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  • Alabama snubbed? The Crimson Tide’s case for Playoff inclusion was better than some admit

    Alabama snubbed? The Crimson Tide’s case for Playoff inclusion was better than some admit

    Taking up the cause for Alabama and the SEC feels like going to bat for Apple or Amazon. It’s fighting for a tax break for Elon Musk or Warren Buffet. It’s rushing to the defense of the biggest bully on the block the one time somebody gets in a shot that knocks him to his knees.

    Yet here I am, making the case for the Crimson Tide as the team the College Football Playoff selection snubbed from the first 12-team field.

    I do like having an ally in the greatest coach of all time. ESPN’s Nick Saban, dressed in a crimson jacket on the selection show, tried to avoid sounding like a shill for the program he spent 17 years running, but his stance came through loud and clear.

    “All wins are not the same as other wins,” Saban said during ESPN’s excruciatingly long lead-in to revealing the bracket Sunday. “In other words, what we’ve always done publicly in college is look at record. We don’t look at strength of schedule. We don’t look at all those types of things.”

    This is a left-brain (analytical thinking), right-brain (emotional processing) deal.

    If the committee truly had looked at “those types of things,” if this was more of a data-driven process, Alabama would be in the Playoff instead of SMU.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    College Football Playoff 12-team debut season verdict: The football is good, my friends

    Strength of schedule metrics vary, but most come to a similar conclusion about Alabama and SMU. The Crimson Tide’s schedule was more rigorous. ESPN’s FPI has Alabama playing the 18th toughest schedule and SMU the 57th toughest.

    Most power rankings, which are forward-looking analytics, have Alabama ahead of SMU. The Athletic’s own modeler, Austin Mock, would have Alabama as a six-point favorite on a neutral field against SMU.

    Years of recruiting rankings will tell you Alabama has one of the most talented rosters in the country and that the SEC is where the most good football players can be found. The SEC got three teams (Georgia, Texas, Tennessee) in the bracket, one fewer than the Big Ten and one more than the ACC.

    “As someone with access to college tape and staff of 11 former NFL scouts that logged hundreds of hours evaluating this CFB season, it’s easy to see why SEC coaches are upset with the final playoff bracket,” Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy posted on X. “Based strictly off future NFL talent, Alabama, South Carolina, & Ole Miss (and you can even throw in Florida, Texas A&M, and LSU for that matter) are all easily in Top-12.”

    I get it. Alabama always seems to get the nod from the selection committee. When in doubt, go with the team that made the CFP eight times in 10 years when it was a four-team format — and won it three times.

    Even last year, the committee bypassed unbeaten Florida State — because it lost star quarterback Jordan Travis to a season-ending injury — in favor of one-loss Alabama.

    Do we really need to give the benefit of the doubt to the worst Alabama team in almost two decades, one that lost games to Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, both of which would not have been bowl-eligible if they hadn’t beaten the Tide? Most Alabama fans don’t even think their team had a good year.

    Left brain or right brain?

    How much did rallying around SMU have to do with the Mustangs’ story — a four-decade climb back from the NCAA death penalty — more than their resume? It sure would have felt awful to keep them out of the Playoff after they lost the ACC Championship Game on what will go down as one of the greatest, clutchest kicks in the history of college football by Clemson’s Nolan Hauser.

    “When the announcement happened, honestly, I got emotional, just because I’m so happy for our kids,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said on ESPN. “They’ve worked so hard. They’ve won 22 games in the last two years. They laid it all on the line last night. We lost heartbreaking at the end to a great opponent.”

    The Mustangs put the committee in a difficult position and exposed a glaring flaw in the system, adding to the reasons the CFP needs to do away with its weekly in-season rankings during the season’s final month.

    So much talk heading into conference championship weekend was about how much a team should be penalized for losing a title game. The committee’s answer was resounding: not much. Texas, Penn State and SMU all lost their conference title games. All were very competitive. None dropped more than two spots from last week’s rankings.

    The rankings show is just that: a show. Content that helps get people talking about the Playoff in November. There is value to that. It is understandable that the conference commissioners who run the CFP would want to control the process instead of letting fans use the AP Top 25 to speculate about what the Playoff race looks like down the stretch.

    “I do believe it’s good for us to release our ranking, because our ranking is out there and competes with two others, the AP and the coaches,” committee chairman Warde Manuel said. “So I think it’s important, since they release a weekly ranking, that at the appropriate time in the season … that we release how we’re thinking so people are not surprised in analyzing and trying to figure out how the committee is thinking about things.”

