𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 9 Alabama in Atlanta

The Bulldogs are playing for a first-round bye and the No. 2 seed, but depending on how things go in the Big 12 and in their own game, there is a chance the Bulldogs could lose and still get a top-four seed and a bye into the quarterfinals.

Alabama might be the most fascinating team playing on Saturday. Win, and the Tide are easily in, probably with a first-round bye and quarterfinal game in the Sugar Bowl.

But what if Alabama loses?

SMU entered last year’s ACC title game 11-1 and ranked eighth, lost and was only dropped to 10th, keeping the Mustangs in the field. The committee cited not punishing teams that play an extra game when compared to those who did not.

Last year’s bubble was a little soft, with a 9-3 Alabama team that had twice lost as a double-digit favorite, a 10-2 Miami that collapsed defensively down the stretch and a 9-3 Ole Miss, which also lost a couple of games as a prohibitive favorite.

This year has more viable options in Miami, Texas and Vanderbilt to tempt the committee if Bama stumbles.