Paul Finebaum, Kirk Herbstreit move Alabama in their CFP top 4 ahead of Iron Bowl

OSU WR’s Chris Olave (2) and Garrett Wilson (5) celebrate Wilson’s TD during first half action Saturday afternoon, November 20, 2021, during the game between Ohio State and Michigan State in Columbus. The Buckeyes led 49-0 at halftime, and went on to win 56-7.
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The plot thickens.

With a long overdue dominant performance from Cincinnati, a blowout loss sustained by Oregon and competitive Alabama-Arkansas game, the CFP’s top 4 will see a shakeup.

We’ll have to wait until Tuesday for the CFP committee’s newest ranking. But on Sunday, both SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit chimed in.

Finebaum has the Bearcats - a 48-14 win over SMU on Saturday - in the top 4. Desmond Ridder threw three touchdown passes, ran for another score and caught a TD pass.

“Yes, they are in the top 4, and I think they will be that way Tuesday night for the first time ever,” Finebaum said on “SportsCenter” on Sunday. “They deserve it. They played very well, while other teams have been crashing and burning.”

Herbstreit has Cincinnati at No. 5.

“Interesting aspect in my rankings OSU/UM play this weekend and UGA/Bama next week,” he tweeted. “In my opinion if UC wins their next 2, they will be in the playoff.”

Both have No. 2 Alabama slipping to No. 3 after Bryce Young passed for a school-record 559 yards and five touchdowns to clinch a spot in the SEC championship game with a 42-35 victory Saturday over No. 21 Arkansas. But, this one wasn’t settled until Arkansas’s onside kick went out of bounds with 1:02 left.

“At No. 3 Alabama,” Finebaum said. “They were No. 2 last week. They used to be No. 1. It was a suboptimal performance against Arkansas. They were threatened. It came down to an onside kick late in the game, but the Tide have Auburn and Georgia next.”

The team that surpasses the Tide this week - for both men - is Ohio State. C.J. Stroud tied a school record with six touchdown passes -- all in the first half -- as No. 5 Ohio State bolted out to a 49-point halftime lead on the way to a startling 56-7 rout Saturday of No. 7 Michigan State.

“Yes, that Oregon game no longer matters,” Finebaum explained. “You won the big stage yesterday, big time. It was an unbelievable win for the Buckeyes. They go to Ann Arbor this weekend.”

So, to recap:

Finebaum:

  • 1. Georgia
  • 2. Ohio State
  • 3. Alabama
  • 4. Cincinnati

Herbstreit:

  • 1. Georgia
  • 2. Ohio State
  • 3. Alabama
  • 4. Michigan

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.

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