re: Does Bama drop in the playoff ranking?

If Ole Miss had won last night, I believe Alabama could have ended up first in one or both polls and left out of the playoffs.

Ole Miss wins out and goes to Atlanta. Bama wins out ending its season at 11-1. Oregon, Notre Dame, TCU, Michigan State and FSU all win out.

Ole Miss loses in Atlanta. I think some combination of the four conference champs and or Notre Dame get in, despite the Bama strength of schedule.

FSU gets dumped in the playoffs moving Bama to one in one or both polls. There would probably be a strong enough protest vote to keep them at one. And we would damn sure claim it too.