The Alabama Crimson Tide football team is facing a critical moment as they currently sit at No. 11 in the penultimate College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. With a 9-3 record in coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season, Alabama’s hopes of making the playoff are in jeopardy due to key losses to Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee. However, a late-season victory over Georgia has kept their postseason aspirations alive. To have any chance of securing a spot in the 12-team playoff, they will need several results from the conference championships to go in their favor.
For Alabama to reach the CFP, they need the Clemson Tigers to lose to SMU in the ACC Championship. If Clemson wins, the committee will have to decide between an 11-2 SMU team and Alabama, who is 9-3. With teams that do not participate in championship games unlikely to see significant changes in their rankings, Alabama’s standing is at a disadvantage. The Crimson Tide will not have another opportunity to improve their case before the final selections are made, making it a tense waiting game.
Miami, ranked No. 12, is another potential roadblock to Alabama’s playoff hopes. The Hurricanes have struggled recently, losing two of their last three games, which has helped Alabama’s position. The CFP committee weighs Alabama’s 3-1 record against ranked teams more heavily than Miami’s record, which lacks a win over a ranked opponent. Despite Miami’s close losses, head coach Mario Cristobal’s defense of his team’s performance has not been enough to outweigh Alabama’s stronger schedule and results against top teams.
The current CFP rankings show Oregon leading the pack, followed by Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Georgia. These rankings are fluid and could change based on the outcomes of the upcoming conference championships. Teams like SMU and Boise State could see their positions shift dramatically, influencing the final selection process. Alabama, alongside other teams like Tennessee and Ohio State, is hoping for upsets that could alter their fate and improve their chances of securing a playoff berth.
With the CFP expanding to 12 teams, there are new possibilities for teams like Alabama to still be in the running. The new format will see first-round games take place at the higher-seeded teams’ home fields, adding an extra layer of excitement and complexity to the playoff process. Alabama’s ability to adapt to these changes and secure a spot in the expanded field will be crucial. Whether or not they return to the playoff this season could mark a significant turning point for the program. The final rankings will be revealed this Sunday, and those results will determine whether Alabama’s playoff hopes are realized.