Following their exclusion from the College Football Playoff, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne expressed disappointment and hinted at a potential shift in the Crimson Tide's approach to non-conference scheduling. Byrne had previously championed Alabama's tough schedule as a reason for their playoff inclusion, even with three losses. However, the selection committee ultimately favored other teams, prompting Byrne to question the value of a demanding non-conference slate.
Byrne voiced his frustration on social media, stating that Alabama believed they were among the top 12 teams nationally and acknowledging their subpar performances in a couple of games. He emphasized the need to re-evaluate the number of Power Five non-conference matchups in the future to maximize their playoff chances, suggesting that such a change would negatively impact college football as a whole.
While Alabama held the No. 11 spot in the rankings before the final selection, their lack of a conference championship game likely played a role in their omission. Had SMU defeated Clemson in their conference championship, Alabama might have secured a playoff berth.
Selection committee chair Warde Manuel addressed the decision to include SMU, highlighting their undefeated conference record and losses to ranked opponents. He acknowledged the committee's consideration of Alabama's strength of schedule but emphasized that SMU's overall performance, including a close loss to Clemson, ultimately gave them the edge. Manuel clarified that the decision wasn't meant to diminish Alabama's challenging schedule but rather reflected a comprehensive evaluation of both teams.
Alabama is now set to face Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
