Everyone knew it wasn’t going to be pretty, even after taking a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter. Regardless, the Alabama Crimson Tide did what they needed to do by beating the Auburn Tigers 27-20 on Saturday night.
Ty Simpson and Co. are headed to the SEC Championship Game as a result of their Rivalry Week victory. However, defeating Auburn did not lock up a College Football Playoff spot. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Crimson Tide a 65.9% chance of making the CFP, but an SEC Championship loss to Georgia — coupled with a BYU Big 12 Championship triumph — could have Alabama on the outside looking in for the second consecutive year. And that, to Simpson, is bologna.
“The question is, why aren’t we [a CFP team]?” Simpson posed in a media scrum after the Iron Bowl. “[Look at] the gauntlet of a schedule we went through… we’re the most resilient team in the country.”
In 2025, the Crimson Tide (10-2, 7-1 SEC) avoided the bad SEC defeats that hurt their resume a season ago. They also beat 4 ranked teams in 4 consecutive weeks from Sept. 27 – Oct. 18, an unparalleled accomplishment. Their season-opening loss to Florida State (5-7) could wind up being the difference-maker, though, if they can’t beat the Bulldogs next Saturday. Kickoff between Alabama and Georgia for the SEC Championship is set for 4:00 p.m. ET (ABC).
