In a shocking shake-up of the college football landscape, both Ole Miss and Alabama fell out of the AP Top 10 in the latest rankings released Sunday. The two moves mark a pivotal moment for two of the Southeastern Conference’s most prominent programs as they face mounting challenges late in the season.
Weekend Setbacks Prove Costly
Ole Miss, ranked No. 9, stumbled with a tough loss to surging Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. The Rebels put up strong performances from quarterback Jaxson Dart, but they were unable to string together any kind of defense, losing 27-24 in a game that really could have gone either way.
Alabama, meanwhile, fell from No. 8 after it had a close loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide, coached by Nick Saban, had missed several crucial plays during the fourth quarter that saw them lose 34-31. The loss has opened debates about the team’s offense and whether it should continue playing star quarterback Jalen Milroe.
New Faces in the Top 10
Fallouts by the SEC titans open a window for new contenders within the Top 10, which Oregon and Missouri did on their latest victories to settle into No. 9 and No. 10 respectively. Oregon dominated the rivalry against Oregon State and appears in shape for the playoffs. Missouri balanced both offensive and defensive lines making them talked about as dark horses of national contenders.
College Football Playoff Implications
This has significant implications for the College Football Playoff picture. With Ole Miss and Alabama now ranked No. 12 and No. 13, respectively, it seems highly unlikely they’ll get into the CFP without some serious upsets in the remaining games. That’s an unusual turn of events for Alabama, a perennial playoff contender under Saban.
For Ole Miss, a frustrating trend of falling short in the most critical late-season matches has continued, and people wonder whether they are good enough to compete at that highest level.
Future:
Now that both teams have ended up playing in bowl games to salvage their seasons, each team will look forward to an anticipated competitive offseason in the SEC. With changes to the CFP format coming next year, programs like Alabama and Ole Miss will have a chance to recalibrate and return to the national spotlight.
For now, however, their fall from the Top 10 reflects a changing tide in college football, as new contenders rise to challenge the old guard.
