Legend is known for his passionate and often fiery rants about Alabama football, particularly his frequent appearances on “The Paul Finebaum Show.” His criticism can be sharp, especially when things aren’t going well for the Crimson Tide. Just two Mondays ago, Legend was calling for the firing of coach Kalen DeBoer after a humiliating 24-3 loss to Oklahoma, using an anecdote about an aunt who had been married multiple times to illustrate his frustration. Her explanation for so many marriages? “You can’t fix stupid,” Legend said, adding, “But you can divorce it.”
His outrage wasn’t just about the loss. Legend was convinced that Alabama’s 9-3 record, combined with their two embarrassing losses to unranked Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, meant the Tide were out of the playoff race for good. “I’ve never been so embarrassed in all my life,” Legend lamented, doubting whether Alabama had any hope of making it to the College Football Playoff (CFP).
Fast forward to today, and it appears Alabama is far from finished. Despite the loss to Oklahoma and their shaky season, Alabama is still in the hunt for a spot in the 12-team playoff, with the College Football Playoff committee ranking them No. 11 as of Tuesday night. This puts them in a prime position to secure one of the last at-large spots in the field. While opinions and rankings can still shift before the final decisions are made, Alabama’s place in the playoff discussion has taken a positive turn, despite the negative narrative that followed their mid-season struggles.
Alabama’s path to the CFP isn’t without potential pitfalls. There are still teams with a chance to leapfrog them, including No. 17 Clemson, who could snag a bid by defeating No. 9 SMU in the ACC title game. If Clemson pulls off the win, the committee might still favor SMU, knocking Alabama out of the playoff race. Similarly, No. 20 UNLV could shake things up if they win the Mountain West, possibly pushing No. 10 Boise State into the field, which might impact Alabama’s standing.
But despite these scenarios, Alabama fans have reason to be optimistic. Their 9-3 record, while blemished by those two disastrous losses, also includes victories over top teams such as No. 5 Georgia, No. 14 South Carolina, and No. 19 Missouri. The strength of Alabama’s schedule and their success against top-ranked teams played a key role in their playoff positioning.
As committee chair Warde Manuel explained, Alabama’s 3-1 record against top-25 teams and 6-1 record against teams with a winning record helped the Tide edge out Miami, who sits behind them at No. 12. Miami’s better losses (to teams like Georgia and Ohio State) weren’t enough to overcome their lack of victories over ranked teams, something that ultimately gave Alabama the edge. Furthermore, Ole Miss, with two wins over top-25 teams, was also ranked lower than Alabama, further cementing the Tide’s standing.
It’s worth noting that some critics will argue Alabama only made it this far because of their brand recognition. Some will claim that the committee prioritized television ratings or the SEC’s dominance in college football. Miami fans, for instance, could point to Alabama’s losses to unranked teams and feel frustrated, while Ole Miss supporters may argue that their victories over Georgia and South Carolina were more impressive than anything Alabama accomplished.
Despite all the debate, the CFP committee has indicated that no changes are expected before the final rankings are released. “That is set on how we see them going into the final week,” Manuel stated, suggesting that Alabama’s place in the playoff race is already secure, barring any dramatic shifts.
So, while Legend and many others were ready to write off Alabama just weeks ago, it turns out the Crimson Tide are far from finished. After being left for dead, they’ve clawed their way back into the playoff conversation. For Alabama fans, and especially for Legend, it’s a reminder that, in college football, anything can happen – even when you think the team is dead and buried.
“You ain’t going to the playoffs and every real Alabama fan don’t give a damn now because there’s nothing at stake!” Legend had declared. Yet, just two weeks later, it looks like Alabama might just make a run for the national title after all.
