Essentially the only path that guarantees a playoff berth for Alabama is an SMU win, as College Football Playoff selection committee chair Warde Manuel explained: “Those who are not playing [in conference championship games], we will not adjust those teams.” Manuel told ESPN.

In last week’s rankings, the committee slotted the trio in this order: No. 13 Alabama, No. 14 Ole Miss and No. 15 South Carolina. Since then, the Gamecocks were the only team to beat a ranked opponent, knocking off No. 12 Clemson.

Meadows committed to LSU back in July, but that did not discourage the Alabama staff. Perhaps it was the Bayou Bengals lousy season. Or maybe it was the Tide’s dismantling of th