    The chairman has a talking point that the committee starts each week with a blank sheet of paper when it begins ranking teams.

    But Manuel also said last week that teams not playing on championship weekend were done being evaluated. They could move around based on the movement of other teams that were playing for league titles, but the order of teams such as Alabama, Miami, South Carolina, etc., was set.

    Saban pointed out the problem with SMU and Alabama was SMU entering the weekend ahead in the first place, and maybe he’s right. SMU should have been playing its way into the field instead of playing its way out in the ACC Championship Game, he said.

    “Playing in (the SEC), and I played in this conference for over 20 years, and when you have to go play Tennessee, then you have to go play LSU, then that team that you play next, now you might be more vulnerable to,” Saban said.

    Saban, Greg Sankey, the SEC and Alabama don’t make for the most sympathetic victims, nor should they be viewed that way.

    Defending them all feels like demanding that the spoiled kid who seems to have all the toys also gets a pony — or in this case, the Ponies’ spot in the Playoff.

    But it’s hard not to admit that when you crunch the numbers, they have a point.

    (Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

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  • Alabama snubbed? The Crimson Tide’s case for Playoff inclusion was better than some admit

    Alabama snubbed? The Crimson Tide’s case for Playoff inclusion was better than some admit

    Taking up the cause for Alabama and the SEC feels like going to bat for Apple or Amazon. It’s fighting for a tax break for Elon Musk or Warren Buffet. It’s rushing to the defense of the biggest bully on the block the one time somebody gets in a shot that knocks him to his knees.

    Yet here I am, making the case for the Crimson Tide as the team the College Football Playoff selection snubbed from the first 12-team field.

    I do like having an ally in the greatest coach of all time. ESPN’s Nick Saban, dressed in a crimson jacket on the selection show, tried to avoid sounding like a shill for the program he spent 17 years running, but his stance came through loud and clear.

    “All wins are not the same as other wins,” Saban said during ESPN’s excruciatingly long lead-in to revealing the bracket Sunday. “In other words, what we’ve always done publicly in college is look at record. We don’t look at strength of schedule. We don’t look at all those types of things.”

    This is a left-brain (analytical thinking), right-brain (emotional processing) deal.

    If the committee truly had looked at “those types of things,” if this was more of a data-driven process, Alabama would be in the Playoff instead of SMU.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    College Football Playoff 12-team debut season verdict: The football is good, my friends

    Strength of schedule metrics vary, but most come to a similar conclusion about Alabama and SMU. The Crimson Tide’s schedule was more rigorous. ESPN’s FPI has Alabama playing the 18th toughest schedule and SMU the 57th toughest.

    Most power rankings, which are forward-looking analytics, have Alabama ahead of SMU. The Athletic’s own modeler, Austin Mock, would have Alabama as a six-point favorite on a neutral field against SMU.

    Years of recruiting rankings will tell you Alabama has one of the most talented rosters in the country and that the SEC is where the most good football players can be found. The SEC got three teams (Georgia, Texas, Tennessee) in the bracket, one fewer than the Big Ten and one more than the ACC.

    “As someone with access to college tape and staff of 11 former NFL scouts that logged hundreds of hours evaluating this CFB season, it’s easy to see why SEC coaches are upset with the final playoff bracket,” Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy posted on X. “Based strictly off future NFL talent, Alabama, South Carolina, & Ole Miss (and you can even throw in Florida, Texas A&M, and LSU for that matter) are all easily in Top-12.”

    I get it. Alabama always seems to get the nod from the selection committee. When in doubt, go with the team that made the CFP eight times in 10 years when it was a four-team format — and won it three times.

    Even last year, the committee bypassed unbeaten Florida State — because it lost star quarterback Jordan Travis to a season-ending injury — in favor of one-loss Alabama.

    Do we really need to give the benefit of the doubt to the worst Alabama team in almost two decades, one that lost games to Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, both of which would not have been bowl-eligible if they hadn’t beaten the Tide? Most Alabama fans don’t even think their team had a good year.

    Left brain or right brain?

    How much did rallying around SMU have to do with the Mustangs’ story — a four-decade climb back from the NCAA death penalty — more than their resume? It sure would have felt awful to keep them out of the Playoff after they lost the ACC Championship Game on what will go down as one of the greatest, clutchest kicks in the history of college football by Clemson’s Nolan Hauser.

    “When the announcement happened, honestly, I got emotional, just because I’m so happy for our kids,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said on ESPN. “They’ve worked so hard. They’ve won 22 games in the last two years. They laid it all on the line last night. We lost heartbreaking at the end to a great opponent.”

