Hunter Yurachek reveals why CFP handled Alabama, BYU differently after championship losses

As the College Football Playoff committee made its final evaluations during conference championship weekend, two losses created intrigue. BYU fell to Texas Tech, 34-7, in the Big 12 Championship while Alabama lost to Georgia, 28-7, in the SEC title game.

In Sunday’s final CFP rankings, though, the Crimson Tide moved up from No. 10 to No. 9 and the Cougars dropped from No. 11 to No. 12. Speaking with reporters on a teleconference after the bracket announcement, selection committee chair Hunter Yurachek revealed the reason for those different approaches.

Yurachek said the committee considered the fact Alabama beat Georgia during the regular season while BYU lost convincingly to Texas Tech. The conference title games were rematches, and the Crimson Tide’s victory over UGA was likely the best win of the season.

“The biggest difference in those two situations was the fact that Alabama had already beaten Georgia at Georgia earlier in the year,” Yurachek said. “BYU had that same opportunity at Texas Tech earlier in the year, and BYU did not perform and look great in either one of those games versus Texas Tech. The one that was played about four weeks ago and then, of course, yesterday’s game. That was the biggest difference is Alabama had that big win at Georgia, which is arguably the best win of any team this season.”

In the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings, Alabama moved ahead of Notre Dame. Yurachek said the committee thought highly of the Crimson Tide’s victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

When asked about the fact Alabama moved up after a close loss over a five-win team and a blowout loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship, Yurachek reiterated the debate was strong about the Fighting Irish vs. the Crimson Tide. Specifically with the Iron Bowl, Yurachek noted the difference in environment compared to Notre Dame’s victory at Stanford. That, he said, is why the committee made its decision.

“Last week, I spoke about the committee felt strongly that when you’re comparing each week, the debate between Notre Dame and Alabama was strong and robust with arguments from the committee members on both sides,” Yurachek said. “Great respect for both of those teams.

“But felt like last week going to a rival Auburn and the way Alabama played, especially in the first half of that game and then finding a way late in the fourth quarter to win that game was a feather in their cap above Notre Dame’s going out to the West Coast and playing in a less hostile environment and doing really what they should have done against Stanford.”