This first appeared in Kevin Scarbinsky’s weekly newsletter. Subscribe to get it in your inbox every Thursday, $5/month or $50/year.

No matter what happens Monday in the Rose and Sugar bowls or the following Monday in Houston’s NRG Stadium, Alabama’s place in the 10-year history of the four-team College Football Playoff will be secure.

Right at the top. One more title or not.

Lose to Michigan, and the Crimson Tide still will finish with the most four-team playoff appearances (8), wins (9), championship game appearances (6) and championships (3).

The runner-ups in each category have no chance to catch up: Clemson in playoff appearances (6), victories (6) and championship game appearances (4), Clemson and Georgia in championships (2).

As impressive as Alabama’s run has been, there’s another stat that elevates its last decade beyond compare and almost beyond belief. Five of the six playoff champions not named Alabama had to go through the Crimson Tide to get there.