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To nobody’s surprise, if the College Football Playoff started on Tuesday, Alabama would be in the 12-team field. The Crimson Tide was ranked No. XX in the nation when the first CFP rankings of the 2025 season were unveiled in an ESPN program. The rankings have absolutely no bearing on what the 12-team field will look like after the regular season and conference championship games are finished. However, the CFP will release an updated list every week up until the final bracket. Alabama was ranked No. 4 on both the Associated Press media poll and the coaches top 25 entering Tuesday’s rankings reveal. The Crimson Tide was ranked behind Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M ahead in both of those polls. UA would receive a bye to the quarterfinals if the season ended with the first rankings. Georgia and Memphis would play in Athens for the right to face Alabama. The Crimson Tide’s 2025 season got off to a rocky start, with an upset loss to Florida State on the road in Week 1. Since then, Alabama hasn’t lost. The Tide currently has the inside track to Atlanta for the SEC championship game. If the season ended ahead of Saturday’s games, UA would be facing Texas A&M for the conference championship, a scenario that would happen if both teams win out. Alabama still has work to do the rest of the way, with some tough SEC games still on the slate. LSU visits Tuscaloosa on Saturday, with interim coach Frank Wilson leading the Tigers in place of the fired Brian Kelly. After LSU, No. 12 Oklahoma will travel to Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Sooners beat the Crimson Tide last year and have one of the best defenses in college football. Following the OU game, Alabama faces Eastern Illinois before traveling to Auburn for the Iron Bowl. The Tigers fired head coach Hugh Freeze after a loss to Kentucky on Saturday, and will be led by interim coach DJ Durkin. Alabama missed last season’s CFP after losing three regular season games. The Tide made the field in 2023, losing to Michigan in the Rose Bowl semifinal back when the CFP only took four teams. College Football Playoff top 25 Ohio State Indiana Texas A&M Alabama Georgia Ole Miss BYU Texas Tech Oregon Notre Dame Texas Oklahoma Utah Virginia Louisville Vanderbilt Georgia Tech Miami Southern Cal Iowa Michigan Missouri Washington Pitt Tennessee
