(Photo Credit: AP Photo)

Catching up with college football

What’s big and red and not in the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings?

Alabama.

Maybe Bama will move up before all of this is over. Both the CFP committee and the Associated Press poll voters have had a little problem this season in shaking things up, elevating teams and dropping teams with an eye to the moment.

At this moment, Alabama is paying heavily for its 46-41 loss on Saturday to LSU. It could keep the Crimson Tide from reaching the SEC Championship Game and it is now a one-loss team with several unbeaten still hanging around out there and not in contention for one of the four playoff spots. Think Minnesota and Baylor.

LSU remains atop the CFP rankings released Tuesday night, as well it should. Ohio State is second. Clemson – the team left out of the top four last week – is third. And the fourth is Georgia.

Which should really irritate Alabama. The Bulldogs continue to struggle on offense and there’s no doubt in this corner that Alabama would beat Georgia.

The CFP rankings began in 2014 and from then until now Bama has only been out of the top four-five times. A second loss would virtually eliminate Alabama from contention for another national title. Next up for the Tide is Mississippi State, always a toughie on the road. Then Western Carolina (seriously). And then No. 13 Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Auburn might be the kingmaker in shaping the top four as its home game Saturday is against … Georgia.

We’ve got plenty of reasons to watch all the college football we can. An angry Alabama team (and Nick Saban) will only make it more fun as we head to the end of November.