A reasonable assumption is that the SEC will again have three CFB Playoff teams next season. Many Alabama football fans are confident that the Crimson Tide will be one of the three. Of course, the SEC could get four teams, but if three is the final number, the other contenders will very much need a win over the Crimson Tide. Georgia can get one in Athens. The task will be much harder for the Tennessee Vols and the LSU Bengal Tigers, who play Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Allow me to digress. This post assumes that the SEC has six 2025 Playoff contenders. Choosing the six is mostly subjective, with the only 'data' considered being FanDuel projected win totals.
Three SEC teams have 9.5 wins projected: Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. Three more are at 8.5 wins: LSU, Tennessee, and Ole Miss. College Football News (CFN) projects that the Tennessee Vols, Georgia Bulldogs, and the Ole Miss Rebels have three of the four easiest schedules among SEC teams. Alabama Football is projected to have the 4th-toughest schedule. Among the Playoff contenders are Texas (8th-toughest), LSU (11th-toughest), Ole Miss (13th-toughest), Georgia (14th-toughest), and Tennessee (15th-toughest).
If the schedule projections are close to being accurate, Alabama's resume for the Playoffs must include wins over LSU and Tennessee. That is better news for the Crimson Tide than it is for the Vols and the Bengal Tigers. The reason is simple, but logical. Bryant-Denny will be at a fever-pitch for both games. The environment should be one with the home crowd, giving Alabama four extra points of advantage. My hunch is the Tennessee game will not be close enough for Alabama to need the home-field advantage. That might not be true for the LSU game. Brian Kelly has loaded up his roster impressively. LSU should provide a serious challenge.
Alabama Football with history in its side
Few of the LSU and Tennessee players will know their team's history of playing in Bryant-Denny. Those who do, will not care. The coaches will know, and for them, the knowledge will bring added pressure. LSU has won in Tuscaloosa once since 2011. That was in 2019 when Tua Tagovailoa played on one leg. The 2011 LSU win is also tainted by the National Championship rematch, which occurred a couple of months later. It was the 21-0 Alabama win when LSU failed to enter Alabama territory in the first half.
Tennessee has not won in Tuscaloosa since 2003. In the 10 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Tennessee home games since 2003, the average final score has been Alabama 32.6 - Tennessee 12.4. Even if Josh Heupel still had his $8M QB, the Vols winning in Tuscaloosa would be one of college football's most surprising upsets.
Note: Series records from mcubed.net