The College Football Playoff committee is facing a tough decision between SMU and Alabama as they finalize the rankings and playoff field. SMU lost a close game to Clemson, dropping them to 11-2, while Alabama secured the final spot in the provisional playoff field despite having a 9-3 record. Committee chair Warde Manuel has hinted that SMU may fall out of the playoff field but nothing is guaranteed.
The predicted playoff field includes Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State with first-round byes. SMU is expected to face Texas, Clemson against Penn State, Indiana playing Notre Dame, and Tennessee taking on Ohio State in first-round matchups.
The decision to potentially drop SMU from the playoff field comes down to not only their loss to Clemson but also the head-to-head results against other teams. The committee is aiming to avoid rematches and games between teams in the same conference in the first round matchups. The final rankings and playoff field will be announced on Sunday at noon ET on ESPN, and it will be interesting to see if SMU manages to secure a spot despite their recent loss.
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