GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 11: Darren Lake #95 of the Alabama Crimson Tide walks to the field prior to the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The race for the College Football Playoff has never been more wide-open than it will be this year as the field expands from four to 12 teams. For the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Playoff expansion could not have come at a better time as they are in the midst of transitioning from the legend Nick Saban to one of the hottest young coaches in CFB Kalen DeBoer.
Alabama is ranked No. 5 heading into the season and will certainly be in contention for an SEC Championship berth, but will face one of the most difficult schedules in the country this year. USA TODAY Sports projects the 15 regular season games that will have the biggest impact on the CFP race in 2024. Alabama’s game against Georgia in Week 5 was one of their two that make the list saying,
“The first big test of the Kalen DeBoer era will start to reveal whether the Crimson Tide are SEC title contenders or just playoff contenders. There’s no shame in a loss to the Bulldogs. A win would be huge, giving DeBoer credibility as the heir to the Alabama program after Nick Saban. This is the second huge game in the first third of the season for Georgia (it plays Clemson in Week 1). Two wins would validate the Bulldogs as the No. 1 team. If somehow they lose both, it will be a very thin margin of error the rest of the way.”
The Crimson Tide’s Week 9 showdown against the Missouri Tigers also makes the list in one of the best weekends of the year saying,
“This might be the best weekend of the season, with five games matching teams in the preseason poll. It’s the biggest game for the Tigers, who will benefit from the easiest schedule among SEC contenders. Beating the Crimson Tide could all but clinch a playoff spot if they handle business in their winnable games. Missouri may not catch Alabama at a better time with this matchup sandwiched between the Crimson Tide’s trips to Tennessee and LSU.”
The expanded Playoff does create more margin for error, with seven at-large bids available. However, I don’t think there will be any teams with three regular season losses making this year post-season tournament.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: USA TODAY Sports projects 15 games that will effect the CFP field
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Publish date : 2024-08-31 10:10:00
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