New York, December 08, 2025
Alabama’s Crimson Tide have secured a spot in the expanded 12-team 2025 College Football Playoff despite a 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game, raising questions about the fairness and consistency of the selection process.
Alabama enters the postseason ranked ninth in the final College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings with a 10-3 record. Their first-round matchup in the new expanded playoff format will be against Oklahoma. The top four seeds in the bracket receive byes, while Alabama, seeded ninth, must compete in the opening round.
The Crimson Tide’s lopsided defeat to Georgia in the SEC title game has sparked debate among analysts and fans. Kalen DeBoer and other commentators argue that Alabama’s inclusion is justified due to their earlier win over Georgia during the season and a strong overall performance. They highlight that other teams with comparable or less severe losses have not been treated as leniently by the CFP selection committee.
This disparity has led to criticism of the committee’s decision-making, with talk of “wiggle room” that creates perceptions of inconsistency in how losses impact playoff eligibility and seeding. Alabama’s continued inclusion despite a blowout loss contrasts sharply with the more stringent penalties applied to teams like Notre Dame, who were left out despite comparable qualifications.
The 2025 College Football Playoff features a 12-team bracket, an expansion from the previous four-team format. The structure is designed to provide more teams with postseason opportunities, with the national championship game scheduled for January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The expanded field introduces new dynamics and controversies surrounding selection criteria and competitive fairness.
As Alabama prepares to face Oklahoma in the first round, the broader discussion continues over how the CFP committee balances recent game results against season-long performance. This development underscores ongoing debates about the transparency and equity of playoff selections under the expanded system, which could influence future revisions to the CFP process.