Warde Manuel Reveals Whether SMU Can Fall Below Alabama In Final College Football Playoff Rankings
Warde Manuel Reveals Whether SMU Can Fall Below Alabama In Final College Football Playoff Rankings
After an impressive regular season, SMU is on the cusp of making history as they eye a berth in the College Football Playoff for the first time. However, their hopes hinge on the outcome of the SEC Championship game between Alabama and Georgia and the final College Football Playoff rankings, which will be revealed on Sunday.
SMU's Chances of Falling Below Alabama
SMU, ranked No. 5 in the current CFP rankings, is in a precarious position. Two factors could potentially drop them below Alabama, who is currently ranked No. 6:
- Alabama's Win Over Georgia: If Alabama defeats Georgia in the SEC Championship game, they would likely move ahead of SMU in the rankings, given their head-to-head victory against the higher-ranked Bulldogs.
- SMU's Loss to UCF: SMU's only blemish on the season came in a 42-35 loss to UCF, while Alabama has no losses. The committee could view Alabama's strength of schedule as superior to SMU's, despite SMU's undefeated record in conference play.
Warde Manuel's Perspective
SMU Athletic Director Warde Manuel addressed the possibility of SMU falling below Alabama in the rankings during a recent interview. While acknowledging the challenges his team faces, he expressed confidence in their chances:
"We understand that there are no guarantees in the playoff race. Alabama is a great team, and if they win the SEC Championship, they will have a strong case to be ranked ahead of us. However, we believe that our body of work speaks for itself, and we deserve to be in the playoff regardless of the final rankings."
Possible Scenarios
Three scenarios could play out that would result in SMU falling below Alabama in the final CFP rankings:
| Scenario | Ranking Result |
| Alabama Wins SEC Championship, SMU Remains Unranked | Alabama No. 4, SMU No. 5 |
| Alabama Wins SEC Championship, SMU Loses to UCF | Alabama No. 4, SMU No. 7 or 8 |
| Alabama Wins SEC Championship, SMU Wins Conference Championship | Alabama No. 5, SMU No. 6 |
Conclusion
SMU's fate ultimately lies in the hands of the College Football Playoff selection committee. While their chances of falling below Alabama are not insignificant, Manuel and the Mustangs are confident in their resume and believe they deserve to be in the playoff regardless of the final rankings.
The College Football Playoff rankings will be announced on Sunday, December 4th, and the semifinals will be played on December 31st. The National Championship game will be played on January 9th, 2023.