Alabama vs. Texas A&M: How Crimson Tide's Win Reshapes Playoff Picture

The death of No. 7 Alabama's College Football Playoff hopes were greatly exaggerated. 

A game that has proven unforgettable each of the last two seasons, this year's Texas A&M-Alabama showdown was over before halftime. The Crimson Tide exploded for 45 before halftime and blanked the 21st-ranked Aggies en route to a 59-0 drubbing. 

It was a blowout no matter how you sliced it. The Tide outgained A&M on the ground, 298-31, held a 30-8 advantage in first downs and amassed 602 total yards to the Aggies' 172. 

It's safe to say Nick Saban's crew needed a statement win, if only as a confidence booster. A dark cloud of doubt was cast over Tuscaloosa when the Tide's 23-17 loss at Ole Miss was superseded by an ugly one-point victory at Arkansas, but now the sunshine has returned.

Although, Saturday's eye-popping and jaw-dropping result did a lot more than up the confidence levels. It created a massive wave of those buying back in to Alabama in 2014, when pondering the end of the Saban dynasty was the trendy move over the last two weekends.

As a one-loss team with so many huge games remaining, all Alabama needs to do is win out in order to get back in the CFP picture. But with Baylor's defeat to West Virginia alongside either Florida State or Notre Dame falling Saturday night, the Crimson Tide threaten to move back into the Top Four sooner rather than later.

With only a week separating us from the first polls, it's not surprising to see Saban having his team ready to play, as ESPN's Mitch Sherman noted:

Jim Dunaway of JOXfm.com and Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor gave their endorsement of Alabama entering the CFP after Saturday's results:

Clay Travis of Fox Sports thinks three SEC teams—seemingly Auburn and not Alabama—should crack the CFP, but he added as the score got more lopsided that he may have to reconsider:

Of course, it goes without saying that speculating which SEC teams are in and out is premature at best. While most of them have been able to make statement wins, the meat of the schedule lies ahead with the Egg Bowl and Iron Bowl—among many other showdowns—yet to come. 

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However, the questions have pretty much been answered for Texas A&M. After jumping into the Top 10 early in the season, the Aggies have lost three straight by a combined 91 points—a total that could've been worse without late scores against Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

And to make matters even worse, Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde recounted Kevin Sumlin's early-season marquee win over then-No. 9 South Carolina now looks average at best:

A much tougher span of games in hindsight than once thought, the Aggies' last three games have been murderer's row with lopsided defeats to three Top Seven SEC West teams. But after starting the season on the cusp of the Top 25 anyway, Texas A&M is fortunate it took this long to completely fall out of the rankings.

As for Alabama, the CFP debate—at least for this week—is a familiar one. Mississippi State and Ole Miss are safe assuming the Rebels topple Tennessee, and the winner of Florida State and Notre Dame will maintain the third spot. That leaves Alabama and Auburn vying for the fourth spot, after Baylor's loss.

Here's how it should currently shake out:

Rank	Team
1	Mississippi State
2	Florida State
3	Ole Miss
4	Auburn

There's no doubt Alabama looked like Alabama again Saturday, and a similar performance would probably beat any team in the nation. But Auburn's road win over Kansas State now looks much more impressive after the Wildcats beat Oklahoma—one of the last two teams to beat the Tide, in fact.

Regardless, debating which of the two teams has the better CFP resume is a moot point. Until one loses, both Alabama and Auburn will be neck-and-neck before the Iron Bowl decides their fates.