Alabama’s record is that of a playoff team, and so is its resumé. The results of the games themselves require a bit more convincing.
If this Crimson Tide team were on the dating market, we might be selling it on its personality rather than its looks. No. 4 Alabama is getting by with a gritty defense and a quarterback who seldom makes costly mistakes. But the Tide’s running game is atrocious, and it takes multiple shots to make the deep passing game look passable.
Red flags like those often cost teams a date with the College Football Playoff.