Let me start by saying Alabama is clearly or, to use College Football Playoff lingo, unequivocally one of the best four teams this season.

Now that we have that established, let's have a little fun with this whole selection process, which is jeered, cheered and smeared every Tuesday night when the committee's rankings are unveiled.

The most fascinating "What if ..." of all in a season full of them is how everything would have played out if the ball hadn't bounced just right for Arkansas back on Nov. 7 in the Hogs' thrilling 53-52 overtime win against Ole Miss. Even Arkansas coach Bret Bielema referred to the fourth-and-25 lateral play in overtime as "divine intervention." Tight end Hunter Henry gathered in a short pass and flung it backward about 30 feet as he was being tackled. The ball was tipped by an offensive lineman and scooped up on the bounce by Alex Collins, who rambled for the first down, but not before he fumbled. Teammate Dominique Reed was there to recover for the Hogs.

The whole thing is still dizzying when you watch the replay, but the Hogs went on to score a touchdown and convert the game-winning two-point try in one of the more exciting games of the season.

It was a great win for Arkansas and a crushing loss for Ole Miss.

But think about the conundrum the committee would have right now had Henry's wild lateral not bounced just right.

Click here for more on the fallout from that one play.