The All Issues CW notes column by Christopher Walsh will seem in 5 elements this week, one every day. That is …

Take 2

This is not to make the case for the Alabama Crimson Tide to make the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Nick Saban did that on his personal Saturday evening after the 49-27 victory towards Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“We’re a very good soccer crew and hopefully individuals will acknowledge that,” he stated. 

This additionally is not to counsel that the choice committee ought to have the Crimson Tide within the semifinals at this level. There are nonetheless convention championships to be performed, and if the 4 groups on the high of the rankings, which we assume might be Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Southern California, win, they need to all be in. 

Nevertheless, the committee may have a tricky choice at No. 5 this week, which is able to designate the primary alternate ought to a number of of these groups stumble. The highest three is likely to be ok to nonetheless get in with a convention championship loss, however most likely not the Trojans. 

Each main polls have Ohio State at No. 5, and Alabama at No. 6. 

The computer systems that have been used for the BCS even have the Buckeyes at No. 4, however one would suppose {that a} potential Pac-12 title win might change that. 

So the committee may have Ohio State forward of Alabama, proper?

It is not that clear-cut of a choice, and it is due to the explanation we have been harping on for weeks.  

Listed below are the rankings standards for the choice committee. The one on the high ought to bounce out at you. 

Rankings standards

• Energy of schedule
• Head-to-head recreation outcomes
• Outcomes vs. groups in Prime 25 rankings
• Outcomes vs. widespread opponents
• Convention championships

Three of these aren’t an element between Alabama and Ohio State. The 2 which are are energy of schedule and outcomes vs. groups within the Prime 25 rankings. 

Each of these components favor the Crimson Tide.

2022 Ohio State Schedule, Outcomes

Sport, Date, (Rank) Opponent, Consequence

1. Sep 3: (2) Ohio State (5) vs. Notre Dame, W 21-10 
2. Sep 10: (3) Ohio State vs. Arkansas State, W 45-12 
3. Sep 17: (3) Ohio State vs. Toledo, W 77-21
4. Sep 24: (3) Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, W 52-21
5. Oct 1: (3) Ohio State vs. Rutgers, W 49-10 
6. Oct 8: (3) Ohio State at Michigan State, W 49-20
7. Oct 22: (2) Ohio State vs. Iowa, W 54-10
8. Oct 29: (2) Ohio State at (13) Penn State, W 44-31
9. Nov 5: (2) Ohio State at Northwestern, W 21-7
10. Nov 12: (2) Ohio State vs. Indiana, W 56-14
11. Nov 19: (2) Ohio State at Maryland, W 43-30 
12. Nov 26: (2) Ohio State vs. (3) Michigan, L 45-23

Ohio State performed its first 5 video games at dwelling, together with then-No. 5 Notre Dame in its opener. Nevertheless, the Preventing Irish had a brand new teaching employees and turned across the subsequent week and misplaced to Marshall. 

Its 4 highway video games have been at Michigan State, Penn State, Northwestern and Maryland. Solely the Nittany Lions have been ranked on the time, No. 13. 

Their mixed information this season: 23-25. Granted, 11 of these losses have been by the Wildcats, however total that is nonetheless a mediocre schedule.  

There are 5 groups within the Large Ten that aren’t bowl eligible and Ohio State performed 4 of them. It additionally confronted Wisconsin, which fired its coach and is 6-6. 

Now evaluate that to Alabama. 

The Crimson Tide’s weakest highway opponent was at Texas, and the hype for that recreation was astronomical (each ESPN and Fox had their pregame reveals on website). The Longhorns weren’t ranked then, however at the moment are at No. 21. FYI, Notre Dame is at No 19, and keep in mind that Ohio State hosted the Irish.  

Alabama’s different highway video games: No. 20 Arkansas, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 10 LSU, No. 11 Ole Miss. The worst document amongst these groups is 8-4. 

Their mixed information: 43-17. 

Will that be sufficient to get Alabama above Ohio State? We’ll see. This is the reason Crimson Tide followers ought to have been rooting towards Michigan final week as a result of the case would have been a lot simpler to make towards the Wolverines. They’ve performed precisely two ranked groups all season.  

CFP selectors can use a wide range of superior analytics to gauge groups, however these numbers do not play a proper function within the proceedings. A lot of them could also be asking themselves two issues: How a lot does a 22-point loss at dwelling damage in this sort of scenario? Would Alabama be favored in a recreation towards Ohio State? 

Each are good questions.

How about this one: Is win over a non-bowl eligible crew higher than a last-play loss at Tennessee or LSU? As a result of that is the distinction between these groups on paper. 

Mainly it’s going to come down the judgement of the selectors. In the event that they suppose Alabama is deserving, Crimson Tide followers sweat out one other week hoping for upsets, figuring out {that a} playoff spot can be like enjoying with home cash. 

But when they suppose Ohio State is the higher crew, the Buckeyes will get the nod and Alabama can begin serious about its bowl recreation and subsequent season.  

Nevertheless, if that occurs the committee might be sending an unsettling message that energy of schedule is not that essential any extra, after its in any other case been thought-about an important cornerstone of the choice course of. The query then turns into did the committee ignore its personal tips. 

See Additionally:

Affect of Epic Weekend For Alabama May very well be Felt for Years

The Additional Level: Lastly, A Season of “Parity” in Faculty Soccer

Why Energy of Schedule is Alabama’s Largest Playoff Asset

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