College Football World Flummoxed by Alabama’s CFP Case After Loss to Georgia

Alabama didn’t leave a good final impression on the College Football Playoff selection committee ahead of the 12-team field getting announced Sunday.

The No. 9 Crimson Tide were trounced by No. 3 Georgia 28-7 in Saturday’s SEC championship game. The Bulldogs held Alabama without a score until the fourth quarter when they were already up by three touchdowns. With bubble teams Notre Dame and Miami sitting at home this weekend, even a close loss to Georgia would likely have kept Alabama safely in the CFP field.

However, a blowout loss makes its case a bit more tricky, especially with one of Notre Dame and Miami getting left out if Alabama is in. There’s also BYU, who lost to Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship Saturday. The Cougars finished 11-2 with their only losses to the Red Raiders. Now at 10-3, the Crimson Tide have to hope their case remains solid in the committee’s eyes. Last week, Alabama jumped ahead of Notre Dame despite both teams winning its regular-season finale. CFP chair Hunter Yurachek said the committee was impressed with how the Tide looked in a win on the road over rival Auburn, who finished the year 5-7.

With that perplexing explanation, Yurachek will likely have even more explaining to do if Alabama remains in the final field. However, there’s the argument that at least the Tide played a game this week with many bubble teams at home. Should Alabama be left out, conference championship games could only become dreaded.

Following the lopsided loss to Georgia, college football fans and personalities had some thoughts on what the CFP selection committee should do with the Tide. Many folks think they have seen enough and the committee should leave Alabama out, while others think the Tide should not be punished for playing their conference championship game:

The CFP committee and Alabama, Miami and Notre Dame reps should meet at a gas station in Abilene and flip coins to see who gets in
— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) December 6, 2025

Georgia is putting to rest its Bama Problem.

Alabama has a growing Playoff Problem.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) December 6, 2025

How about the committee leaves Alabama out and puts in both Notre Dame and Miami.
— Caleb Conrad (@CalebConrad23) December 6, 2025

Does anyone want to see this Alabama team play in the College Football Playoff? Anyone? Anyone at all?
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) December 7, 2025

There is no way the CFP committee can justify putting Alabama in the Playoff with 3 loses and 1 coming against a 5-7 Florida State team.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 7, 2025

This Alabama Vs ND argument will be fun
— Van Lathan Jr (@VanLathan) December 7, 2025

Does this game offer evidence that Alabama does not belong ahead of ND and Miami? Yes.

Is bouncing a team from the playoff because they played in the champ game a terrible precedent? Yes.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) December 7, 2025

If Alabama loses by a couple scores to Georgia, maybe just put ND and Miami in and call it a day. If Alabama complains tell them to not get smoked by Florida State
— Mike McDaniel (@MikeMcDanielSI) December 6, 2025

Alabama giving the committee something to think about.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) December 6, 2025

Kirk Herbstreit just talking. The committee already set it up.

Notre Dame jumps Alabama. Then Alabama moves down one spot. Alabama is in the playoffs and only because of their resume.

Miami is the first team out. Period put blank.
— tc (@Goat_Latia) December 7, 2025

Last year, the committee famously left Alabama out in favor of SMU, who had a last-second loss in the ACC championship game. We’ll see how the Tide’s loss in the SEC title game impacts this year’s CFP bubble.