CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah effectively addressed OutKick’s Clay Travis, who questioned why Indiana, BYU, Miami, and Notre Dame are ranked higher than Alabama and Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff Rankings. Travis pointed out that many believe Alabama and Ole Miss would defeat the former four teams on a neutral site, but Jeyarajah countered with a key point: Alabama and Ole Miss have lost to Vanderbilt and Kentucky, respectively.
Travis expressed skepticism, asking if anyone genuinely thinks Indiana, BYU, Miami, or Notre Dame could win against Alabama, Ole Miss, or Georgia on a neutral field, declaring the rankings absurd. Jeyarajah agreed, noting the ranked teams are comparable to Vanderbilt and Kentucky and emphasizing that Alabama and Ole Miss shouldn’t lose to teams of that caliber.
In Week 11, Alabama and Ole Miss secured impressive victories against LSU and Georgia, respectively. However, Indiana’s unimpressive win over Michigan and BYU’s comeback against Utah allowed them to surpass Tennessee in the rankings, which Jeyarajah deemed particularly unfair. Despite Alabama and Ole Miss both having two losses, Tennessee’s blowout win didn’t afford them the same recognition as Indiana and BYU.
Looking ahead, Alabama faces Mercer, Oklahoma, and Auburn, while Ole Miss has Florida and Mississippi State left on their schedule. Alabama’s loss to Vanderbilt still places them ahead of Ole Miss, who lost to Arkansas—although Vanderbilt has at least been ranked this season.
The conclusion of the season promises easier matchups for both teams, but Ole Miss fans may find it hard to accept if their team ends up just outside the College Football Playoff, trailing Alabama despite having the same loss record.
