CFP final four have been decided

Alabama is in.

The Crimson Tide got the nod over Ohio State and will play Clemson in the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma and Georgia will meet in the other semifinal on New Year’s Day. Tide or Buckeyes was the question facing the selection committee, the toughest call in the four-year history of the playoff.

The Tide had been more consistent and lost just once. The Buckeyes lost twice, including a 31-point beating to unranked Iowa, but have a more impressive set of victories. Ohio State won the Big Ten, while Alabama did not even win its Southeastern Conference division.

The committee rolled with the Tide, and for the first time, the playoff will include two teams from the same conference. Alabama joins SEC champion Georgia and an all-sec title game is possible.

Some of the major bowl matchups:

Friday, Dec. 29 Cotton Bowl Classic Southern Cal (11-2) vs. Ohio State (11-2) ——— Saturday, Dec. 30 Fiesta Bowl Washington (10-2) vs. Penn State (10-2) Orange Bowl Wisconsin (12-1) vs. Miami (10-2) ——— Monday, Jan. 1 Peach Bowl UCF (12-0) vs. Auburn (10-3) Citrus Bowl Notre Dame (9-3) vs. LSU (9-3) Rose Bowl (CFP Semifinal) Oklahoma (12-1) vs. Georgia (12-1) Sugar Bowl (CFP Semifinal) Clemson (12-1) vs. Alabama (11-1) ——— Monday, Jan. 8

College Football Championship Atlanta Rose Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner