Alabama Drops to No. 13, But Still Has Path to College Football Playoff
The Alabama Crimson Tide saw their playoff hopes take a hit after a surprising loss to unranked Oklahoma on Saturday night, which dropped them to No. 13 in the latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. With three losses on the season, Alabama’s road to the 12-team playoff is now clouded, but there are still opportunities for the Tide to make the field.
SPORTS
While Alabama’s ranking outside the top-12 might make fans question their playoff viability, it’s important to remember that the playoff selection isn’t solely based on the top-12 teams in the rankings. The system also includes automatic bids and at-large selections, which still give Alabama a path to secure a spot.
Here’s how it works: The five highest-ranked conference champions automatically earn a bid to the playoff. Then, the four highest-ranked conference champions receive a first-round bye. After that, the remaining seven spots are filled with at-large bids.
Given Alabama’s position at No. 13, they’re not far from contention for one of those coveted at-large bids. If the Crimson Tide can win out and other teams in front of them falter, there’s still a chance they could sneak into the playoff picture, especially with the strength of their program and potential for late-season momentum.
Although it’s not a guarantee, the current rankings suggest that Alabama’s playoff hopes are very much alive, even if the road ahead is more complicated than in previous seasons.
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