    The Mustangs put the committee in a difficult position and exposed a glaring flaw in the system, adding to the reasons the CFP needs to do away with its weekly in-season rankings during the season’s final month.

    So much talk heading into conference championship weekend was about how much a team should be penalized for losing a title game. The committee’s answer was resounding: not much. Texas, Penn State and SMU all lost their conference title games. All were very competitive. None dropped more than two spots from last week’s rankings.

    The rankings show is just that: a show. Content that helps get people talking about the Playoff in November. There is value to that. It is understandable that the conference commissioners who run the CFP would want to control the process instead of letting fans use the AP Top 25 to speculate about what the Playoff race looks like down the stretch.

    “I do believe it’s good for us to release our ranking, because our ranking is out there and competes with two others, the AP and the coaches,” committee chairman Warde Manuel said. “So I think it’s important, since they release a weekly ranking, that at the appropriate time in the season … that we release how we’re thinking so people are not surprised in analyzing and trying to figure out how the committee is thinking about things.”

    The chairman has a talking point that the committee starts each week with a blank sheet of paper when it begins ranking teams.

    But Manuel also said last week that teams not playing on championship weekend were done being evaluated. They could move around based on the movement of other teams that were playing for league titles, but the order of teams such as Alabama, Miami, South Carolina, etc., was set.

    Saban pointed out the problem with SMU and Alabama was SMU entering the weekend ahead in the first place, and maybe he’s right. SMU should have been playing its way into the field instead of playing its way out in the ACC Championship Game, he said.

    “Playing in (the SEC), and I played in this conference for over 20 years, and when you have to go play Tennessee, then you have to go play LSU, then that team that you play next, now you might be more vulnerable to,” Saban said.

    Saban, Greg Sankey, the SEC and Alabama don’t make for the most sympathetic victims, nor should they be viewed that way.

    Defending them all feels like demanding that the spoiled kid who seems to have all the toys also gets a pony — or in this case, the Ponies’ spot in the Playoff.

    But it’s hard not to admit that when you crunch the numbers, they have a point.

    (Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

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  • College Football Playoff expert picks: Alabama or SMU in last spot? Notre Dame, Texas or Penn State at No. 5?

    College Football Playoff expert picks: Alabama or SMU in last spot? Notre Dame, Texas or Penn State at No. 5?

    The SMU versus Alabama debate for the final at-large bid in the 2025 College Football Playoff has understandably stolen the spotlight entering Selection Sunday. There is also significant consternation about how the first few teams outside the top four conference champions will be decided. Ultimately, how the committee interprets those league title game results will have ripple effects throughout the field. 

    Let’s start with the debate over the final at-large bid.

    Alabama held that spot in last Tuesday’s penultimate CFP Rankings, and it looked in good shape to maintain that slot after CFP chairman Warde Manuel said the rankings were locked for teams not playing conference championship weekend.

    However, there was a doomsday scenario: Clemson pulling off an upset over SMU in the ACC Championship Game with the Mustangs playing well enough to warrant a spot in the field.

    Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, that’s exactly what happened Saturday night. Clemson freshman kicker Nolan Hauser’s 56-yard walk-off game-winning field goal not only propelled the Tigers into the field as an automatic qualifier but gave SMU a more-than-reasonable chance to receive an at-large bid.

    SMU (11-2) has fewer losses than Alabama (9-3) but exists in a similar space as Miami (FL) in that it lacks resume-boosting wins. The Mustangs are 0-2 against top 25 opponents, while Alabama has a 3-1 record against teams, including a win over newly crowned SEC champion Georgia. Furthermore, Alabama’s strength of schedule (18th) is considerably better than that of SMU (75th) as the Tide’s opponents had a combined record of 82-50 while the Mustangs’ were 83-75. 

    The SMU case? Well, it went undefeated during ACC regular-season play (8-0), and its two losses are nowhere near as bad as Alabama’s 21-point defeat to 6-6 Oklahoma (in which Bama scored 3 points) or its road loss to 6-6 Vanderbilt. SMU’s wins against Louisville and Pittsburgh were notable at the time, too. 

    If Alabama ranked a spot above Miami in the penultimate CFP Rankings, one could surmise it deserves to hold the same spot when compared head-to-head against SMU given the argument is identical. And that may be exactly what happens!

