You could just about argue any of the last two teams, and you’d have someone upset, but IMO I don’t think us Bama fans expected to get in, and would have understood:
1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. FSU
4. Texas
5. Bama
6. Georgia
..........I had the honor of being a few feet from The Great Bear Bryant when Texas played Alabama in the 1981 Cotton Bowl. Texas Coach was Fred Akers. Texas won 14-12.
Below is a link to some great video of Alabama and Texas in the game I attended back then.