Alabama in the Playoff? Fans, media debate impact of horrific loss to Vanderbilt
By Mark Kern
Published:
Alabama was on top of the college football world last weekend after the Crimson Tide defeated Georgia in an all-time classic. However, they lost their spot on top of the college football world after the shocking 40-35 upset against Vanderbilt on Saturday.
The win for the Commodores was the first ever for the school against the No. 1 team in the country, and they were previously 0-60 against Top 5 teams before the win.
With that type of incredible upset loss, how bad did the Crimson Tide hurt their College Football Playoff chances? That was quite the topic of debate on social media.
For 155 years in college football, a loss to Vanderbilt or a loss at home to a MAC team would be national title eliminators
Now, they are just one of two/three mulligans
That “knock-out punch” you’d feel during a big upset is now gone
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) October 5, 2024
In a 12 team playoff, Alabama can lose another game to some unranked opponent and still get in the playoff…….
— Jordan Reffett (@JordanReffett) October 5, 2024
You got Alabama losing to Vandy, Georgia struggling against auburn, and OSU struggling with Iowa. This 12 team playoff is going to something.
— DAC (@drewcreswell11) October 5, 2024
I thought losing to Kentucky sucked
Alabama should be eliminated from the playoff just for that
— Jake McAnally (@jake_mcanally) October 5, 2024
I feel bad for whoever will have to play their first playoff ever game AT Alabama.
— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O) October 5, 2024
This is exactly why the 12 team playoff is so lame. Arguably the biggest upset in college football history, yet Alabama’s playoff chances are practically unchanged in the grand scheme of things.
— karan (@905Kar) October 5, 2024
Alabama would now need to win out to get into the playoff.
@ Tennessee
@ LSU
@ OklahomaLmfao
— Steven Muse (@StevenKnowzBall) October 6, 2024
Alabama must be devastated to still make the playoff
— Jeremy White 🚂 (@JeremyWGR) October 5, 2024
I hate that Alabama's College Football Playoff hopes aren't eviscerated by this loss because of the 12-team format.
— Andrew Lind (@AndrewMLind) October 5, 2024
https://twitter.com/CartiIsKing123/status/1842718244895170861
Now, this isn’t quite the scenario where a Notre Dame found itself early in the season after the loss to Northern Illinois. Did Alabama shrink its margin of error in this game a bit? Yes, no question.
This isn’t the time for Alabama fans to panic or anything like that. This team still controls its destiny to make the CFP, but another loss of this nature to an unranked opponent could be lethal.
The Crimson Tide will be back in action next week when they host South Carolina. The Gamecocks lost 27-3 to Ole Miss, another highly ranked team that was coming off a frustrating loss the week before.
