Was 2019 LSU Snubbed in ESPN’s All-Time CFP Team Rankings?

ESPN released its annual ranking of the teams that have made the college football playoff on Monday. There were a few teams throughout with arguments for being higher or lower than their assigned ranking, but as with any sports debate, fans want to talk about who’s on top.

Many expected the top spot to be awarded to one of the most memorable teams in college football history: 2019 LSU. Instead, ESPN selected 2020 Alabama, sparking debate among general college football fans, but especially between supporters of the two teams.

It’s tough to decide between the two. In all fairness, both teams make a strong case, with each having top-tier offenses and dominant playoff runs. However, the question must be asked: Was 2019 LSU snubbed for the top spot?

As with any team under consideration for being placed at the top of a list such as this, both LSU and Alabama went undefeated. Alabama played a shorter, interconference-only regular-season schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but given that they’re in the SEC, that’s not really a knock.

2020 Alabama played five teams that finished in the top 25 of the US LBM Coaches Poll: second-ranked Ohio State, fourth-ranked Texas A&M, fifth-ranked Notre Dame, seventh-ranked Georgia, and 12th-ranked Florida. They finished those games with an average point differential of +19.2.

2019 LSU played six teams that finished ranked in the top 25: 14th-ranked Auburn, eighth-ranked Alabama, fourth-ranked Georgia, sixth-ranked Oklahoma, and second-ranked Clemson. They finished those games with an average point differential of +16.8.

Looking at point differentials alone isn’t a perfect way of evaluating each team’s resume, however. One alternative is using ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), which measures how many points a team should win or lose by when facing the average FBS team.

Historically, many believe that 2019 LSU had the greatest offense in college football history. ESPN’s FPI model disagrees. 2019 LSU’s offensive efficiency rating of 97.2 is the second-best mark since the playoff began in 2014. 2020 Alabama ranks first, with a 98.1.

Neither squad had an all-time great defensive unit, though. 2019 LSU’s defensive efficiency rating was 79.6, and 2020 Alabama’s was 77.6.

Another way to look at the question is to consider what each team did in the postseason. Both teams won the SEC Championship, with LSU playing Georgia and Alabama playing Florida. LSU won in dominant fashion, beating that Georgia team that finished the season ranked fourth 37-10. Alabama’s game was closer, beating 12th-ranked Florida 52-46.

Then there’s the playoff itself. Alabama first faced off against Notre Dame, comfortably beating them 31-14. Then, in the National Championship, they played Ohio State. Though that Buckeyes squad wasn’t of the same caliber as the ones we’ve seen over the past couple of years, it was still a strong unit. They lost to the Crimson Tide, however, scoring 24 points to Alabama’s 52.

LSU's first playoff matchup finished with a comfortable win over Oklahoma, scoring 63 points to the Sooners’ 28. Then came a tough draw, facing off against a Clemson team that had reached the National Championship in three of the last four seasons and won it twice. Clemson’s 94.5 overall efficiency rating that season ranks as the 10th-highest mark FPI has ever recorded for a team, and 5.4 points higher than the Ohio State team Alabama beat in their title game in 2020. Despite that, LSU still won by double digits, with a final score of 42-25.

Ultimately, the argument can go either way. Both teams had all-time great offenses, both dominated in the regular season and playoffs, and both sent loads of top-tier talent to the NFL. It’s hard to say whether 2019 LSU was truly “snubbed,” but what isn’t up for debate is that they belong firmly in the conversation for the top spot.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Was 2019 LSU Snubbed in ESPN’s All-Time CFP Team Rankings?