SMQ: Why Florida State vs Alabama football was the most meaningless game of 2017
By Zach Bigalke
5. No. 5 Alabama vs No. 7 Virginia Tech in Atlanta, GA (2009)
In a highly-anticipated showdown at the Georgia Dome, No. 5 Alabama squared off against No. 7 Virginia Tech. The game itself proved to be a sloppy affair as both teams eased their way into the season. After committing two turnovers and 10 penalties, the Crimson Tide needed a late comeback against the Hokies.
Down 17-16 at the half, Alabama rolled up 18 points in the final quarter. Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor was held under 100 passing yards by the Tide defense. Meanwhile, Mark Ingram rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown to begin what ultimately turned into Alabama’s first-ever Heisman campaign.
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What happened next for both teams?
Alabama climbed one spot to No. 4 in the next AP Top 25. Reaching No. 1 proved elusive for a Tide team that hadn’t yet built up its mystique under Nick Saban. They won every game during the regular season, then took down No. 1 Florida in the SEC Championship Game to book a spot in the BCS title showdown against Texas.
Virginia Tech, on the other hand, tumbled eight spots to No. 15 in the next AP rankings. By October, though, the Hokies had already climbed back to a position higher than where they started the year. Not even back-to-back losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina in late October could knock the Hokies completely out of the polls.
What did it mean by the end of the year?
It didn’t really matter who Alabama had knocked off in the opening game, when it came down to the final standings. As long as the Crimson Tide took down Florida in the SEC championship, they didn’t need any further data points to bolster strength of schedule. They could have blown out an opponent from the FCS and experienced much the same season.
Virginia Tech wasn’t punished too much for its loss to Alabama, as their return up the rankings meant over the first month of the season. The losses to the Yellow Jackets and Tar Heels kept Virginia Tech from playing for the ACC title. Those defeats proved far more costly to the Hokies’ season prospects.