How TF the gumps playing WCU in week 12?

It's their own fault for not scheduling better OOC games. They tried with Florida State, they tried with USC in the last couple years. No way of knowing that those two teams would have the bad seasons they did. But they tried.

This year it's different. They schedule Duke of all teams, and nothing against Duke, but I think we can all agree that Duke's football program is not on par with Alabama's program.

The rest of all these cupcakes is also their own doing. They want credibility? Schedule better OOC games.

Yeah, they always play a cupcake late in the year. Technically speaking, as long as they're playing cupcakes, it doesn't matter when, but we all know that isn't really true in the eye of the beholder who is making decisions.

To play a team like this in week 12, while other teams are playing big games, or at least conference games, where you don't have any control over scheduling, even if they are playing bad teams, is just a bad look. You need to be making statements down the stretch, more so than early in the year. Though all games matter, obviously.

I still think that if Penn Sate somehow wins the Big 10, that they'll jump Bama, and Ohio State would fall to 4th, if LSU wins out, of course. It's also possible that a 1 loss Pac 12 champ passes bama, but I'm not sold on that. I just think the Big 10 has clearly been superior to the Pac-12 this year, and beating Ohio State would jump Penn State significantly. And Tua being out makes a difference. I know the committee will say it doesn't matter, but that's a lie. I think without Tua, the committee will want a "sexier" team than a Mac Jones lead Alabama. Unless Alabama throttles Auburn and convinces the committee that they aren't missing a beat. I doubt that happens, though.

to answer the OP's question, both auburn and alabama scheduled a cupcake before the iron bowl so they could regroup and reenergize before the big game. next best thing to an off week.

look at auburn's competition this week.