    However, SMU finished as a Power Four conference runner-up in a tightly-contested ACC title game it lost 34-31. If the CFP Selection Committee completely dropped SMU out of the field, it would set a dangerous precedent for conference championship games, which are generally major money makers for leagues. It would essentially incentivize teams to not seek out those opportunities so as not to lose and potentially fall all the way out of the playoff field.

    Alabama got the benefit of the doubt last season as it received the final spot over undefeated Florida State in a decision that still roils the ACC. This time around, the ACC has a better chance of bouncing an SEC team out for the last at-large bid. 

    How will the top three at-large bids shake out?

    The committee doesn’t simply have to decide what to do with ACC championship loser SMU. It also needs to figure out where to put one-loss Notre Dame, SEC runner-up Texas and Big Ten runner-up Penn State. The Fighting Irish were No. 4 in the penultimate CFP Rankings, while the Longhorns were No. 2 (slated for a first-round bye with an SEC win) and the Nittany Lions placed No. 3 as the second Big Ten team behind No. 1 Oregon.

    Texas (11-2) lost to Georgia, 24-19, in the first SEC title game to reach overtime, a contest the Longhorns easily could have won. Penn State (11-2) fell to the Ducks in a one-score 45-37 loss. And then you have Notre Dame (11-1), which did not play Saturday but in theory could slide up if Texas and Penn State both move down.

    Texas’ only two losses are to Georgia, giving it the best defeats of the group; however, Penn State’s two losses (Ohio State, Oregon) are in the same neighborhood. Notre Dame has by far the worst loss to Northern Illinois (7-5), a seventh-place MAC team. That it came at home, too, making it the worst loss of any CFP contender. 

    The ‘Horns are 0-2 against top 25 opponents, a major knock on their resume. The Nittany Lions hold a singular top 25 win (No. 19 Illinois), while the Irish only possesses one top 25 win over AAC champion Army West Point (No. 24). Army’s win Friday night over Tulane only strengthens ND’s argument. 

    Just like with Alabama and SMU, it will be interesting to see whether the committee chooses to penalize teams that competed in league title games, especially ones that were extremely close. Notre Dame has been steadily moving up the rankings in recent weeks, and there’s an argument it should jump Texas and Penn State. It almost certainly would in a normal week. 

    However, in this scenario, it feels more likely that the committee will keep Texas and Penn State ahead of Notre Dame. That’s not an insignificant decision, either, given how the field is shaping up.

    If Notre Dame ends up as the No. 7 seed, that sets up a possible quarterfinal against No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. If Notre Dame instead receives the No. 5 or No. 6 seed, it would likely play Boise State or Arizona State in a quarterfinal.

    The tougher question will be how the committee weighs Texas versus Penn State. The resumes are fairly similar, and both lost marquee conference championship games by single scores. Texas was ranked higher than Penn State entering Saturday night, which might end up being the slight edge that puts the ‘Horns in the No. 5 seed.

    Keep on reading for expert picks on slots No. 5-7 in the College Football Playoff field along with which team our CBS Sports college football writers believe will receive the final at-large bid. You can also check out a complete slate of 2024-25 bowl projections from bowls expert Jerry Palm.

    College Football Playoff projection

    The top two seeds of the CFP are all but a formality after Oregon remained undefeated by beating Penn State in the Big Ten Championship Game and Georgia knocked off Texas for the second time this season to win the SEC Championship Game. Boise State (Mountain West) and Arizona State (Big 12) will be the other conference champions who receive byes given Clemson (ACC) has three losses.

    While there is an argument that the Sun Devils should be the No. 3 seed above the Broncos, ASU was ranked five spots lower in the penultimate CFP Rankings. As such, bowls experts Jerry Palm and Brad Crawford both agree the top four seeds — each receiving first-round byes — will shake out as follows:

    1. Oregon (13-0)
    2. Georgia (11-2)
    3. Boise State (12-1)
    4. Arizona State (11-2)

    College Football Playoff expert picks

    Here’s how our college football staff would vote in the key spots — choosing teams Nos. 5-7 and the last at-large bid in the field — if they were members of the CFP Selection Committee.



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  • College football recruiting rankings: Georgia, Alabama lead SEC

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  • Alabama A&M football star Medrick Burnett Jr. dies day after team prematurely announced his death

    Alabama A&M football star Medrick Burnett Jr. dies day after team prematurely announced his death

    Your support helps us to tell the story

    From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

    At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

    The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

    Your support makes all the difference.

    Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr has died just hours after his death was incorrectly announced in a statement put out by the college.

