Ranking every SEC football team by chance of making the College Football Playoff

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Stetson Bennett #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs looks to pass in the second quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at SoFi Stadium on January 09, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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Alabama Crimson Tide wide receviers Ja’Corey Brooks and Jermaine Burton (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

2. Alabama

If you want to bet against Nick Saban, be my guest. The Tide get the nod over LSU for having history on their side.

Both teams have juicy out-of-conference games with Alabama playing Texas and LSU facing FSU. And both teams escaped a possible death draw against Georgia–at least until the SEC Championship Game.

But Alabama hasn’t lost to LSU in back-to-back years since 2010 and 2011. And in 2011, they avenged themselves in the National Championship Game.

So is this the year that trend comes to an end?

Maybe. And if Alabama doesn’t find a serviceable quarterback, LSU will cause trouble for Saban and company.

But at the end of the day, there have been many Alabama teams with less than stellar quarterbacks–prior to their recent history–and they were just fine then.

And let’s not forget the College Football Playoff used to be called the Alabama Invitational not too long ago. They might just get the benefit of the doubt if it were to come down to it.

Oh, and they also received their lowest ranking in the Preseason AP Poll (No. 4) since 2009 so Saban will have them ready to go from the start.

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