Alabama OL ‘optimistic’ about CFP rankings as Tide ‘peaking at the right time’

To be clear, Alabama still needs significant help for any playoff scenario would be plausible.

No two-loss team has ever made a College Football Playoff semifinal in the first eight years of the four-team bracket. But weird stuff is happening and Alabama’s done nothing to hurt its cause since that second loss back on Nov. 5 at LSU.

And, at No. 7 in last week’s CFP rankings, a few Alabama players took a positive view of their chances at a top-four spot.

“The team has been very optimistic about the rankings,” Alabama offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor said after the Tide beat Auburn, 49-27 and we’re trying to control what we can control at this point and that was winning our last couple games and send a statement. We’re very optimistic about it and everybody has their eye on it.”

No. 2 Ohio State lost its first game Saturday, 45-23 to No. 3 Michigan for its first loss of the season. No. 8 Clemson, one spot behind Alabama, eliminated themselves when South Carolina beat the Tigers, 31-30.

Alabama’s two losses came in road thrillers, 52-49 at Tennessee and 32-31 in overtime at LSU. The Vols dropped all the way to No. 10 in the CFP rankings last week after the stunning 66-24 loss at South Carolina a week ago.

And No. 5 LSU, with losses to Florida State and Tennessee already, took a 38-23 beating at Texas A&M on Saturday in the regular-season finale. The Tigers already clinched a spot in the SEC title game next week to face No. 1 Georgia whose seat is locked in at this point.

“Unbeknown to me, I didn’t know who won, who lost or anything else,” Saban said after the Iron Bowl. “It’s a great opportunity for our team to be considered. I think we lost two games on the road to two top-10 teams by four points. We are a good football team, and hopefully, people will recognize that.”

When asked about their playoff case, Alabama linebacker Will Anderson said the Tide is “most definitely” good enough for a top-four slot.

“We had a quarterback that had been through some stuff with his shoulder and everything like that,” he said. “We fought hard in every game we played in. We did a really good job. The effort was there. We lost both of those teams to a combined four points. I think we have a really good team and these guys work really hard.”

Ekiyor, the starting right guard, said Alabama was “peaking at the right time” coming off a third consecutive win. But the Iron Bowl was the last data point for the CFP committee to consider so there will be attention placed on the conference title games next week.

“I think everybody is going to have an eye on the TV seeing how those situations play out,” Ekiyor said. “Like I said, everybody is feeling very optimistic. We all know there’s still a chance to get into the playoff.”

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

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