    Burnett, 20, was pronounced dead on Wednesday at 5:43pm, according to a coroner’s report. Earlier that morning, Alabama A&M had announced Burnett’s death, but the press release was later retracted after the university learned that he was still alive and on life support.

    “Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate occurrence,” Alabama A&M said. “Upon hearing from a representative from UAB Hospital this afternoon, we learned that he remains alive.

    The college said it wanted to express its “immediate regret for disseminating false information.”

    The college football player was injured on October 26 while he was playing in a game against Alabama State at Legion Field. The injury occurred just a day before his 20th birthday.

    His sister, Dominece Burnett, had established a GoFundMe before his death to help pay for her brother’s expenses. The family learned that Burnett had suffered “several brain bleeds and swelling of the brain” resulting from his injury.

    “Medrick Burnett Jr., AKA “Meddy,” who plays college football for Alabama AAMU #51, was playing in the Magic City game on October 26, 2024, and was severely injured after a head-on-head collision during the game,” the page says.

    On Wednesday, just before his death, his sister posted an update to the page asking for prayers as Burnett was “having a tough time but we are holding on til the very end.”

    “God give us strength so we can keep the faith,” she wrote.

    Burnett was a native of Lakewood, California, and made seven appearances for Alabama A&M this season, according to Bleacher Report. He was in his first full year with the team after he transferred from Grambling State.

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  • Alabama A&M University mistakenly announces football player’s death

    Alabama A&M University mistakenly announces football player’s death

    Your support helps us to tell the story

    From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

    At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

    The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

    Your support makes all the difference.

    Alabama A&M university mistakenly announced the death of one of its football players – before backtracking and confirming that he is very much still alive.

    The school’s athletics team wrongly declared on Wednesday that Medrick Burnett Jr, 20, had died weeks after he was seriously injured during a game.

    The now-deleted statement from Alabama A&M athletic director Dr Paul A. Bryant read: “Today, our Bulldog family is heartbroken by the loss of Medrick Burnett Jr.

    “Medrick was more than an exceptional athlete; he was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership, and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him.

    “While words cannot adequately express our grief, we are humbled by the strength of his family, who stood by his side throughout this unimaginable ordeal.”

    The statement went on to offer condolences to the linebacker’s family and teammates.

    School’s athletics team wrongly declared that Medrick Burnett Jr, 20, (pictured) had died weeks after he was seriously injured in a game

    School’s athletics team wrongly declared that Medrick Burnett Jr, 20, (pictured) had died weeks after he was seriously injured in a game (Alabama A&M)

    But hours later, the athletics team walked back the announcement, confirming that Burnett is still alive.

    “We retract the news of the passing of Medrick Burnett Jr, that was originally advised by an immediate family member on Tuesday evening,” it said in a statement on X.

    “Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate occurrence.”

    The college expressed its “immediate regret for disseminating false information.”

    The star linebacker, known as “Meddy,” has been hospitalized for the last month after suffering a serious head injury during a game against Alabama State at Magic City stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 26.

    According to a GoFundMe page, set up to help the 20-year-old in his recovery, Burnett took a serious knock in a “head-on-head collision” with another player.

    He remains in “stable condition” in hospital, said AAMU.

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  • Alabama College Football Player Dies After Suffering Head Injury in Game

    Alabama College Football Player Dies After Suffering Head Injury in Game

    Medrick Burnett Jr., a college football player at Alabama A&M University, died this week after suffering a head injury in a recent game.

    Who Is Medrick Burnett Jr.?

    Burnett, a 20-year-old linebacker for Alabama A&M University, suffered a head injury on October 26 during the Magic City Classic against Alabama State University, the school announced. Burnett was hospitalized following the game and passed away Tuesday night. The university has not disclosed an official cause of death.

    A native of Lakewood, California, Medrick Burnett Jr. transferred to Alabama A&M in 2024 after spending one season with Grambling State University’s football program. During the 2024 season, he played in seven games, including a standout performance against Austin Peay State University, where he recorded a season-high three tackles.

    Alabama A&M University Announcement

    “Alabama A&M University is mourning the passing of football student-athlete Medrick Burnett Jr.,” the school said in a statement on Wednesday.

    Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Dr. Paul A. Bryant expressed sympathy for Burnett’s family, saying: “Medrick was more than an exceptional athlete; he was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership, and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. While words cannot adequately express our grief, we are humbled by the strength of his family, who stood by his side throughout this unimaginable ordeal.”

    medrick burnett
    Medrick Burnett Jr. is seen in this photo from Alabama A&M University. On November 27, 2024, the university announced that Burnett Jr. had died after suffering a head injury in a game.

