Alabama’s Dominant Sugar Bowl Win Launches Playoff Debate

The Crimson Tide showed what they can do in the Sugar Bowl.

Alabama ended the regular season ranked No. 5 in the country, the first team out of the College Football Playoff pool. Instead, the Crimson Tide played in the Sugar Bowl on Saturday afternoon, and they showed everyone their capabilities.

Facing off against Kansas State, the champions of the Big 12, Alabama put on a dominant performance, outscoring the Wildcats, 38-10, in the final 45 minutes to win the game, 45-20. The victory reignited the debate over whether Alabama should be in the CFP, especially since Kansas State beat No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 Championship game.

First, there are those who believe Alabama should be playing later tonight, either over TCU or No. 4 Ohio State.

As an Auburn fan, Alabama should have been in the playoffs. They would whip TCU also. https://t.co/IOEbQ7nRXK

— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) December 31, 2022

Alabama deserved to be in the playoff. They're destroying the Big 12 champions.

— Jordan Liles (@jordanliles) December 31, 2022

I’m glad they are not but Alabama probably should’ve made the playoff

— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) December 31, 2022

Uh, just as I was saying when the College Football Playoff selections were made, Alabama would kick the crap out of TCU…
#35-10

— John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) December 31, 2022

As I thought before this game…Alabama should be in the playoff over TCU

— Blake Levine (@blake_levine) December 31, 2022

However, others think that Alabama’s two losses to Tennessee and LSU were enough to keep them out of the Playoff, regardless of how well they played on Saturday.

If Alabama wanted in the playoff, it shouldn’t have lost twice and nearly lost to Texas A&M and Texas too.

Won’t be an issue in the expanded CFP. Elite talent teams like Alabama will get more mulligans. But these are the parameters we have right now.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 31, 2022

Alabama was definitely a Playoff-caliber team but lost two of the most exciting games of the season and missed the Playoff because of it. That's, like, what makes sports interesting!!!!

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 31, 2022

If I were Alabama and wanted in on the playoff I'd simply not lose two winnable games

— L.C. Norton (@ByLCNorton) December 31, 2022

Here’s the thing: if you’re arguing that Alabama should have been in the playoff then you’re basically admitting that wins and losses don’t matter to you as long as the program wins national signing day.

— we can’t have nice things (@anchorofgold) December 31, 2022

Here’s the thing. Yeah, Alabama probably should have been in the playoff. But maybe don’t lose to one of the most mid LSU teams of the century

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) December 31, 2022

No two-loss team has ever made the College Football Playoff, and the committee stuck with that standard this year. However, it is hard not to acknowledge that the Crimson Tide looked like a Playoff team in the bowl appearance.