PRESS PICKS: When it comes to the new CFP poll, thank God for Mississippi (State)
STAFF REPORT
If there were any thoughts that “Bama fatigue” was over and done for, guess again.
The first College Football Playoff poll came out Tuesday and the immediate focus went to the No. 5 team listed. The Alabama Crimson Tide, which has always been a source of tension for the last 20 or so years, made for an easy target and became the target for wrath.
Just like old times but without the titles are a former coach who is enjoying retirement.
Alabama opened as the fifth-ranked team despite two losses and teams behind them that were more worthy of the spot.
The disdain centered on the Crimson Tide’s loss at Tennessee from Oct. 17. Bama looked bad and therefore had no business being ranked that high or ahead of the Vols.
Nevermind that the Vols are ranked ahead of South Carolina, which topped Tennessee. Or Indiana, a loser to Ohio State, but is ranked fourth, well ahead of the Buckeyes. Those are just two examples.
The most comical comments on social media centered around CFP committee chairman Hunter Yurachek calling Mississippi State a “quality win” for the Tide. That got the catcalls going when in fact, it only showed more ignorance and bias in the naysayers’ views.
If anyone was paying attention back in early October, the Bulldogs were one of the darlings of the college football world with its quarterback, Kamario Taylor, getting plenty of hype for the Heisman.
He aggravated a foot injury during that game and left in the fourth quarter. He briefly played again two weeks ago but his injury was too much to overcome. He is now out for the season, which is fortunate for whomever is left on the Bulldogs’ schedule.
Had he stayed healthy, who knows where Mississippi State would be. But a few nimrods chose to attack Yurachek for the comment.
Again, this is an agent of the “fatigue” and it seems to show up in times like these.
Alabama may not be the fifth-best team in the country and might be pummeled this weekend in Baton Rouge. But give the committee credit in sticking to its guns on the new guidelines that put strength of schedule ahead of win-loss record. It is why three teams from the SEC is listed in the Top 10 including Bama, Texas and Ole Miss.
In the meantime, keep an eye on the masses and watch out for falling rocks. They’ll be coming out of the media members’ lumpy heads.
2026 Standings (Last week)
1. Rosie Langello 106-39 (12-3) .731
2. Michael Butler 104-41 (11-4) .717
3. Wesley Lyle 102-43 (8-7) .703
4. Graham Dunn 101-44 (12-3) .696
5. Lindsey Bonner 99-46 (9-6) .623
6. Doug Amos 98-47 (9-6) .676
7. Tim Gayle 96-49 (9-6) .662
8. Mike Peacock 94-51 (10-5) .648
9. Mike Tankersley 91-54 (11-4) .628
10. Barry McKnight 90-55 (8-7) .621
11. Rick Hendrick 88-57 (7-8) .607
Rosie Langello (WSFA Ch. 12 New and Sports)
106-39 (12-3) .731
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Marbury
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - Alabama
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss -Georgia
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Ohio State
BYU at Utah - Utah
Miami at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Michael Butler (WTLS 101.1&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
104-41 (11-4) .717
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Citronelle
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - LSU
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Ohio State
BYU at Utah - Utah
Miami at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports)
102-43 (8-7) .703
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Citronelle
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - LSU
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Georgia
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Ohio State
BYU at Utah - Utah
Miami at Notre Dame - Miami
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
101-44 (12-3) .696
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Marbury
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - Alabama
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Georgia
Kentucky at Tennessee - Kentucky
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Oregon
BYU at Utah - Utah
Miami at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
99-46 (9-6) .623
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Marbury
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - Auburn
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Georgia
Kentucky at Tennessee - Kentucky
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Ohio State
BYU at Utah - BYU
Miami at Notre Dame - Miami
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
98-47 (9-6) .676
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Marbury
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - LSU
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Georgia
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Ohio State
BYU at Utah - Utah
Miami at Notre Dame - Miami
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
96-49 (9-6) .662
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Marbury
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - LSU
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Georgia
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Ohio State
BYU at Utah - Utah
Miami at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports/ASU Hornets Radio analyst)
94-51 (10-5) .648
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Marbury
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - LSU
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Georgia
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Ohio State
BYU at Utah - Utah
Miami at Notre Dame - Miami
Mike Tankersley (River Region Sports/WTLS contributor)
91-54 (11-4) .628
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Marbury
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - Alabama
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Kentucky at Tennessee - Kentucky
Texas at Missouri - Missouri
Oklahoma at Florida - Oklahoma
Texas A&M at South Carolina -Texas A&M
Oregon at Ohio St - Oregon
BYU at Utah - Utah
Miami at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
90-55 (8-7) .621
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Citronelle
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - LSU
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Georgia
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Ohio State
BYU at Utah - BYU
Miami at Notre Dame - Miami
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
88-57 (7-8) .607
Bessemer City at Pike Road - Pike Road
Citronelle at Marbury - Marbury
St. Paul’s at Catholic - Catholic
Cottage Hill at Trinity - Trinity
Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Alabama at LSU - Alabama
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Georgia at Ole Miss - Georgia
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Texas at Missouri - Texas
Oklahoma at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Oregon at Ohio St - Ohio State
BYU at Utah - BYU
Miami at Notre Dame - Notre Dame