    Alabama A&M Football

    Bryant added in the statement, “We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to Medrick’s parents, siblings, and loved ones. We also offer our heartfelt support to his teammates, coaches, and the entire Alabama A&M community who are mourning this loss. In this moment of sorrow, we come together to honor Medrick’s legacy and celebrate the light he brought to our lives. May we all draw strength from one another as we navigate this difficult time.”

    Burnett’s family created a GoFundMe page prior to his death, saying at the time that he was in the “ICU and not doing well.”

    “He had several brain bleeds and swelling of the brain. He had to have a tube to drain to relieve the pressure, and after 2 days of severe pressure, we had to opt for a craniotomy, which was the last resort to help try to save his life,” the GoFundMe page said.

    Responses to Burnett’s Passing

    In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Grambling State Athletics said, “Grambling State Athletics offers our sincerest condolences and prayers to the friends and family of former G-Man and @_AAMUAthletics football student-athlete Medrick Burnett, Jr.”

    Jackson State Athletics also issued a tribute to Burnett that said: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Medrick Burnett Jr. and the entire @AAMUBulldogs community.”

    This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

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  • JaMarcus Shephard shares message to Alabama football WR room

    For JaMarcus Shephard, Alabama football is “war,” whether it’s on the practice field or on Saturdays. And with that intensity and physicality comes injuries like the lower-body ailment that ended Cole Adams’ season.

    It’s part of the game, Shephard said. And with that comes a lesson, one the Alabama wide receivers coach has repeatedly conveyed to his group.

    “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,” Shephard said. “That’s really been the lesson for them. When your moment comes, you better have prepared in a way that you are at an All-American level of preparation. That’s all I can tell them to do. You never know when your time is coming. You never know.”

    It’s what Shephard saw immediately from Ryan Williams.

    Oct 26, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) cannot catch a pass against Missouri Tigers cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. (2) during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

    In one of the Alabama freshman wide receiver’s first practices, Shephard remembers veteran members of his room flocking toward him, saying, ‘Hey, get the ball to No. 2.’

    “That’s the thing about here at the University of Alabama,” Shephard said. “These guys, they recognize who is playing at a high level.”

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  • Oregon leads first College Football Playoff ranking, Alabama finds way in

    Oregon leads first College Football Playoff ranking, Alabama finds way in

    A season full of surprises didn’t produce many when the first set of rankings on the road to college football’s new 12-team playoff came out Tuesday.

    Undefeated Oregon got top billing.

    The selection committee liked Ohio State just a touch more than Georgia in its top 25 — the first of six weekly polls the committee will put out.

    Other than that, the panel’s top 12 looked exactly like the top dozen in the most recent AP poll, which has been shaken up almost weekly thanks to a bundle of upsets that left the mighty SEC, of all conferences, without a single undefeated team.

    Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel scrambles out of the pocket against Michigan. AP

    The near mirror image of AP and the CollegeFootball Playoff polls meant Alabama, despite its two losses, would be in the bracket at No. 11 if it came out this week, as would Boise State, the leader of the Mountain West Conference, which came in at No. 12 and would earn an automatic spot as the fifth-best conference champion.

    “The summary is, Boise State is an impressive team,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, who serves as chair of the selection committee.

    Maunel explained Ohio State was ranked No. 2 because its only loss came by one point to Oregon.

    Both the Buckeyes and third-ranked Bulldogs were rated ahead of undefeated Miami most likely thanks to strength of schedules that were much tougher than that of the ‘Canes, who were ranked fourth.

    “We’re splitting hairs as far as looking at two great teams,” Manuel said.

    The rankings will come out each week through Dec. 8, when the final list will decide the bracket for the playoffs.

    Those start Dec. 20-21, with the 5-12 seeds in action at the better seed’s home field, and close with the national title game in Atlanta on Jan. 20.

    The rankings don’t directly correlate to where the teams would fall in the bracket.

    The four best-ranked conference champions receive first-round byes, which according to this ranking would belong to Oregon (ranked 1), Georgia (3), Miami (4) and BYU (9).

    Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Cody Simon (0) and offensive lineman Seth McLaughlin (56) celebrate following the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

    The committee chose Alabama over a handful of one-loss teams, but the Tide’s strength of schedule clearly helped them leap over teams like No. 13 SMU (ACC), No. 17 Iowa State (Big 12) and No. 18 Pitt (ACC), who play in weaker conferences.

    The rest of the teams in the fictional first-week bracket and their rankings: No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Penn State, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 8 Indiana and No. 10 Notre Dame.

