Fornelli 50 rankings: The numbers still think Alabama was better than Clemson

At the end of November, with the regular season over and the conference championships were to be played, I warned you this could happen. I told you that, based on the data that had accumulated to that point in the season, it was entirely possible that even if Alabama didn't win the national title, it could finish the season No. 1 in these rankings.

At the time, there were still two possible losses in Alabama's future. It could have lost the SEC Championship Game and after that, it could have lost its College Football Playoff semifinal. Had that happened, it was entirely possible that the two losses would knock the Tide from No. 1 in these rankings, but they didn't.

Alabama won the SEC and it won its semifinal matchup with a Washington team that was ranked No. 2 in these rankings. Then, on Monday night in Tampa, Florida, Alabama finally lost a game.

It lost by four points to Clemson on a touchdown with one second left to play.

Apparently that wasn't enough to erase the season's worth of dominance, because even with the loss, Alabama finishes the regular season ranked No. 1 in the Fornelli 50, and the gap between it and the No. 2 team -- yes, Clemson -- is still pretty significant.

Now, as I've said before here a few times, just because my name is on the rankings, and I created the mathematical formula used to compile them, that doesn't mean I always agree with what comes out in the end. This is one of those times, because if I were turning in a final set of rankings based on nothing but what I saw, I would honor the fact that Clemson won the playoff and put it at No. 1.

Having said that, I don't entirely disagree with the formula's results, either.

Alabama lost. It didn't lose in a way that convinces me that it's clearly the lesser team. Clemson is our champion and Alabama may be the best team. These are two things that can exist in the same universe.

Anyway, before we get to the entire Fornelli 50, I will remind you once again about how this entire process works.

1. My opinion has absolutely nothing to do with the rankings. They are based on a mathematical formula of my creation. So keep this in mind before you call me an idiot, which I know you will.

2. There is true equality to start. The math doesn't play favorites. Before the season began, defending national champion Alabama was just as good as our defending Bottom 25 champion Central Florida. The only factor that matters in the rankings is how you performed on the field in 2016.

3. Wins and losses mean more than anything. I have a lot of different statistics involved, and I factor in strength of schedule, but at the end of the day whether you won or lost is going to mean more than anything else. Also, just because it's too difficult for me to rank FCS teams as well, my formula doesn't have much respect for FCS schools. If you beat one it won't mean much, and if you lose to one, well, you might show up in The Bottom 25.

4. The formula is in no way predictive. It is based on nothing but what has occurred in the season to this point in time. Just because a team is currently ranked No. 15 does not mean it's better or that it's going to beat a team ranked No. 35. It just means that, to this point, it has been the 15th-best team in the country. Think of it as a meritocracy in its purest form. The math plays no favorites. I put this here every week, but my inbox and Twitter mentions make it pretty clear you don't read it.

5. I won't share the formula. I just don't want to. I'm not a mathematician. I know my formula isn't perfect. I don't think a perfect formula can exist, so I don't share it because I don't care what anybody thinks. So don't ask. Just know that, even if you don't agree with it right now, at the end of the season, it has been startlingly accurate.

And now, the final rankings of the 2016 college football season.

1. Alabama 14-1 (Last week: 1)

2. Clemson 14-1 (5)

3. Washington 12-2 (2)

4. Ohio State 11-2 (3)

5. Michigan 10-3 (4)

6. Western Michigan 13-1 (6)

7. Penn State 11-3 (7)

8. Oklahoma 11-2 (11)

9. Louisville 9-4 (8)

10. USC 10-3 (9)

11. Western Kentucky 11-3 (13)