The Alabama Crimson Tide’s Playoff hopes took a massive blow on Saturday as they suffered their second loss of the 2024 season. Transitioning from Nick Saban was always going to come with growing pains, but the Tide are running out of time to clean up the penalties and silly mistakes.
If there is any silver lining to yesterday’s loss against the Volunteers, it would be that Alabama did everything possible to lose the game, and they still had several chances to put Tennessee away. Milroe had the poorest performance of his collegiate career over the weekend, but he is still absolutely the guy for the job. With massive games coming up against Missouri and No. 8 LSU, now is not the time to give up on one of the Heisman Trophy favorites.
Even after losing to Vanderbilt, Alabama had some built-in room for error, but that cushion is now gone. It’s pretty simple for Alabama the rest of the way: win and you’re in, lose another game and it’s over.
Although On3’s Andy Staples updated Playoff bracket has the Crimson Tide missing out on the 12-team field, he points out that they will definitely have a chance to play their way back in saying,
“Tennessee’s win against Alabama knocked the Crimson Tide out of the bracket. With upcoming games against one-loss teams Missouri and LSU, Alabama can play its way right back into the field.
But the Tide have looked too much like everyone else these past three weeks (loss at Vanderbilt, near-loss to South Carolina at home, loss at Tennessee) to assume they’re going to run the table. They still may, and if they do, that win against the possible No. 1 seed would help Alabama’s seeding as well.”
Staples currently has Alabama tabbed as one of the First Four out alongside Texas A&M, LSU and Iowa State.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.