Every program has high expectations for itself, but not all of those expectations are the same. Ultimately, plenty of teams think they’re playoff caliber, but it takes more than that to actually be selected for the four-team field. It takes a combination of talent, outstanding coaching, the right schedule, playing well at the right time and, yes, even a little bit of luck. When it all comes together, it can result in a playoff run like the one we saw with Ohio State last season. The Buckeyes will be looking to repeat as national champions in 2015-16. Absolutely, Ohio State is facing a playoff-or-bust-type season. But so are five other teams and for different reasons. Some, like USC, are looking to cement themselves back atop college football. Others, like TCU, know this season might have the right combination of factors to get to the next level. These are the teams with playoff-or-bust attitudes based on expectations and returning talent. 2015 is a playoff-or-bust year for Alabama, but so was 2014. Barring any significant change, every year is going to carry those expectations for the Crimson Tide. That’s what head coach Nick Saban has done for the program. Even if he “fears” what the playoff supposedly does to college football. By now, you probably know all about the Tide’s storylines for this season and how it impacts their path to the postseason. The defense—specifically the defensive line, led by Jonathan Allen—should rank among the best in the country. The offense, on the other hand, needs reloading after losing wide receiver Amari Cooper, among others. However, here’s where Alabama’s playoff-or-bust mentality really has meat: Missing the playoffs would be another hit to Saban’s dynasty in Tuscaloosa. Oh, sure, the Tide will always be good under Saban. Other than his first season in 2007, in which Alabama went 7-6, Saban has led this program to at least 10 wins every year. Understand, too, that when you’ve reached the top of the college football mountain, there’s nowhere else to go. Anything else means falling short. But let’s look at how recent seasons have ended: 2013: A 45-31 Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma. 2014: A 42-35 Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State in the national semifinals. None of this is to suggest the Tide are on the decline, but the fact remains they’ve come up short recently after winning three national championships in four years (2009, ’11, ’12). As Jon Solomon of CBSSports.com wrote after Alabama’s 23-17 loss to Ole Miss last October, the little details are what indicate Alabama’s stretch of dominance is on shaky ground: The loss isn’t a death notice for Alabama in 2014. But it’s the latest wake-up call that the Saban dynasty is over. Alabama has lost three straight against ranked teams — the first time that’s happened to Saban since he was at Michigan State in 1997. Already, the Alabama-LSU game on Nov. 8 is assured of having the most combined losses since 2007. The new order of the SEC West continues to evolve…
Continue Reading: 6 College Football Teams That Are Playoff or Bust in 2015-16 Season
