Alabama’s dramatic Iron Bowl win over Auburn wasn’t just about bragging rights - it may have punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff. The latest CFP rankings reflect that momentum, with the Crimson Tide climbing from No. 10 to No.
- That one-spot jump might seem minor on paper, but it could be massive in practice, giving Alabama just enough cushion to weather a potential loss to Georgia in this weekend’s SEC Championship Game.
Let’s break down what this means. At No.
10, Alabama was in a precarious position. A loss to Georgia, combined with a BYU upset over Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game, could’ve opened the door for the Big 12 to sneak in two teams - and left Alabama on the outside looking in.
But now that the Tide have leapfrogged Notre Dame, the Irish are the ones in the hot seat. Unless Alabama completely unravels in Atlanta, they’re in a far stronger spot heading into championship weekend.
This move also gives the committee some flexibility. Historically, the SEC runner-up has been tough to leave out of the playoff conversation, especially when that runner-up is Alabama. By nudging the Tide up a spot, the committee has set the stage to justify their inclusion - even if things get messy.
But here’s the real question: What happens if Alabama beats Georgia?
That’s where things get interesting. The Bulldogs are currently sitting at No.
- If Alabama takes them down, both teams would be 11-2, but Alabama would hold a 2-0 head-to-head edge over Georgia - counting the SEC title game and the 2024 regular season win.
In that scenario, there’s no logical case for Georgia to stay ahead of Alabama in the rankings.
So if Alabama jumps Georgia, they also likely leapfrog Ole Miss, who sits just ahead of both in the latest rankings. Georgia beat Ole Miss during the regular season, and both finished 11-1 before the conference title game. But Ole Miss didn’t earn a spot in the SEC Championship, and the committee typically doesn’t penalize teams for losing a game that others didn’t even qualify to play in.
Now, if Alabama takes care of business in Atlanta, the top four could shake out like this:
- Winner of the Ohio State-Indiana Big Ten title game
- Loser of that same game
- Texas Tech (assuming they win the Big 12)
- Alabama
That’s assuming everything else holds. But if BYU pulls off the upset over Texas Tech, Alabama could slide into the No. 3 spot, with Georgia potentially hanging around at No.
- That scenario would give the SEC two teams with first-round byes - a powerful position heading into the expanded playoff format.
But here’s the trade-off: a top-four finish likely means Alabama won’t get to host a playoff game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. That’s the bittersweet twist.
A home game in Tuscaloosa would’ve been electric - a playoff atmosphere in one of college football’s most iconic venues. But the reward of a bye and a cleaner path to the national title is hard to pass up.
On the flip side, if Alabama loses to Georgia, they’ll probably stay at No. 9 or drop just one spot to No. 10.
That would mean hitting the road for their first playoff matchup. Not ideal, but not disastrous either - especially considering how close they were to being left out altogether just a week ago.
Bottom line: Alabama’s playoff hopes are alive and well. Beat Georgia, and they’re not just in - they might be sitting pretty with a bye.
Lose, and they’re still in the mix, but the road gets a whole lot tougher. Either way, the Crimson Tide have positioned themselves to make noise in December.