After Alabama’s recent 42-13 victory over LSU, the Crimson Tide has re-emerged as a strong contender for the College Football Playoff (CFP). Following earlier losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee that put Alabama’s playoff hopes in jeopardy, the impressive win over LSU has renewed talks of Alabama not only securing a CFP spot but potentially earning a first-round home game or even a bye. Here’s a look at the latest projections for Alabama’s CFP journey.
Projected CFP Bracket for Alabama
Based on the current US LBM Coaches Poll and the format rules of the CFP, here’s how the bracket might look:
No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 12 Boise State – Winner faces No. 4 Miami
No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Georgia – Winner faces No. 3 BYU
No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 10 Alabama – Winner faces No. 2 Texas
No. 8 Indiana vs. No. 9 Notre Dame – Winner faces No. 1 Oregon
Alabama is projected to play its first CFP game against Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania—a venue the Tide hasn’t visited since 2011. Penn State, which narrowly lost to Ohio State, has not secured wins against top-ranked teams, giving Alabama an advantage in this potential matchup. Should Alabama defeat Penn State, they would likely face a much tougher test against the No. 2 seed Texas, which could also end up being Alabama’s opponent in the SEC Championship Game.
If Alabama advances, they could meet Tennessee or Georgia in a CFP semifinal, but Texas—led by Quinn Ewers and a powerful passing attack—might present a formidable challenge.
Predicted CFP Rankings and Potential Outcomes
Here are the latest projections from various sports outlets regarding Alabama’s potential path in the CFP:
ESPN (Kyle Bonagura): Alabama (No. 10) vs. Tennessee (No. 7) – Predicted loss for Alabama
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Alabama (No. 9) vs. Tennessee (No. 8); if they win, a quarterfinal against No. 1 Oregon at the Rose Bowl – Predicted loss against Oregon
CBS Sports: Alabama (No. 3) vs. the winner of Georgia (No. 6) and Indiana (No. 11) in the Peach Bowl quarterfinal
247Sports: Alabama (No. 9) at Notre Dame (No. 8) to face No. 1 Oregon if they advance
Sports Illustrated: Similar to 247Sports, with Alabama (No. 9) facing Notre Dame and, if victorious, meeting Oregon in the next round
Summary
Alabama’s return to CFP contention comes with high expectations and challenges. They are likely to face Penn State initially, with a possible quarterfinal matchup against Texas, whose potent offense may push Alabama’s defensive capabilities. Predictions vary, with some analysts expecting Alabama to exit early against teams like Tennessee or Oregon, while others foresee them reaching the semifinal stage.
