“Should Alabama Be Removed”: FSU Fans Ponder What-Ifs of Jalen Milroe’s Injury Risk During Practice

On December 3, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee made history with one decision. A very controversial one at that. It potentially chose television revenue over the spirit of college football. As the Alabama Crimson Tide sealed the final berth in the CFP, they’re set for an enticing match-up against the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl. But in the aftermath of the Selection Committee’s decision, there arose an interesting scenario: What would happen if Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe were to get injured before the Rose Bowl?

If that happens, would Nick Saban’s Alabama suffer the same fate as the Florida State Seminoles? On November 18, the Seminoles star quarterback Jordan Travis sustained a season-ending leg injury. Even so, Florida State powered through the regular season, winning the ACC crown undefeated. But on December 3, for the first time in CFP history, an undefeated Power Five conference champion was denied a playoff berth. And that raised questions.

There’s little doubt Jalen Milroe is an asset to Alabama Crimson Tide 

That controversial decision—to snub the Seminoles’ 13-0 record for Alabama’s 12-1—had Jordan Travis wishing his “leg broke earlier in the season so y’all could see this team is much more than the quarterback.” But that’s the question fans have when it comes to the Crimson Tide as well. Are they the same without their star QB, Milroe? 

There’s no doubt that Alabama deserved a playoff spot, especially after its victory over No.1 ranked Georgia in the SEC championship game. And a driving force behind that team has been Jalen Milroe. Having been one of the most improved players in 2023—with 23 touchdowns compared to 6 interceptions and completing 171-of-261 passes for 2,718 yards—he’ll be a crucial factor in the Rose Bowl game against the Wolverines. But because of how important he is—just as Jordan Travis was to FSU—fans have conceptualized a few what-ifs surrounding Milroe’s health.

In an X thread discussing the post-season match-ups, one fan asked, “Today, right now. The entire argument against FSU is the QB. If Milroe gets hurt in bowl practice, should Alabama be removed because [they’re] not the same team without him? Yes or no?” Needless to say, this question led to quite a few diverse reactions, what-ifs about not just Alabama’s chances at the NCAA Championship but also about the fourth berth in the CFP.

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Alabama can’t “win a natty without Milroe right now”

Following their win over Georgia in the SEC championship game, the Crimson Tide rose from No.8 in the rankings to No. 5. With Florida State in No.4 with a 13-0 record and Georgia in No.6 with a 12-1 record, the scenarios concerned these three teams primarily. Considering the Selection Committee snubbed FSU for Alabama after Jordan Travis’ injury, would that mean…

On the off chance that Milroe does get injured during practice, one fan speculated that Alabama would turn to QB Ty Simpson, but would that be good enough? In response to this, another X user implied that Georgia would be a better team to feature in the playoffs compared to Alabama without Milroe.

With people speculating that the Selection Committee left out Florida State solely because of their star QB being injured, would Alabama have met the same fate if Jalen Milroe got injured in Alabama’s game against Georgia?

Another user put forth the main argument once again: Now that the selection is done, could Alabama still be replaced if Milroe were to injure himself?

Imagine finishing the regular season with an unbeaten record, winning your conference crown, and still being left out. That’s what happened with the Seminoles. But what if the roles were reversed? What if Nick Saban’s Alabama missed a chance at the playoffs because his star QB got injured?

Expressing a similar sentiment, another user brought to light a thought-provoking connection between the CFP and ESPN—brothers, Boo and Tim Corrigan. Especially considering the predictions that the Rose Bowl game between the Crimson Tide and the Wolverines could be the most-watched CFP semifinal in history.

What was your reaction to the Selection Committee’s decision to choose the No.5 Alabama Crimson Tide over the No.4 Florida State Seminoles for the final spot in the CFP?

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