. We just felt that in this particular case, SMU still had the nod at 10 above Alabama.”
Alabama was thought to be out of contention after an ugly loss at six-win Oklahoma a few weeks ago.
But so much had gone right since that loss.
Alabama manhandled Auburn in the Iron Bowl while Miami, Ole Miss and Texas A&M all dropped games that moved Kalen DeBoer’s three-loss team up.
Clemson Tigers place kicker Nolan Hauser (81) celebrates with teammates after making a 56-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter to win the 2024 ACC Championship game. Jim Dedmon-Imagn ImagesBut then Clemson built a big lead over SMU and hung on at the end.
The Crimson Tide were left on the outside looking in, having to settle for the ReliaQuest Bowl (previously the Outback) against Michigan on Dec. 31.
This wasn’t how anyone in Tuscaloosa expected DeBoer’s first season to go, with its most losses (three) since 2010.
SMU will visit No. 6 Penn State in the opening round of the playoff on Dec. 21.
No. 5 Texas hosts Clemson, No. 7 Notre Dame faces No. 10 Indiana and No. 8 Ohio State takes on No. 9 Tennessee in the other first-round games.
The top four seeds were given to conference champions Oregon (Big Ten), Georgia (SEC), Boise State (Mountain West) and Clemson (ACC).
They get a first-round bye.
