Greg McElroy has Alabama sitting where he thinks it belongs - No. 3 in the next College Football Playoff rankings - and that alone is enough to get attention. But the part that really set off Tennessee fans was his placement of the Vols at No. 8.
McElroy’s take lines up with what other national voices are saying, but that won’t make it any easier for Tennessee supporters to swallow. The reaction is predictable, especially because McElroy isn’t just any analyst.
He’s a former Crimson Tide quarterback, and plenty of Vols fans remember that he went 2-0 against Tennessee in two starts. That history makes the “homer” label come fast, even if Alabama fans have at times accused him of not being Tide-friendly enough.
For Tennessee, the rankings picture could get tense in a hurry. The Vols have two road games they should win, along with LSU coming to Knoxville.
But one more loss could push Tennessee out of the Playoff field entirely. Beating Texas A&M in College Station probably won’t move the needle much, and there’s no real ranking bump to be had from beating Vanderbilt in Nashville.
That leaves Tennessee fans watching other games closely, too. While the Vols are in Texas on Saturday, they may be pulling for Texas to beat LSU in Baton Rouge. If LSU takes another loss, some of Lane Kiffin’s players might not have quite as much fire for the Vols when LSU comes to Knoxville the next Saturday.
McElroy’s case for Alabama is straightforward: he says the Crimson Tide have better quality wins than Tennessee. He also pointed out that Alabama played in Knoxville with an injury-depleted roster. He did not say it, but some observers believe the Selection Committee softened the impact of Alabama’s close loss to Georgia in the first rankings because of the missed pass interference call.
For Tennessee’s head-to-head win over Alabama to matter in the rankings, the two teams need to be in the same pod. They weren’t last week, and if McElroy and others are right, they won’t be after Tuesday either.
In Other News...
Alabama Faces New QB Concern Heading Into Vanderbilt
Keelon Russells ankle became one more thing for Alabama to monitor coming out of the LSU game, even if the freshman quarterback finished the night and kept the offense moving. Kalen DeBoer said Russell is day-to-day after sustaining the injury, a status that keeps the Crimson Tides quarterback picture a little unsettled as Vanderbilt comes into view.
Russells return against LSU mattered because he did not just limp through the finish, he helped deliver a productive performance with three touchdown passes and 206 yards. Still, with the next game looming and no firm timeline beyond day-to-day, Alabama has a small but real concern to sort through as it prepares for the Commodores. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Still Waiting On Two Young Backs At Crucial Time
Late in the season, Alabama is still trying to get a full look at two young backs who have been on the fringe because of health issues. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said AK Dear and EJ Crowell are both working to recover and are not dealing with season-ending injuries, which at least keeps the door open as the Tide push through the final stretch. Neither player took part in the recent game against LSU, leaving the backfield picture a little thinner than Alabama would prefer at this point.
For a team trying to sort out depth and roles down the stretch, the timing matters as much as the injuries themselves. Alabama has been forced to keep waiting on two players who were expected to be part of the conversation, and the uncertainty around their availability lingers even as the season moves on. The encouraging part is that both backs are still in the mix, but the next step depends on how quickly they can get back to full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces A Key Lineup Concern As One Guard Returns
Amari Allens ankle injury has added a little uncertainty to Alabamas backcourt heading into its next game, even as the Crimson Tide get a familiar piece back in the mix. Allen sprained his right ankle in a recent game, and his status for the matchup with Oakland remains unclear, leaving Alabama to sort through its guard rotation with another availability question hanging over the week.
Aden Holloway, meanwhile, is set to be available again after serving a suspension, giving Alabama at least one more option as it prepares for Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies come in amid the grind of a road trip, and coach Greg Kampe has already talked about the travel and performance issues his team has been dealing with along the way. [Read more 🡒]