When the Alabama Crimson Tide return to action in Week 11, the margin for error surrounding the program will be zero.
A team with College Football Playoff aspirations, Alabama will come out of its bye week 6-2 (3-2 SEC) ahead of the homestretch of the 2024 regular season.
Ahead for Alabama are road games against the LSU Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners that should be tough, as well as matchups with the Mercer Bears and Auburn Tigers in Tuscaloosa.
So, just what does Alabama have to do in those games to make the College Football Playoff? Well, the answer is quite simple, win.
If the Crimson Tide were to win all four of those games, it would mean Alabama finishes the regular season 10-2 overall (6-2 SEC).
While this record would likely not be enough to make it to Atlanta for the SEC championship game, it could be enough to make the College Football Playoff, which has 12 teams participating this season instead of four.
When taking a look at what would be a 10-2 resume for Alabama as part of this scenario, the Crimson Tide’s two losses would be on the road at Vanderbilt and Tennessee by one possession each. Both could be Top 25 teams at season’s end.
As for the wins, Alabama would have arguably the best win of any program against Georgia as well as a road win at LSU. This would pair with victories over Missouri, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Auburn and Wisconsin, making Alabama’s potential resume one that is hard to argue against when compared to some of the other bubble teams.
Likely none of this will matter if the Crimson Tide suffer another loss, which will certainly end their chances at making this season’s College Football Playoff.
If they win out to finish 10-2, it’s hard to imagine the Crimson Tide not being in the playoff when it’s all said and done.