Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer led the No. 10 Crimson Tide to a 27-20 win against the Auburn Tigers in Week 14 of college football action to claim the Iron Bowl for a sixth consecutive season. The win improved the Crimson Tide to 10-2 and clinched a place in the SEC championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta next weekend.
According to PFSN’s College Football Playoff Meter, as a two-loss team, Alabama still has a 55.8% chance to clinch a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Kirk Herbstreit Places Jeopardy on Kalen DeBoer’s CFP Chances
During Monday’s segment of the ‘Nonstop’ podcast, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit broke down why the polarizing DeBoer’s Alabama’s College Football Playoff spot could be in jeopardy should certain results not favor them.
“I think Alabama could be in jeopardy, ’cause there’s only so many spots that you have to go,” Herbstreit said. “If you throw in the two Groups of five, a Big 12, an SEC, and a Big Ten champion, that’s five teams right there. And then if you go, BYU beating Texas Tech, Texas Tech would still go in.
“Ohio State, Indiana, whoever wins that, the loser is in, along with Oregon. That’s two more spots, now you’re at eight. You have four teams left under this scenario. I’m saying, if you have ultimate chaos this week and the winner of the Tulane-Texas game is in, that’s a lock. If Alabama loses, they’re out.”
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The Crimson Tide lost its season-opening game to the Florida State Seminoles, who finished the season with a 5-7 record. After reeling off eight straight wins, they lost in Tuscaloosa to the Oklahoma Sooners, placing them in the spot of uncertainty they currently find themselves in.
DeBoer Makes His Pitch to the CFP Committee
During his weekly SEC teleconference, DeBoer made a passionate pitch to the College Football Playoff committee about the Crimson Tide’s inclusion in the showpiece event, even if they lose the SEC championship game to the Bulldogs.
“We’re in the championship game with a 7-1 record,” DeBoer said. “We won four conference games on the road in the toughest conference–the toughest conference in the country. For us to be in this spot and to do what we needed to do, we won 10 of our last 11 games.
“You can get into a lot more details on it, but if you’re really trying to have a playoff, you need your best teams in there, and there’s no doubt in my mind we’re one of the best teams. And I don’t say that arrogantly. I just really believe that’s what it is.”
Last season, as a 10-3 team, the Crimson Tide’s inclusion in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff field was a hotly debated topic, and a year later, DeBoer’s team finds itself on the precipice once again with an almost identical set of permutations.
