Joel Klatt says Alabama could 'absolutely' lose 2 more times, miss CFP
Joel Klatt can see Alabama recording two more losses this season and missing the College Football Playoff after the Crimson Tide fell 40-35 to Vanderbilt in one of the biggest upsets in recent college football history Saturday.
“You look at the rest of that schedule, and then you look at some of the other schedules around the country, and it’s like, hold on a second,” Klatt said.
“If Alabama doesn’t clean up this defense, they could absolutely get beat 2 more times. That is not an easy schedule. Imagine thinking this last Monday. ‘Hey, by the way, the undefeated number one team in the country, they’re actually going to miss the playoff. Now that they’ve lost to Vanderbilt, it changes your perspective completely.”
"Can they win a defensive game? Nope. Not right now at least."
What will happen to Alabama when they face Tennessee and LSU on the road? Will they miss the CFP? @joelklatt breaks down everything that lies ahead for the Tide ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/OwwwLfTudp
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) October 9, 2024
Alabama has several potentially tough games for it left on a schedule that includes opponents like Auburn, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Klatt sees the defensive issues and overall inconsistency for the Tide on that side of the ball as their fatal flaw. Between a sometimes-suspect secondary and more, it’s been the tale of the tape for Alabama despite its previously-pristine record all season long.
“The weakness is the defense. This is a 2018 Big 12 team that’s going to have to win shootouts,” Klatt said. “And guess what? When you’re at Tennessee and when you’re at LSU and when you’re playing the Iron Bowl against Auburn, you’re going to see offenses that could be competent.”
Alabama will look to get back to the right side of the win column as it faces South Carolina in Tuscaloosa on Saturday at noon ET in Tuscaloosa.