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The first College Football Playoff rankings have given us an interesting debate. UCLA is undefeated at 8-0, yet the committee has placed the Bruins at No. 8. Alabama, sitting at 6-2, somehow landed at No. 5.
I understand that strength of schedule matters. Alabama has wins over Kentucky and South Carolina, along with Mississippi State. The committee also pointed to the number of opponents Alabama has faced with winning records. That's a reasonable argument, and those results deserve consideration.
But two losses are still two losses. At some point, an undefeated record has to count for something more than a polite mention in the rankings.
What bothers me is the lack of clarity in how the committee weighs these comparisons. If Alabama's schedule is the deciding factor, I'd like to see exactly which victories make its resume three places better than UCLA's. Simply saying the SEC is tougher shouldn't settle the argument.
UCLA has taken care of business every week. Alabama has had two opportunities to lose, and both ended in defeats. That difference shouldn't disappear because one team plays in a more celebrated conference.
I'm not saying UCLA should automatically be ranked ahead of every one-loss or two-loss team. But the committee needs to explain its reasoning when an unbeaten team gets passed by a team with two defeats.
So, Alabama fans, which victory on the Crimson Tide's resume makes the case for No. 5? And UCLA fans, what more does your team have to do to earn greater respect?
I understand that strength of schedule matters. Alabama has wins over Kentucky and South Carolina, along with Mississippi State. The committee also pointed to the number of opponents Alabama has faced with winning records. That's a reasonable argument, and those results deserve consideration.
But two losses are still two losses. At some point, an undefeated record has to count for something more than a polite mention in the rankings.
What bothers me is the lack of clarity in how the committee weighs these comparisons. If Alabama's schedule is the deciding factor, I'd like to see exactly which victories make its resume three places better than UCLA's. Simply saying the SEC is tougher shouldn't settle the argument.
UCLA has taken care of business every week. Alabama has had two opportunities to lose, and both ended in defeats. That difference shouldn't disappear because one team plays in a more celebrated conference.
I'm not saying UCLA should automatically be ranked ahead of every one-loss or two-loss team. But the committee needs to explain its reasoning when an unbeaten team gets passed by a team with two defeats.
So, Alabama fans, which victory on the Crimson Tide's resume makes the case for No. 5? And UCLA fans, what more does your team have to do to earn greater respect?
