Jumbo Package: Gump Day!

College Football Playoff rankings: Alabama remains No. 1 as top 10 stays the same

1. Alabama (10-0)

2. Clemson (10-0)

3. Notre Dame (10-0)

4. Michigan (9-1)

Alabama remains No. 1 after another convincing win over a conference opponent and every other team remains the same, as well.

Notre Dame and Michigan are still fending off Georgia, but if the Bulldogs were to somehow win the SEC title game, there could be a shake-up in those rankings.

This is the first time in rankings history that no teams changed in the top 10.

The top 4 are about as expected. Stay unbeaten, and these will be your four. The only real argument will be between Notre Dame and Michigan as the 3 and 4 seeds. But Georgia and Ohio State are right behind looking to take down Alabama and Michigan. And if either of those happen, that’s when things will get interesting.

Alabama Football: 3 reasons Tide are College Football Playoff lock

No. 1: Alabama’s defense is just too good

Another thing the Crimson Tide has going for them is an incredible defense. Whether or not you like Alabama, you can’t dispute that simple fact. Let’s break it down with some statistics.

Alabama gives up an average of only 282.8 yards per game, ranking them the No. 8 total defense in the country. They’ve only allowed more than 14 points three times all season (Texas A&M, Arkansas, Tennessee). And they’re hitting their stride at the perfect time, having gone nine straight quarters and counting without allowing a single point – dating back to the fourth quarter against Tennessee.

I wouldn’t waste your time reading points #2 and #3. It’s just more complaining about Alabama’s easy schedule. I just like seeing even the haters be Processed.

There’s no reason to play Tua Tagovailoa vs. The Citadel, despite what Nick Saban says

With all due respect to the man who is making the call, there is no good reason for Tagovailoa to play. Forget third-string quarterback Mac Jones taking over; Tommy Lee Jones could beat The Citadel.

The idea is keep the right knee and the body attached to it as healthy as possible for the stretch run. You saw what happened Saturday when Mississippi State’s Cam Dantzler crashed into it.

Tagovailoa limped off the field in the third quarter, done for the day. That day included four sacks by a rabid Mississippi State defense.

Bama got lucky. It doesn’t need to be reckless.

You know the implications. Tagovailoa tweaks the knee further or it is twisted in a pile, and he could be done for the season. No one would be saying, “At least he got his reps against The Citadel.”

We know this won’t actually happen. Nick Saban would actually have a mental breakdown before not allowing his starter to play a little. The question is: how many drive do you think Tua will actually play?

Pro Bowl ballot includes 62 players with Alabama football roots

Sixty-two players with Alabama football roots are on the ballot for the NFL’s Pro Bowl.

Fan voting for the Pro Bowl began on Tuesday with the release of the ballot for this season’s all-star game. Online fan voting will remain open until Dec. 13.

The ballot includes 28 players who played at Alabama, 13 from Auburn, three from Samford, two apiece from Troy and UAB and one each from Alabama State, North Alabama and West Alabama.

The ballot includes 32 players from Alabama high schools.

That’s some pretty good numbers. And the fact that so much talent has come from this state in the last decade definitely has contributed to the dominance of the Crimson Tide program over that same time frame.

Former Alabama signee commits to Tennessee

Jordan Davis, who signed with the Crimson Tide last December, committed to Tennessee on Tuesday. He announced his decision on Twitter.

Davis never landed in Tuscaloosa after inking on the first early signing period. The four-star defensive end from Memphis instead enrolled at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in July.

A second commitment to Alabama came in October before he backed off that pledge last week. He will be a member of the 2020 signing class.

I never really thought Davis would fit in with the defensive style we see at Alabama. I wish him the best as a player, but I also hope he never wins a game in his collegiate career. Nothing good comes from a team with an orange jersey winning a game.

Roll Tide!