© Dale Zanine/Imagn
The Alabama Crimson Tide entered Saturday’s SEC Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs as a virtual lock to make the College Football Playoff.
…And then the game itself began.
The ninth-ranked Crimson Tide seemingly had no worries. It was squaring off with No. 3 Georgia, which it had beaten earlier this season, and even a loss in the rematch likely wouldn’t change Bama’s standing in the CFP rankings.
But nobody could’ve imagined what happened next. The Crimson Tide didn’t just lose to the Bulldogs; they got absolutely embarrassed. Georgia took a 14-0 lead into half, a 21-0 lead into the fourth quarter, and then cruised home to a 28-7 blowout victory.
College Football World Wonder If Alabama Played Its Way Out Of The Playoff
Typically, there would be no doubt as to Bama’s spot in the playoff.
It has the win over Georgia. It holds a comfortable win over No. 14 Vanderbilt, and it entered the weekend ranked ahead of Notre Dame and Miami, neither of which was forced to play an extra game. In fact, Miami could have played an extra game, but it failed to qualify for the championship game in the lowly ACC.
However, with how badly the Tide struggled against Georgia, many began to question whether or not it truly belonged in the playoff.
“If Bama loses today, why is nobody questioning a 3 loss team with probably the worst loss of anyone in the playoff picture?” one fan asked on X.
This is the cleanest thing that could happen.
1. Alabama and BYU out — consistency with conference title game losers
2. Miami and Notre Dame both get in, avoiding the biggest debate of the entire CFP.
3. No injustices. Feels right.
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) December 7, 2025
“Georgia is putting to rest its Bama Problem. Alabama has a growing Playoff Problem,” Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated said.
Ultimately, it’s hard to see a world where Alabama gets left off. Its win over Georgia on the road is the best win of any team in the country. It also holds a 30-14 victory over 14th-ranked Vanderbilt, and it earned the right to play an extra game by the quality of its regular-season.
Leaving Alabama out would disincentivise ever wanting to make a conference championship game. Nobody with any sense wants that to happen. Could Bama drop behind Notre Dame (which should probably be behind Miami in its own right)? Maybe.
But dropping Alabama out of the playoff entirely would send a message that seemingly nobody wants to send.