Alabama will be sitting out during the College Football Playoff for the first time in the tournament’s short history this year.

That has caused many to speculate if the Crimson Tide’s run of dominance is reaching a conclusion. Even SEC Network host Paul Finebaum questioned Alabama’s ability to bounce back this week.

However, fellow SEC Network analyst Tim Tebow isn’t writing the Tide off yet. On ESPN’s “First Take” this week, Tebow said Alabama could very well be in the field of 4 this year if star QB Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t injured (via 247Sports):

“I just don’t agree with it, I love Paul but I just don’t agree,” Tebow said. “I think Alabama is one of the best programs in the country. Let’s look at their season. They lost to two great teams. They lost to LSU, which a lot of people think is the best team in the country, they lost to them by one touchdown. And they had an injured quarterback in that game.

“Then they went to Jordan-Hare, one of the toughest places in the country to play, in a rivalry game with a backup quarterback. They threw two pick-sixes and they missed a field goal, and then they lost by three on a fake-punt substitution. That’s still a really good team with a lot of the best players in the country on it. First time they’re not in a playoff in the history of the playoffs and we’re gonna say their dominance is done?”

Tebow does indeed make a good point, but the 2020 season will be crucial for Nick Saban and the Tide.

If they reach the Playoff again, questions about Alabama’s dynasty will likely go away.