PRESS PICKS (Week 13): Bama's lack of a "rushing game" damaging in more ways than one
STAFF REPORT
It’s another week but the subject matter doesn’t change.
The College Football Playoff committee continues to make decisions that melt the mind.
These guys make it hard to comment on anything else. It’s like going to the circus and seeing a new act every week, one where somebody dies in the end.
It’s getting easier and easier to see two things… They aren’t paying attention to the values they set prior to the beginning of the season.
Second, they are beginning to show both favoritism and indifference at the same time. If you know the definition of the two words, you realize that’s the true essence of an enigma.
Apparently, there is one set of rules for some teams, and something totally different for others.
One group of teams get to go through the kids buffet line and get a reduced rate and all the ice cream they want while the others are held up as adults in order to get the full cost but no dessert.
The Notre Dame debate continues to rage but there is no reason to bring it up again. The stage is set for the Irish to make the field without ramifications held for other teams.
But a new eye opener appeared this week when Alabama was dropped behind the Irish at No. 10. Sure, the Crimson Tide earned the demotion with the loss to Oklahoma and the committee could have said something to the extent of the teams above them are more deserving of their ranking due to their victories.
Instead, the new committee chair, Hunter Yurachek, made a statement during the teleconference held after the release of the poll, sighting Alabama’s inefficiency in running the football.
“Alabama actually has a two-point loss at home last week against Oklahoma, but they had that loss at the beginning of the season, 31-17 at Florida State, a team that's now 5-5,” Yurachek said. “Florida State was up in that game 24-7. They held Alabama to less than 100 yards rushing in that game. That really was a sign of some of the struggles Alabama was going to have rushing the ball.”
Now, they are comparing stats? That’s a first. And apparently a prerequisite to be highly ranked, at least if the team wears crimson and white.
Yurachek’s comparison of losses as opposed to wins, proves Greg Sankey’s decision to push a nine-game SEC schedule was a miscalculation. This will be the second-straight season where at least one team will not make the field due to the number of losses instead of the quality of their wins.
Rightfully so, the Arkansas AD is getting raked over the coals by unlikely people who have been lauding this committee for several years, namely due to not punching the ticket for the likes of Alabama and others who have supposedly reached the playoff for their name only.
Fact is if Alabama wins at Auburn and goes on to win the SEC Championship, they can’t leave the Tide out. But what if they lose in the SEC title game, which would give them three losses?
With this bunch, that’s a cardinal sin since losses are more important than who you beat, or so it seems.
Will all of this work out in the end? That depends on the definition of “work out.” And that depends on where you are in the debate. If you continue to want teams with “deserving records,” two losses or less no matter who you played, you are probably in good shape.
If the idea of playing a difficult schedule makes a team worthy, chances are pretty good you will be disappointed in the end.
2025 Standings (Last week)
1. Michael Butler 148-47 (13-2).759
2. Graham Dunn 146-49 (13-2) .749
3. Tim Gayle 138-57 (12-3) .708
Doug Amos 138-57 (13-2) .708
4. Wesley Lyle 137-58 (12-3) .703
Barry McKnight 137-58 (13-2) .703
6. Mike Peacock 135-60 (11-4) .692
8. Rick Hendrick 131-64 (10-5) .672
9. Lindsey Bonner 129-66 (12-3) .661
10. Rosie Langello 128-67 (11-4) .656
Michael Butler (WTLS 101.1&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
148-47 (13-2).759
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Macon East
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Chambers Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Williamson
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca - Montgomery Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Tennessee
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - BYU
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
146-49 (13-2) .749
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Macon East
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Chambers Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Williamson
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca - Montgomery Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Tennessee
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - Cincinnati
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
138-57 (12-3) .708
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Macon East
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Chambers Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Williamson
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca - Montgomery Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Tennessee
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - Cincinnati
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
138-57 (13-2) .708
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Macon East
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Chambers Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Williamson
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca -Bayside Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Tennessee
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - Cincinnati
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports)
137-58 (12-3) .703
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Macon East
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Chambers Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Williamson
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca - Montgomery Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Tennessee
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - BYU
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
137-58 (13-2) .703
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Escambia Aca
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Lowndes Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Williamson
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca - Montgomery Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Florida
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - BYU
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports/ASU Hornets Radio analyst )
135-60 (11-4) .692
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Macon East
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Chambers Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Williamson
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca - Montgomery Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Pike Road
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Tennessee
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - BYU
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
131-64 (10-5) .672
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Escambia Aca
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Chambers Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Williamson
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca - Bayside Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Florida
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - BYU
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
129-66 (12-3) .661
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Macon East
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Lowndes Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Catholic
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca - Montgomery Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Tennessee
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - BYU
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
128-67 (11-4) .656
(AISA A Champ) Macon East vs. Escambia Aca - Macon East
(AISA AAA Champ) Chambers Aca vs Lowndes Aca - Chambers Aca
Williamson at Catholic - Williamson
Montgomery Aca at Bayside Aca - Montgomery Aca
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Eastern Ill at Alabama - Alabama
Mercer at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Florida - Tennessee
Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Arkansas at Texas - Texas
BYU at Cincinnati - BYU
Kansas St at Utah - Utah
Louisville at SMU - SMU
USC at Oregon - Oregon