Alabama players make their case for why the Crimson Tide should make it to the College Football Playoff – touchdown Alabama

Jake Crandall – Montgomery Advertiser/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It wasn’t pretty, but Alabama football ended its regular season the right way.

Kalen DeBoer defeated Auburn’s Hugh Freeze in his first Iron Bowl as head coach of the Crimson Tide.

ESPN FPI updates Alabama football’s playoff odds

Alabama is 9-3 and now awaits the College Football Playoff Committee’s decision to see if it advances to the 12-team playoffs.

The Tide had some chaos over the weekend as Ohio State, Clemson and Miami lost. Does Alabama officially have a case to make before the CFP Committee? Coach DeBoer made his first postgame press call following a 28-14 win over Auburn.

Several Tide players also did it.

Germie Bernard, Alabama WR

“100 percent,” Bernard replied on whether Alabama was a playoff team.

He wanted to move on to the next question after a member of the media asked him why, but he believes the committee should have the Crimson Tide in the 12-team dance.

Bernard also said it felt good to hear from the teams that lost to put Alabama in a position to potentially be back.

“It’s a good feeling to know that we still have a chance at the goals we set at the beginning of the season,” he said.

Kalen DeBoer is making the case for Alabama football to make the College Football Playoff

“We will task the committee with this and continue working.”

Tim Keenan III, Alabama DL

“We are the team that comes to work every day. We love each other, we play as hard as we can, and it’s truly a unity and brotherhood,” Keenan said of why Alabama should be in the playoffs. “We’re sitting ready and waiting for whatever happens.”

Domani Jackson, Alabama CB

“We just have to focus on what’s in front of us. We don’t know the future. We just had to concentrate on this game. Hopefully we get a chance,” Jackson said of Alabama’s playoff chances.

Bray Hubbard, Alabama DB

“We have won five of the last six games we have played. We played really well, but it was tough on the road against Oklahoma last week. We’re trying our hardest, but we’re just going to take it one day at a time,” Hubbard said as he made his case for Alabama before the CFP committee.

Jam Miller, Alabama RB

“We’re not worried about that right now,” Miller said in his appeal to the Alabama CFP Committee.

“We’re in the locker room right now, excited about a win in the Iron Bowl. It’s up to all the people who control it. We’re just working on ourselves and how we can get better.”

Jalen Milroe, Alabama QB

“I think our team will enjoy this win,” Milroe said in response to a question about whether Alabama should be in the playoffs.

“It’s not up to us to decide our future, but we are a team that has won five of the last six games and has shown enormous courage and commitment. We just have to continue to improve and think about what we can control.”

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Stephen M. Smith is the senior author for Landing Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him. Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter via @CoachingMSmith.

Stephen Smith is a 2015 graduate of the University of Alabama. He is a senior writer and reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He has been covering Alabama football for 15 years, and his knowledge and coverage of the Crimson Tide program has made him one of the most respected journalists in his field. Smith has been featured as an analyst on ESPN and several other major networks.