With the new College Football Playoff Rankings released on Tuesday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide finds itself moving ahead of Notre Dame. It also gives Alabama a chance to reach the College Football Playoff even if the Crimson Tide loses to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama now sits in the No. 9 spot in the College Football Playoff Rankings, while Notre Dame fell to No. 10.
What Will Happen to Alabama In the College Football Playoff?
The Crimson Tide probably will have a seat among the 12 College Football Playoff teams. Alabama headed out to its account on X and posted where it now stands among the elite in college football.
But Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide really can ensure they reach the 12-team playoff by beating the Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff Rankings.
Of course, Alabama and Georgia are on a collision course to meet in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday, December 6, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.
Handle what’s in front of us. 💯 pic.twitter.com/4bdrtD6Dec
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 3, 2025
The Crimson Tide is coming off an exciting 27-20 victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl, while Georgia defeated Georgia Tech 16-9. Alabama is 10-2 for the season, 7-1 in SEC play; Georgia is 11-1, 7-1 in SEC play.
Hunter Yurachek, the chairman of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, said on ESPN’s telecast of the rankings that the committee carefully examined what happened between Alabama and Notre Dame in their respective games to reach its decision on bumping up the Crimson Tide.
At No. 9, it would appear to be hard-pressed that the Crimson Tide would not be a part of the College Football Playoff. It also seems that the committee gave Alabama a playoff lifeline on Tuesday night.
Both Alabama and Georgia have played demanding schedules this season, yet have handled their business on the field. DeBoer and Alabama understand that Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs will not be pushovers in the SEC title game.
MORE: Who Is Playing in the SEC Championship Game? Everything To Know About the Conference Title Clash
According to the PFSN CFB Offense Impact metrics, Alabama has an impact score of 85.6 and grades out to a B. As for Georgia, its impact score is 84.5 and grades out to a B as well.
With its No. 9 spot, Alabama has the world as its oyster. The Crimson Tide, of course, can cement its playoff position by beating Georgia. If that doesn’t happen, though, the Crimson Tide might just fall one or two spots in the last rankings that will be released.
But there will be a lot of college football coaches and, of course, fans tuned into the SEC title game to watch how Alabama responds to this challenge.