Whether Alabama football makes the College Football Playoff or not is anybody's guess at this point. Following the loss to Oklahoma a week ago, the Crimson Tide's fate was no longer in its own hands. On Saturday, Alabama did all it could do by beating rival Auburn 28-14, its fifth straight Iron Bowl victory.
Alabama's fate is up to the College Football Playoff Committee. If Alabama is left out, it has nobody to blame but itself. Losing three games, two of which to teams with five or more losses, is inexcusable for a team with as much talent as this one.
Alabama got a little bit of help on Saturday when Syracuse knocked off Miami, likely eliminating the Hurricanes with a second loss and a resume that is lacking a signature win. South Carolina knocked off Clemson as well. It likely means only one ACC team is going to get into the College Football Playoff, the winner of SMU vs. Clemson next week, though the Mustangs would have a shot of getting in with only one regular season defeat.
The Gamecocks could jump the Crimson Tide as well despite Alabama's head-to-head win over South Carolina in October. South Carolina has played high-level football in recent weeks and scored a win over a ranked opponent while Alabama was stuck playing SEC bottom-feeder Auburn.
Regardless of what happens, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer went to bat for his team in his postgame press conference following the Iron Bowl win.
When you talk about the schedule and what it is week to week, it's just a grind. Having to come back every week, the only conference that has to do that is ours." - Kalen DeBoer when asked to make a case for Alabama to be in the 12-team playoff pic.twitter.com/chPMASoru6
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) December 1, 2024
DeBoer touted the grind of an SEC schedule, something that was unfamiliar to him before this season and likely cost Alabama at least one loss this season. He also talked up Alabama's Top-25 wins, though he gave his team credit for one more (four) than they actually have (three).
Wins over Georgia, South Carolina, and Missouri have aged well throughout the season. A close loss to Tennessee doesn't hurt. But the road losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma are a scarlet letter hanging around Alabama's necks, and something they might not be able to overcome eight days from now when the committee makes its final decision on the 12 teams who will get to compete for a national championship.
If Alabama doesn't get in, they can only blame themselves. But if they do get in, they are talented enough to go toe-to-toe with anybody.