CFP Selection Committee chair addresses Alabama, Cincinnati decisions

College Football Playoff Selection Committee chair Gary Barta joined ESPN’s Rece Davis to discuss the controversial Week Nine rankings, including Alabama and Cincinnati’s placement. After placing 7-1 Alabama at No. 2 and undefeated Cincinnati at No. 6, the Iowa athletic director addressed ceilings, floors and the sausage-making process.

A Midwest native, Barta revealed his sausage making history, while explaining the hypothetical sausage-making process the CFP Selection Committee undergoes each Tuesday. With an answer for every question, he provided a response to every criticism. However, that will not satisfy fans.

Alabama at No. 2

After a 7-1 start, including a disappointing second half against Florida and loss to an unsettled Texas A&M team, Alabama ranks No. 2 in the first CFP rankings. Despite the ups and downs of a young offense and defense, the Crimson Tide secured meaningful wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State so far.

While many were surprised to see Alabama so high, Barta felt the CFP Selection Committee’s decision was a foregone conclusion.

“A fair amount of conversation about where Alabama has come from and where they’ve been, and who they’ve played and beaten – Mississippi and Mississippi State – and how well they’re playing,” said Barta. “But there was a lot of consensus for Alabama to be No. 2.”

Nick Saban’s squad faces tough challenges ahead, with LSU, Arkansas and Auburn ahead. If they survive the regular season, a date with No. 1 Georgia could decide their fate in the CFP.

Cincinnati at No. 6

No team had a wider landing zone than Cincinnati, which draws strong opinions on either side. In the end, the Bearcats worst fears came true behind several one-loss teams. Despite their 8-0 record, and a road win over Notre Dame, Cincinnati sits on the outside looking in.

“I would say the committee has great respect for Cincinnati,” said Barta. “The win at Notre Dame is a really impressive win. When you look at their schedule after that – or who they played after that – who else did they beat? So that was the other question. The committee has been watching games all year and – most recently in the last two weeks – a 2-6 Navy team and then a 1-7 Tulane team with a freshman quarterback starting. Very impressive win against Notre Dame, a lot of respect, but looking at the whole picture we feel No. 6 was the right place for Cincinnati.”

Cincinnati can take some solace in a record-setting performance, becoming the highest ranked team in the CFP era. However, the question now centers on the Bearcats ceiling. Can they make the CFP’s final four?

“We don’t talk about a ceiling at all, again, we look at what’s happened so far,” said Barta. “We don’t project ahead. I think most everybody knows that. We look at what’s happened so far. Cincinnati earned their way to the No. 6 spot with that big win – being undefeated – and with that big win at Notre Dame. We haven’t talked at all about a ceiling so I really am not ready to say there’s a ceiling.”