Paul Finebaum ‘very confident’ in Alabama as CFP contender after spring practice

The Alabama Crimson Tide are looking to get back to the College Football Playoff after missing out on the dance in 2024. It’s going to be difficult in a conference filled with contenders, but Paul Finebaum thinks that they’re going to be able to do just that.

While making an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, Finebaum explained that over the course of the offseason, he’s come around on Alabama. In fact, now he sees them as a College Football Playoff team in 2025.

“I think, if you had asked me six months ago, I would have said that Alabama was on the outside of the Playoff,” Finebaum said. “Today, I feel very confident in saying Alabama is in the Playoff. The portal really wasn’t a factor, as you guys talk about. It’s just the fact that they are deeper.”

The 2024 season was the first for head coach Kalen DeBoer at Alabama, and while he inherited a talented roster, there were growing pains implementing his system. In the end, the Crimson Tide would go 9-4, losing a bowl game. Now, DeBoer has made some changes to his offensive staff, bringing in Ryan Grubb as his offensive coordinator. The two previously worked together in Washington, Fresno State, and Sioux Falls.

“I think the addition of Ryan Grubb is significant,” Finebaum said. “I think Ryan Grubb is the most significant addition that Alabama has made since the bowl game.”

One of the major challenges for Alabama this offseason is going to be deciding on their starting quarterback moving forward. Ty Simpson returns for his fourth season with the program and is, according to Ryan Grubb, the leader in the clubhouse to win the starting job. Of course, nothing has been decided yet, but Kalen DeBoer has been excited with how he’s begun to separate himself.

“Ty continues to, I think, trend upward,” DeBoer said. “I think all of them have really added to their game. They’re all at different spots because Keelon’s learning the system. The other two know it better, for sure. And Ty has been around and just has done a nice job. I think the trending upward is a big piece of it. Ty is an accurate thrower.”

Alabama has been to the College Football Playoff eight times, all of which were under previous head coach Nick Saban and all of which were in the four-team format. Now, there are more slots in the Playoff, but also increasing competition within the SEC for those slots. If Alabama can get its offensive coordinator and quarterback choices right, though, then there’s no reason why Finebaum can’t be right and see the Crimson Tide in their ninth Playoff.