Nick Saban Discusses College Football Playoff Rankings

The arrival of the season's first College Football Playoff rankings signaled the start of debate regarding the viability of title contenders, and Alabama finds itself at the center of the conversation entering a crucial showdown against the LSU Tigers. 

While Clemson, LSU and Ohio State all slotted into the playoff picture as expected, Alabama emerged as a surprise selection at No. 4 considering its one loss came at home against a two-loss Ole Miss team. The ranking was especially curious since undefeated squads like Baylor, Michigan State and TCU were left on the outside looking in. 

"Losses matter, especially home losses," Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee wrote. "Whether Alabama passes the eye test or not, it still lost at home to Ole Miss—a team that is ranked 18th in the CFP rankings. In fact, it's a wonder that Florida is ranked six spots behind Alabama, based on a comparison of the resumes of the two SEC powers."

So while the college football universe responded in an uproar, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban did his best to subdue some of the outrage by putting things in perspective. 

At his Wednesday press conference, Saban explained why he believes the release of rankings at this relatively early juncture isn't worth fussing over, per 247Sports.com's Charlie Potter: 

"

I don't think the ranking means anything. It doesn't mean anything. All it means is that you've created an opportunity to have a chance to finish the season and maybe have an opportunity to play in some other games that are big games. The players are smart enough to know that they need to stay focused on the game because if you don't play well in every game that we have from here on out you won't be ranked any more. So what good does it do, what does it mean? It means nothing.

"

Complete video of Saban's remarks can be viewed below, courtesy of Tide 99.1 FM: 

Saban has a point. 

If the Tide win out, they'll likely seal their fate and enter the postseason as one of the four programs lucky enough to compete for a national championship. But if Alabama drops Saturday's game against LSU, its hopes will be dashed. 

At this point, it's a matter of the Tide playing out their schedule and executing in a way that compels the CFP selection committee to keep them front and center when the rankings are released each week. 

A win over LSU will go a long way toward solidifying Alabama's spot as a worthy CFP resident, but the Tide find themselves in a precarious spot as they attempt to clinch back-to-back CFP berths with such a fierce LSU squad looming and the season's home stretch getting underway.