As always, this public service announcement. The final set of College Football Playoff rankings, which will be released Dec. 4, means everything. Every other set \u2014 including this latest one \u2014 means nothing. The selection committee acknowledges that\u2019s so, and yet keeps doing it, anyway. It\u2019s almost like they like throwing rocks at the hornets\u2019 nest that is college football and then watching the angry swarms form.<\/span><\/p>\n But the CFP Top 25 does provide a window into what the committee members think at any given point. The rankings themselves, and to a lesser extent the explanations given by committee chair Kirby Hocutt, provide insight into at least some of the factors that will matter when they\u2019re finally compiling the final rankings \u2014 you know, the only one that matters.<\/span><\/p>\n Each week\u2019s ranking \u2014 and Hocutt\u2019s answers \u2014 inevitably raise more questions. We\u2019ll answer a few of them.<\/span><\/p>\n What should the rankings have been?<\/span><\/p>\n 1. Alabama<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Not Your Team<\/span><\/p>\n 3. You\u2019re Stunned<\/span><\/p>\n 4. That\u2019s About Right<\/span><\/p>\n 5. OUTRAGE<\/span><\/p>\n 6. BITTERNESS<\/span><\/p>\n No, we\u2019re just kidding. Here are the actual questions and answers:<\/span> A giant meteor. Or a loss either to Chattanooga or in the SEC championship game to a heavy, heavy underdog from the SEC East (OK, or both). The meteor shower might be more likely.<\/span><\/p>\n Even a loss to rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl wouldn\u2019t be enough to knock Bama out of the Playoff, just down a notch or three in the seeding.<\/span><\/p>\n Source:\u00a0http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/ncaaf\/columnist\/george-schroeder\/2016\/11\/16\/college-football-playoff-rankings-questions-alabama-ohio-state-michigan-clemson\/93942066\/<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWhat would it take for Alabama to get left out of the Playoff?<\/span><\/p>\n