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Paul Finebaum on Alabama: 'Don't put them in the playoff just yet'

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Alabama suffered a 23-21 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday and fell to 8-2 on the season. Despite the loss, many experts are still penciling in the Crimson Tide on their College Football Playoff brackets. During an appearance on SportsCenter, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum explained why he wouldn’t be so quick to assume Alabama will earn a CFP bid.

“It was a rough loss. And in the end, I think it will cost them positioning in the CFP, assuming they win [out],” Finebaum said. “They probably lose home field advantage, which is a very big deal. But, Matt, don’t put them in the playoff just yet. Remember, Oklahoma knocked them out a year ago. Alabama has to go to Auburn in about 12 days.

“That may not sound like a big deal. Auburn fired its coach. They’ve been terrible this year. But, the last two times Alabama has gone to Auburn under Nick Saban—with much better teams—I think one game went into four overtimes, and the last time they were down there, remember the grave digger play? Alabama pulled it off, salvaging the season and salvaging Nick Saban’s career, because he went to the playoffs that year after winning the SEC championship.”

Alabama handled business against Auburn last season, defeating the Tigers in convincing 28-14 fashion. However, that game was in Bryant-Denny Stadium. In Week 14, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will take the Crimson Tide into Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time.

As Finebaum said, Alabama’s last two trips into Auburn territory have been close calls. In 2021, Alabama narrowly defeated the Tigers after four overtimes of heart-pumping action. In Saban’s final year as Alabama’s head coach, the Crimson Tide won the game thanks to a miraculous throw by quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Alabama shouldn’t rely on similar luck this time around. With other SEC teams like Vanderbilt and Texas on the edge of the CFP, the Crimson Tide don’t have any room for error. Kalen DeBoer is confident his team will rally from the loss.

“We missed our opportunities, for sure, and that’s what hurts so much,” he said after the loss on Saturday. “I have no doubt about how we’ll respond. But the guys are disappointed and frustrated about how this ended up here, because that’s the moment we’re in.”

On Saturday, Alabama will have a chance to ramp up to the Iron Bowl as it squares off against Eastern Illinois at 1 p.m. CT. The game will air live on SEC Network+.