David Pollack endorses Alabama fan outrage if Crimson Tide lose to Oklahoma: 'It's not acceptable'

Alabama’s margin for error has never been thinner. Former Georgia linebacker and ESPN analyst David Pollack made it clear that a first-round College Football Playoff loss to Oklahoma would not sit well in Tuscaloosa.

Speaking on the See Ball Get Ball podcast, Pollack said the pressure surrounding Alabama’s postseason opener is exactly what fuels the program at its best. However, it’s also what makes the job so unforgiving if things go wrong.

“Here’s one thing that I think is really good for Alabama. They got the hatred. They got the doubt. Everybody tells them how bad they are,” Pollack said. “I think that’s a better version of Alabama. We saw it after Week 1, right? Immediately, they go on a tear.”

Pollack pointed to the outside noise surrounding Alabama’s controversial inclusion in the Playoff, along with speculation about Kalen DeBoer’s long-term future, as motivation that could sharpen the Crimson Tide heading into Norman. But he also acknowledged that the stakes are enormous, and also unforgiving.

“Well, now it’s, ‘Alabama doesn’t deserve to be in the playoff. They suck. Their coach is wanting to leave right now. He wants to pack his bags and go to Michigan,’” Pollack said. “By the way, it’s a realistic thing. If they lose in the first round, everybody will be pissed at Alabama. It’s not acceptable.”

More on Alabama at Oklahoma, College Football Playoff

Alabama enters the matchup as the No. 9 seed, traveling to face No. 8 Oklahoma in a rematch after the Sooners defeated the Tide 24–3 in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 15. The Crimson Tide are 0–2 against Oklahoma since the Sooners joined the SEC, including last season’s loss in Norman that kept Alabama out of the 2024 Playoff.

Pollack also highlighted why the challenge is so daunting. He noted Oklahoma’s consistency on the defensive side of the ball and the advantage of playing at home.

“Oklahoma’s defense, I would say, has been the more dependable defense. The more aggressive defense, the more playmaking defense in this matchup,” Pollack explained. “And they’re playing at home, which I think is a big advantage.”

With Nick Saban’s legacy still looming large and expectations unchanged, Pollack summed up the reality for Alabama succinctly. In Tuscaloosa, losing early isn’t just disappointing, it’s unacceptable.