Alabama’s place in ESPN’s latest FPI barely budged, but the ripple effect around the SEC was hard to miss.
With the Crimson Tide idle in Week 9, they slipped one spot to No. 6 in the updated rankings. South Carolina’s win over Oklahoma didn’t lift Alabama the way it might have on paper, even though the Gamecocks are now 5-3.
They moved up only one spot themselves, landing at No. 25.
The biggest mover in the league was Missouri. After a 34-10 win over Arkansas, the Tigers jumped nine spots to No. 19, the sharpest rise among SEC teams.
LSU also got a boost from the bye week, climbing two spots to No. 5 and moving ahead of Alabama’s previous position. Georgia stayed put at No. 4 after its 27-8 win over Florida, while Texas rose one spot to No. 7 after beating a diminished Mississippi State team without Kamario Taylor.
Alabama wasn’t the only SEC team to slide. Texas A&M dropped one spot to No. 23, while Kentucky and Tennessee each fell two places.
The Vols now sit at No. 14, and the Wildcats are No. 26.
Mississippi State also slipped two spots to No. 42.
The rest of the league saw some heavier damage. Vanderbilt fell three spots to No.
- Florida dropped five spots to No. 22 after the loss to Georgia.
Auburn took the biggest hit among the teams at the bottom of the movement chart, tumbling eight spots to No. 37 after Ole Miss rolled to a 45-15 win. Arkansas dropped 10 spots to No. 69 after the loss to Missouri.
Oklahoma was the SEC’s biggest FPI loser, falling 11 spots to No. 30 after South Carolina put 42 points on Brent Venables’ team.
For Alabama fans, the more important number may be the Playoff probability. The Tide’s FPI-calculated chance dipped only slightly, from 62.8% last week to 60.3% this week. LSU’s chances of beating Alabama also ticked up, from 55.1% last week to 57%.
Knock off the Bengal Tigers in Baton Rouge and Alabama should become a near-lock for the Playoff.
In Other News...
Alabamas Playoff Push Now Hinges On Fixing One Problem Fast
Alabama comes out of its bye week still very much in the College Football Playoff conversation, but the next stretch will be shaped by how quickly the offense can clean up its sluggish starts. The matchup with LSU looms as a useful measuring stick, especially with the Tide trying to get more consistent early in games while also managing injuries up front. In the meantime, the staff has kept its focus on helping quarterback Keelon Russell settle in and on making sure the offense can function more smoothly from the opening snap.
The bigger picture is just as important for Alabama, which has spent the week trying to build depth across both sides of the ball for the grind ahead. Coaches want Russell comfortable enough to avoid unnecessary mistakes, and they are also pushing younger players to grow into larger roles as the season moves on. With the playoff race still alive, the Tides margin for error will depend on whether those fixes start showing up right away. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Shakeup Could Open Door For Alabama Recruiting Win
Florida States coaching change has already sent ripples through the recruiting trail, and Alabama is positioned to watch closely. After the Seminoles fired Mike Norvell following a disappointing start, the uncertainty around the program immediately became part of the conversation for prospects who had been tied to Florida State, including four-star safety Jernard Albright, who has visited Tuscaloosa twice recently.
Majay Thompsons decision to back off his Florida State pledge soon after the firing only added to the sense that the Seminoles class could be in flux. For Alabama, that kind of opening matters, especially with the Tide already in the mix for talented defensive backfield help and still evaluating where Thompson fits as his recruitment resets. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Offense Heads To LSU With One Road Problem Exposed
Alabamas offense left Knoxville with a reminder that the road can still be a problem, even for a group that has shown plenty of firepower this season. Against Tennessee, the Crimson Tide posted season lows in yards and points while turning the ball over more than it had in any other game, a rough afternoon that put extra attention on how the unit handled pressure and noise away from home.
The trip also came with a personnel wrinkle, as offensive lineman Mal Waldrep Jr. made his first career start at center because of an injury. With LSU next on the schedule, Alabama is zeroing in on communication and the running game, two areas the players know have to travel better in a loud stadium if the offense is going to look more like itself. [Read more 🡒]