Gene Chizik SEC Network
Former Auburn coach Gene Chizik made his SEC Network debut Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014 at halftime of the Utah State-Tennessee game. (SEC Network)
AUBURN, Alabama -- Gene Chizk had a lot of love for Alabama in his SEC Network debut Sunday.
The former Auburn coach revealed his "mock" College Football Playoff bracket following the first Saturday of the season and included Alabama as his last team in the four-team field.
"I know that they didn't play probably to the standard everybody thinks Alabama ought to play to, but the bottom line is they're Alabama," Chizik said at halftime of the Utah State-Tennessee game. "They're going to improve."
No. 2 Alabama knocked off West Virginia 33-23 Saturday in Atlanta.
Chizik, who coached Auburn to a national championship in 2010 and was fired in 2012, said Gus Malzahn's Auburn team is one of his "outliers" who could contend for a playoff spot.
"Don't overlook Michigan State and Auburn because they're creeping up to the top four fast," Chizik said.
The final spot apparently came down to Alabama and Auburn, according to SEC Network studio host Dari Nowkhah. Chizik was contemplating placing both Alabama and Auburn in his first mock playoff bracket.
"It's whoever wins the Iron Bowl that will get that fourth spot," Nowkhah said.
No. 6 Auburn beat Arkansas 45-21 in its season opener Saturday inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Chizik's No. 1 team in the bracket was Florida State, with Oklahoma and Georgia at No. 2 and 3, respectively.