Imagine being the best team in college football, but no one cared.
That's the dilemma Alabama has faced much of the season.
With everyone focused on the resurgent Big Ten and its power quartet of Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin or Washington's suspect strength of schedule or Clemson's close calls, the Crimson Tide appear to be an afterthought.
Perhaps it's because everyone just assumes Nick Saban's team will win it all. Or perhaps it's because college football fans have taken Alabama's dominance for granted.
It's easy to see why.
It has been 443 days since Alabama last lost a game -- a 43-37 loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 19, 2015 -- and for 96 of those days, the Crimson Tide have been the top ranked team in the country. This team is two victories away from joining USC (2004) and Florida State (1999) as teams that went wire-to-wire at No. 1.
"They created a situation for themselves where they have a chance to do something to create a legacy for this team," Saban said following the Tide's dominant victory over Florida in the SEC championship Saturday. "So that's something that they should think about, how important that is, what they are willing to do to do it. Because all the teams you play from here on out are really, really good.
"I always think that we can improve."
It would be hard to find faults with just about anything Alabama has done this season.
The Crimson Tide feature the top defense in the country led by star defensive end Jonathan Allen, linebacker Reuben Foster and safety Micah Fitzpatrick. The unit is allowing fewer than 250 yards per game this season -- its best effort since 2011.
The group has been so formidable that it has only allowed two touchdowns in the final five games -- both of those scores coming in the SEC Championship Game against the Gators.
Florida Coach Jim McElwain effusively praised his former employer.
"Obviously, you're not going to beat anybody giving them the ball four times, especially a team like Nick has put together, which in my opinion, is the best team top to bottom that he's had since he's been there," said McElwain, a former Alabama offensive coordinator whose Gators lost 54-16 to the Tide. "That's a credit to him, his coaching staff, their commitment, their commitment to him, and what he's able to do."
Even the 12-member College Football Playoff committee has no doubt Alabama is the best team in the country.
"There was no debate about Alabama being ranked No. 1. They are an exceptionally strong team and have been all season. There was no debate about that over the course of the past couple of days," committee Chairman Kirby Hocutt said.
Sports books have Alabama opening as a 14-point favorite over No. 4 Washington in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31 and the Tide are reportedly a touchdown favorite against the winner of the other playoff semifinal between No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Ohio State.
Yet all anyone was talking about Sunday was the battle between No. 4 Washington, No. 5 Penn State and No. 6 Michigan for the final semifinal spot. The Huskies defended their strength of schedule, the Nittany Lions trumpeted their Big Ten title victory and the Wolverines fumed they narrowly lost to No. 3 seed Ohio State in double overtime.
Let them. That's just the way Saban wants it. While others celebrated or argued over their playoff, the Tide were going back to work.
Sports on 12/07/2016