Alabama’s path to the 2026 College Football Playoff is looking plenty favorable after the Crimson Tide knocked off LSU in Baton Rouge.
Right now, Alabama sits at No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings, and the current format gives the top four teams a first-round BYE no matter what happens in conference championship play. That keeps the Tide squarely in the mix even if they never reach the SEC title game.
The SEC picture, though, is messy enough to keep the final three weeks interesting. Alabama, Texas, Kentucky and Tennessee all already have two conference losses, and none of those teams face each other again in the regular season. That leaves the league open to a tangle of tiebreakers and possible finishes.
If Georgia runs the table, the Bulldogs would likely meet one of those two-loss teams in the SEC Championship Game. Who gets that shot depends on how the tiebreakers shake out.
If Alabama and Kentucky are the only SEC teams with two losses, the Crimson Tide would get the edge over the Wildcats because Alabama beat Kentucky earlier this season. But if Alabama and Tennessee are the lone two-loss teams, the Volunteers would be the ones headed to Atlanta after beating Alabama last month.
In other combinations, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas or Alabama could all end up facing Georgia if the Bulldogs stay unbeaten.
If Georgia slips up, the SEC title race opens up even further.
Even so, Alabama could finish 10-2 and still miss the SEC Championship Game entirely. And according to the latest update on the AllState Playoff Predictor, that would still leave the Tide with almost an 80 percent chance to land a first-round BYE.
Either way, the SEC’s closing stretch is set up to be a wild one.
In Other News...
LSU Star Took A Shot At Alabama Even After The Loss
Alabamas 31-13 win over LSU was built in the second half, when the Crimson Tide put together three touchdown drives and steadily pulled away from a game that had been tighter earlier on. The result pushed Alabama to 7-2 and left LSU at 6-3, a setback that did more than just dent the Tigers record.
Afterward, LSU safety Ty Benefield pointed the blame inward, saying the loss came down to his own teams mistakes rather than anything Alabamas offense did. It was the kind of postgame assessment that can linger, especially with LSUs playoff hopes now taking a hit and Alabama continuing to build momentum down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama's Playoff Hopes Were Slipping Until One Drive Changed Everything
Alabamas playoff push had started to look shaky when LSU nudged ahead late in the third quarter, but the Tide steadied themselves just in time to keep the conversation alive. Kalen DeBoers team leaned into the kind of simple, disciplined football he has stressed all season, staying focused and executing when the game tightened up.
One drive flipped the feel of the night, sparked by Rico Scotts 57-yard reception and finished with a touchdown pass from Keelon Russell to Josh Ford. Ryan Coleman-Williams also made his presence felt in his return from injury, giving Alabama another needed piece as it found a way to answer LSU and protect its postseason hopes. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Fans Got Another Reason To Enjoy Lane Kiffins Misery
Lane Kiffins latest trip through Tuscaloosa ended the same way so many of the others have, with Alabama leaving him looking for answers. LSUs loss to the Crimson Tide pushed Kiffin to 0-6 against Alabama in his coaching career, and it came in a game where the Tide got enough from quarterback Keelon Russell to keep control even after Russell dealt with an injury. For Alabama fans, it was another satisfying chapter in a long-running storyline that has rarely gone their way when Kiffin is on the opposing sideline.
The biggest moment came late, when Kiffins fourth-and-10 decision turned into a sack and effectively shut the door on LSUs chances. It was the kind of call that invites second-guessing immediately, especially in a game already tilted by Alabamas steadier execution. For the Tide, the win was about more than just another conference result. It was also another reminder that Kiffins frustration against Alabama continues to pile up, one loss at a time. [Read more 🡒]