The for-conversation-only College Football Rankings are a thing of the past. The next one, on Sunday night, actually matters.
If Alabama wins on Saturday in Atlanta, it will be in that one meaningful ranking. Number One? Or No. 2, or 3? Playing Oklahoma in its backyard in Dallas, or Iowa, or Michigan State? Playing in sunny Miami instead? The chances of that are slim and would involve North Carolina upsetting Clemson for the ACC title. All those questions won't be answered for a few days but rest assured — if Alabama wins, it is in.
Most people get that.