Urban Meyer turned heads Monday with his defense of Alabama’s inclusion in the College Football Playoff, arguing the committee would have created “a terrible precedent” had the Crimson Tide been left out.
While on the latest The Triple Option podcast, Meyer said Alabama’s 10-3 record and loss in the SEC Championship Game should not overshadow the strength of competing in what he considers one of the nation’s two premier leagues. The Tide remained at No. 9 and will face No. 8 Oklahoma in the opening round.
“There’s no way you leave Alabama out,” Meyer said. “You cannot set that precedent. You finish in the top two in the SEC, you’re in the playoff. Same thing with the Big Ten. Those two conferences are better than the others.”
Meyer pushed back on the idea that Notre Dame could have remained in the field if Alabama had been dropped, noting that teams should be rewarded not punished for reaching conference championship games. “Go coach in the SEC one time, or go play in it,” Meyer said. “If someone says, ‘Well, you finished second in the SEC,’ you’re in.”
Even Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer admitted some anxious moments after the loss to Georgia, though he said he trusted the Tide’s case.
Alabama struggled offensively in the 28-7 defeat, posting just 209 yards, but quarterback Ty Simpson insisted afterward the Tide still views itself as “the best offense in the country.”
The Tide face the Sooners on Friday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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