CBS Sports predicts Alabama gets in College Football Playoff field, SMU out

Until the bracket is revealed around Noon ET Sunday afternoon, debate will rage on. Who deserves to get into the College Football Playoff, Alabama or SMU? Projections are beginning to file out and CBS Sports has made theirs. Jerry Palm is rocking with the Crimson Tide to earn the final at-large bid.

“Much to the dismay of ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, No. 8 SMU is projected to drop out of the CFP field after a heartbreaking 34-31, last-second loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game,” Palm said. “The Tigers may or may not jump SMU in the rankings, but I am projecting that they will. It doesn’t really matter, though; either way, I have the Mustangs dropping below Alabama, and that is all it takes to keep them out.”

Palm says Alabama will be the 11-seed, still ranked ahead of ACC Champion Clemson. Kalen DeBoer would send his team to Happy Valley for an old-school showdown against Penn State. Winner of that game would play Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

SMU would be on the outside looking in, causing for some chaos across the college football world. No bowl projections were included but they would be one of the ACC’s top non-CFP teams available for selection.

Rhett Lashlee certainly believes his team deserves to compete for a national championship. The SMU head coach was campaigning even before playing in the ACC Championship game. It’s one the Mustangs wound up losing but not without gaining the respect of Dabo Swinney.

Before taking about his own team Saturday night, Swinney gave ESPN’s Molly McGrath his stance on SMU’s CFP chances.

“What a game,” Swinney said. “That’s a playoff football team. SMU, they better be in the dang playoffs. What a comeback by those guys.”

Everything will be answered by Rece Davis and the entire ESPN crew on Sunday. Many are projecting for SMU to get the final spot but Palm went against the grain, saying Alabama will sneak in.