Kalen DeBoer promotes implementation of CFP in Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 13 Alabama closed its regular season with a win, defeating Auburn 28-14 and is now 9-3 on the season. The Crimson Tide missed the SEC Championship Game, meaning their bid for a possible spot in the College Football Playoff is complete.

Heading into Saturday, Alabama had been eliminated from its scheduled field to the second team due to its unexpected loss to Oklahoma last week. The Crimson Tide needed some chaos this weekend to have a chance at breaking through and got just enough to make things interesting.

No. 12 Clemson, the team one spot ahead of Alabama, lost to No. 15 South Carolina in the morning. In the afternoon, No. 6 Miami lost to unranked Syracuse, knocking the Hurricanes out of the ACC Championship slate and putting their playoff odds in question.

No one will really know where Alabama stands in terms of a playoff spot until Tuesday night’s updated CFP rankings, but the door remains ajar for the Crimson Tide for now.

After the win over Auburn, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked to apply to join his team since the Crimson Tide now has no games left to play.

“Well, I think everyone knows our schedule,” DeBoer said. “I don’t know the exact stats, but I think we beat four top-25 teams during the year. I don’t know how many, if any, did that. So when you talk about the schedule and what it looks like week to week, it’s just tedious. Since I have to come back every week, that’s really the only conference that has to do that, ours. I would say that and we have won five of our last six games. I think we continued to excel in that area and what the game is about by playing some physical football. I think those are two pretty big deals. We beat some quality teams, teams that are still out there and I think they played some good ball themselves, only to win (four) of the last six in the second half of the season.”

Alabama’s ranked wins came against Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri and now-unranked LSU, which is at the top of college football. The Crimson Tide has no remaining games that could further strengthen its record, meaning its fate rests in the hands of the committee.

Tuesday night’s rankings will show whether Alabama has a chance to sneak into the playoffs as one of the last teams in the field.