Greg Byrne Weighs in on Playoff Conversation

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- On Monday, Greg Byrne, the athletic director at the University of Alabama, joined the playoff discussion, outlining several compelling reasons why he believes Alabama should be included in the 12-team playoff format.

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Despite the Crimson Tide's 9-3 record this season, which has seen its share of highs and lows, Byrne emphasized that the positives significantly outweigh the negatives.

"Here's a good look at the numbers/rankings for Alabama. Recognize there's lots of chatter out there about 2 vs. 3 loss teams, however, that is just one factor. When you look at the CFB Playoff Principles for its Selection Committee, the first bullet point on the list of considerations is strength of schedule. Not all schedules and conferences are created equal," said Byrne in a twitter post.

While many might focus on Alabama's three losses- two of which were disappointing defeats to unranked teams (Vanderbilt and Oklahoma) and the other from a ranked Tennessee team- it's essential to also highlight their nine victories, which tell a different story:

A commanding 63-0 shutout at home against Western Kentucky
A challenging start against South Florida that turned into a 42-16 home win
A 42-10 on the road win against Wisconsin, a team that was expected to pose a challenge
A dominant first half performance against the Georgia Bulldogs,but were able to close it out to gain a 41-34 win, despite being labeled as the underdog at home (SEC ranked opponent win)
A decisive home win over South Carolina (SEC win)
A shutout victory against ranked Missouri at home (SEC win)
A resounding 42-13 victory over the LSU Tigers on the road (SEC ranked opponent win)
A 52-7 blowout over the Mercer Bears at home
A 28-14 victory against their in-state rivals (SEC win)

Victories against ranked conference opponents, a shutout against Missouri, and a decisive win over LSU, and some progression throughout the season, all highlight the Crimson Tide's season and may explain why they remain in the playoff discussion. Byrne believes their performance warrants serious consideration.

"We've worked diligently to add more challenging non-conference home-and-homes, which is good for college football, not to mention the week-in and week-out of the SEC and it being the toughest in the country," said Byrne.

Since the regular season has ended, numerous analysts and fans have weighed in, sharing their thoughts and sussing the Crimson Tide. Predictions have varied, with odds shifting from a +100 to a -186 chance for Alabama to make the College Football Playoffs, according to FDSPORTSBOOK as of Monday.

Now, fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting Tuesday night's CFB rankings show, which will reveal whether the Crimson Tide has moved from their current No.13 ranking. Tune in to ESPN from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET for the latest updates, with the final selection show scheduled for Dec. 8.