    First team out was No. 13 SMU while Army, with an 8-0 record and leading the American Athletic Conference, barely squeaked into the rankings at No. 25.

    What first-round matchups would look like based on this week’s rankings

    ESPN is paying billions to televise these games, so it got exclusive rights to the bracket reveal, filling the show with analysis and lots of references to “America finally finding out” — a nod to the opening rankings being released on election night.

    The network chose to fill in the bracket as it went along, which made things a little confusing — a second-ranked team really seeded third, and so-on.

    But here’s what those first-round games would be (with seedings, not rankings):

    No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State: Would be the Broncos biggest postseason game since beating Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

    No. 11 Alabama at No. 5 Texas: Longhorns win over ‘Bama in 2023 punctured myth of Tide invincibility.

    No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 Penn State: Feels like we need Keith Jackson for this one. Anyone remember the 1992 Snow Bowl?

    No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Tennessee: Hoosiers entry to the big-time (football) would come in front of 100,000 on Rocky Top.

    Alabama Crimson Tide running back Justice Haynes (22) celebrates with offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) after scoring a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the fourth quarter. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

    What will change after this week?

    LSU is ranked 15 and hosts Alabama on Saturday in what feels like an elimination game for the loser.

    Also this week, Georgia plays at No. 17 Ole Miss; the Rebels two losses have both come by a field goal — to Kentucky and LSU.

    Indiana hosts Michigan and is favored by 12 1/2, barreling toward a Nov. 23 matchup against Ohio State.

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  • College Football Playoff Rankings projection: Alabama and Tennessee fall out of field, Notre Dame hops in

    College Football Playoff Rankings projection: Alabama and Tennessee fall out of field, Notre Dame hops in

    Oregon made quite the statement heading into college football’s midseason junction, holding off previously-unbeaten Ohio State to move up in this week’s national rankings. The victory validates the Ducks as one of the College Football Playoff national championship frontrunners and puts the Buckeyes in the unfamiliar position of needing to play flawlessly over their final six games in hopes of a rematch.

    Will the SEC’s top challenger behind Texas please stand up? Coming off stunning upset losses on the road, Alabama and Tennessee failed to impress at home, needing late-game stops to avoid upsets against South Carolina and Florida. The Crimson Tide and Vols are on the outside looking in for our updated midseason projection given lackluster recent play and challenging schedules the rest of the way.

    It’s hard to imagine a three-loss SEC team making the field this season given the strength within other conferences along with Notre Dame’s opportunities ahead. The margin for error is almost zero over the next six weeks and change for Kalen DeBoer and Josh Heupel’s teams.

    The Big 12 continues to be college football’s most unpredictable league given the sample size. BYU, Iowa State and Texas Tech are the lone unbeatens in conference play, but the Cougars have the most favorable slate remaining and do not face a nationally-ranked team through the end of the regular season. The Red Raiders and Cyclones meet on Nov. 2.

    Projected CFP Rankings

    1. Texas

    SEC champion

    The Longhorns’ unbeaten mark will be tested Saturday night against Georgia. This feels like the SEC’s biggest game of the year, but given how much parity we’ve seen across the league through seven weeks, we’re approaching that connotation with caution. Texas is playing lights out defensively, yet hasn’t faced a quarterback of Carson Beck’s caliber this fall.

    2. Oregon

    Big Ten champion

    Oregon pushed ahead in the league title picture with the program’s landmark victory over Ohio State. It’s a matchup we’d love to see for a second time in Indianapolis between two of the nation’s heavyweights given the 12-round fight witnessed in Eugene. The Ducks replace the Buckeyes as the projected Big Ten champion this week.

    3. Clemson

    ACC champion

    No team in college football is hotter than the Tigers. Dabo Swinney said after the season-opening loss to Georgia that his team’s goals remained out front if they could flush the setback and get back to business. They’ve managed to do by shredding every ACC opponent they’ve met thus far. Over his last five starts, quarterback Cade Klubnik has 21 total touchdowns and one turnover. 

    4. BYU

    Big 12 champion

    Until BYU falls, the Cougars are staying put at No. 4 in these projected playoff rankings as the league champion. This has been a special season for Kalani Sitake, whose teams has beaten SMU and Kansas State — opponents who have combined for 10 wins.

