During Saturday’s College GameDay show in Tuscaloosa, Kirk Herbstreit said Alabama had to beat LSU in order to make the College Football Playoff.

“If they (Alabama) lose, that won’t be the case. It just doesn’t feel like that (this year),” Herbstreit said. “In the past, Alabama would lose a game, and you could still make the argument, ‘Hey, they are one of the best four teams. You still have to put them in.’ I think Alabama knows they are taking the field today to continue to keep their hope alive of winning an SEC Championship and ultimately getting into the Playoff. If they lose today, they are out.”

Alabama did go on to lose a thrilling shootout to LSU 46-41. LSU will likely jump Ohio State for the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff Rankings Tuesday night, but the bigger question will be just how far Alabama will fall. The Tide entered Saturday ranked No. 3 in the country. With No. 4 Penn State’s loss, it’s conceivable that the Crimson Tide will drop just one spot Tuesday night. Perhaps it will drop more.

One day later, however, Kirk Herbstreit is singing a different tune about the Tide than what he said on College GameDay.

One-loss Alabama will make a compelling case for the Playoff this year, especially if LSU runs the table and wins the SEC Championship.