The Alabama Crimson Tide’s dominant 28-14 victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl has kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive. Finishing the regular season at 9-3, Alabama now awaits the results of Week 15 to see if the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff field will include them.
A series of upsets in rivalry weekend worked in Alabama’s favor, with No. 6 Miami falling to unranked Syracuse and No. 12 Clemson narrowly losing to No. 15 South Carolina. These results are expected to boost Alabama’s ranking in the upcoming CFP poll, potentially positioning them for the final playoff spot.
The playoff field is nearly set, with five guaranteed spots for conference champions (SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big-12, and the highest-ranked non-power-four champion). Additionally, teams like Tennessee, Notre Dame, and the likely SEC and Big Ten title game losers are considered virtual locks.
However, the final playoff slot could hinge on the outcome of the ACC Championship. SMU, a one-loss team, faces a three-loss Clemson squad. Alabama fans are now rallying behind SMU, as a win would likely eliminate Clemson and leave the committee to choose between Alabama, Miami, or South Carolina.
The Crimson Tide’s resume includes three ranked wins and a head-to-head victory over South Carolina. In contrast, Miami’s lack of ranked wins and two unranked losses appear to favor Alabama in this scenario.
While experts and analytics debate the Tide’s chances, fans are left waiting on what could be the defining moment of Alabama’s season. Can the Crimson Tide sneak into the playoff and continue their storied legacy? Week 15 holds the answer.
