College Football Playoff: Alabama jumps to No. 5 in first rankings
The Crimson Tide sits eight spots above Tennessee despite a recent loss to the Volunteers.
By Dominic Foster ·
The College Football Playoff committee placed Alabama at No. 5 in the nation on Tuesday, a ranking that surprised many observers given the team's recent performance.
The Crimson Tide currently holds two losses on the season. Despite that record, the committee positioned the team ahead of Kentucky at No. 6, Texas at No. 7, Ole Miss at No. 10, and Notre Dame at No. 11.
This placement is particularly notable because Tennessee defeated Alabama in Knoxville earlier this season. The Volunteers are currently ranked No. 13, leaving them eight spots behind their opponents in the new standings.
Analysts generally expected Alabama to land near the bottom of the top 10 or outside it entirely. The committee instead valued the Crimson Tide's victories against Kentucky, South Carolina, and Mississippi State highly.
The jump to No. 5 raises questions about the impact of the upcoming game against LSU. The Tigers are ranked No. 14 and host the Crimson Tide this weekend in Baton Rouge.
Many believed a loss to LSU would eliminate Alabama from playoff contention. However, a competitive defeat against a team ranked No. 14 may not be enough to push the No. 5 seed out of the top 12.
The Crimson Tide must win in Baton Rouge to secure a strong position in the bracket. A loss could still leave them in the conversation, but a victory solidifies their status among the elite teams in the nation.
