Alabama will be watching the College Football Playoff from home this year, and the committee that left the Crimson Tide on the sidelines is now justifying that decision.
On Sunday, the College Football Playoff committee revealed the final 12-team rankings and bracket. SMU grabbed the final at-large spot, leaving Alabama as the final team out. The Crimson Tide finished 11th in the rankings, but Arizona State (12) and Clemson (16) received automatic bids, thereby jumping Alabama. SMU finished 10th in the rankings.
Alabama went 9-3 this season with losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma. SMU went 11-2 and lost to BYU in the regular season and fell to Clemson 34-31 in the ACC Championship Game.
When asked by ESPN about the decision to put the Mustangs in the field over the Crimson Tide, CFP chairman Warde Manuel explained the committee's reasoning.
His full answers is below:






