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Paul Finebaum announces Alabama facing 'playoff-or-bust' scenario vs. LSU: 'This is it for Kalen DeBoer'

On3 imageby: Dan Morrison11/05/24dan_morrison96
Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)

The Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off a bye week and getting ready for one of the biggest games of the season against the LSU Tigers. There, the two 6-2 teams will face off in a potential must-win game to make the College Football Playoff.

Analyst Paul Finebaum made an appearance on Get Up on Tuesday before the first College Football Playoff Selection Committee rankings were revealed. There, he argued that Alabama is facing a playoff-or-bust scenario against LSU, and that will determine whether or not Kalen DeBoer‘s first season was a success.

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“Absolutely,” Paul Finebaum said. “Because they don’t really have a whole lot after that. They go to Oklahoma, which has been a disappointment and they play Auburn, which has been a disaster. So, this is it for Kalen DeBoer. It was all about getting in the Playoff or bust. We had that conversation back in Dallas months ago and a win and I think they’re in.”

A win would move Alabama to 7-2 on the season, with both of those losses coming in SEC play. In a conference that’s crowded at the top of the standings, those two losses are going to make it difficult to make the SEC Championship Game. That means, most likely, if the Crimson Tide were to make the Playoff, it would be as an at-large team.

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Since the College Football Playoff started, Alabama has only been coached by Nick Saban. Under Saban and the four-team Playoff, the Crimson Tide went to the Playoff eight times in ten seasons. That’s the most of any team. They also won the national championship three times, which is also the most of any team. Now, with the Playoff expanding to 12 teams and Kalen DeBoer taking over for Saban, the expectation is that the Crimson Tide continues to make the Playoff.

“A loss and the season goes down as a disaster,” Finebaum said. “I know that sounds harsh, but it’s all about getting in the Playoff for Alabama.”

Both Alabama and LSU are entering their game off their respective bye weeks. Prior to that, the Crimson Tide shutout Missouri while LSU is trying to bounce back from a frustrating loss to Texas A&M.

With two losses of its own, LSU finds itself in a similar situation to Alabama as it relates to making the College Football Playoff, making this one of the most important games of the season so far.