Alabama Football, 7-2 after the win over LSU, is back to where Alabama Crimson Tide fans always expect it to be. In the post-Week 11, ESPN Football Power Index (FPI), Alabama moved up two spots to No. 1.
The FPI will not match the traditional polls or the next CFB Playoff ranking, but it is a meaningful data point that the Playoff Selection Committee will notice and is not likely to ignore.
Chasing the Crimson Tide in the latest FPI top 10 are Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and Indiana. Schedule strength is an important measurement in ESPN's algorithm. Of the top 10 teams, only one has a higher Strength of Schedule than the Crimson Tide. That team is Georgia with an SOS at No. 1; Alabama is at No. 11. Ohio State is No. 26; Penn State No. 30; Oregon No. 49 and Texas, is No. 55. Other Playoff contenders have embarrassing SOS rankings. SMU is No. 81 and Indiana is No. 100.
Alabama's SOS will slide over the next three weeks with games against Mercer, Oklahoma, and Auburn. It will not slide to the level of Oregon, Texas, SMU, and Indiana.
In the FPI's latest Playoff probability calculations, the Alabama Crimson Tide has the sixth-highest at 75.6%. Above Alabama Football are Oregon (95.3%), Indiana (92.8%), Ohio State (92.2%), Texas (82%), and Penn State (80.9%).
Alabama Football in Nov. 10 Coaches Poll
In the latest Coaches Poll, Alabama moved up two spots to No. 9. The Tennessee Vols moved up two spots to No. 4. Texas moved up two spots to No. 3. Four more two-loss SEC teams made the Coaches Poll; Georgia (No. 10), Ole Miss (No. 11), Texas A&M (No. 15) and Missouri (No. 21). Also in the Coaches Poll Top 25 are SEC three-loss teams LSU (No. 22) and South Carolina (No. 23).
Based on the Coaches Poll, Alabama Football has an impressive resume of wins over four ranked teams.
UPDATE: In the latest AP Poll, the Crimson Tide moved up two spots to No. 9. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the latest AP Top 25. Texas leads the way at No. 3; Tennessee is No. 6; Alabama No. 9; Ole Miss No. 10; Georgia No. 11; Texas A&M No. 15; LSU No. 21; South Carolina No. 23, and Missouri No. 24.