    5. Ohio State

    Oregon won the first fight, but will the Ducks win the war? That’s a question we’re asking after the Buckeyes simply ran out of time on the road at Autzen Stadium. Ohio State clearly showed it belonged in the conversation amongst the nation’s elites, but losing left tackle Josh Simmons is a significant blow. In this scenario, as the projected five-seed and Big Ten runner-up, the Buckeyes would finish 11-2 overall.

    6. Miami

    The Hurricanes are the ACC’s lone remaining unbeaten, but have managed to escape multiple hiccups in recent weeks after fourth-quarter comebacks against Virginia Tech and Cal. Can Miami keep surviving late-game situations like this? 

    7. Georgia

    Kirby Smart will do everything he can to give unbeaten Texas its “welcome to the SEC” moment on Saturday night. After seeing his regular-season winning snapped a few weeks ago at Alabama, the Bulldogs coach can’t afford another setback before November if he intends on getting back to the league title game in Atlanta.

    8. Penn State

    The Nittany Lions needed a spotlight moment and took full advantage over the weekend at USC. Drew Allar was terrific in the second half, leading his team on a game-tying possession before the defense came up big in overtime. With a home bout against Ohio State upcoming, Penn State looks the part as a projected playoff team.

    9. Texas A&M

    With Alabama and Tennessee moving out of the playoff projection this week because of uninspired performance, the Aggies, who had a bye, are in. Matchups with LSU and Texas are the only contests left against nationally-ranked competition and Mike Elko’s squad hasn’t lose since the season opener. They’re red-hot and playing their best football at an opportune time. 

    10. Notre Dame

    Speaking of the Fighting Irish, that victory at Texas A&M on Aug. 31 looks better and better as the season progresses. Notre Dame has side-stepped the loss to NIU with four straight impressive wins and still has opportunities to strengthen the resume against Navy, Army and USC. With this schedule, they should make the playoff as long as they get to 10 wins.

    11. Iowa State

    Defense prevails for the Cyclones. If you’re in control of your own conference championship and playoff destiny at midseason, you’re doing something right and this looks like a special group under Matt Campbell. The goal is to get past UCF this weekend before the open date to fine-tune any issues prior to hosting a pivotal contest with Texas Tech.

    12. Boise State

    Staying put as the projected Group of Five champion, the Broncos could potentially get in the top-four mix if they win out, with Oregon (who beat the Broncos) taking the Big Ten, and perhaps the ACC champion having one loss. Running back Ashton Jeanty is the Heisman frontrunner and would be a nightmare matchup in the postseason for a higher-seed. 

    Projected CFP first-round games

    • (12) Boise State at (5) Ohio State — Winner plays (4) BYU
    • (11) Iowa State at (6) Miami — Winner plays (3) Clemson
    • (10) Notre Dame at (7) Georgia — Winner plays (2) Oregon
    • (9) Texas A&M at (8) Penn State — Winner plays (1) Texas

    Opening-round matchups at campus sites based on this Week 7 projection features Boise State at Ohio State, Iowa State at Miami, Notre Dame at Georgia and Texas A&M at Penn State. That’s two first-round home games for the Big Ten, one for the ACC and one for the SEC.

    Winners of those four games would move on to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at bowl sites including the Fiesta (Dec. 31), Rose (Jan. 1), Sugar (Jan. 1) and Peach (Jan. 1). Among notable tie-ins in the expanded playoff, the Sugar Bowl automatically gets the highest-ranked SEC or Big 12 team in the quarters, so second-seeded Alabama would be playing in New Orleans.

    Alabama, Tennessee now on the bubble

    This weekend’s SEC showdown at Neyland Stadium could be a playoff eliminator of sorts for the loser of Alabama-Tennessee. There are noticeable weaknesses for both teams and right now, the Crimson Tide’s offensive line is at a disadvantage going on the road to face one of the most talented defensive fronts nationally. The Vols have their own issues and need to get the passing game fixed with Nico Iamaleava at quarterback.

    Army, Navy jump in the national rankings

    For the first time since 1960, these two service academies are ranked inside the AP Top 25 this week. Bravo to Jeff Monken and Brian Newberry for what they’ve accomplished this season. The mission’s not over at either program, especially since both will play Notre Dame in the coming weeks before finishing out the schedule and trying to win the AAC.

    SMU, Pitt rising in ACC race

    All the buzz surrounds Miami and Clemson in ACC discussions, but don’t dismiss the Mustangs and Panthers. Pitt is unbeaten and plays SMU and the Tigers over the next five weeks. Pat Narduzzi has won the ACC before, but doing so with this transfer-laden squad and former Alabama signal caller Eli Holstein in charge would be his most impressive coaching feat.



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