The selection committee has locked in the field for the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, and there's no real surprise in the bracket.
After a narrow loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, SMU earned the last at-large in the Playoff.
Alabama, as a result, is officially out.
No surprises, however, does not equate to not disagreements. Should the Crimson Tide—who dropped three games but boasted a greater set of quality wins—have instead made the Playoff? Across the media landscape, you're destined to hear opinions both ways.
This, ultimately, is my personal opinion. The teams are separated into tiers, and the seeding reflects the bracket.