The first College Football Playoff rankings for 2026 place Alabama at No. 5, making it the highest‑ranked two‑loss team and ahead of one‑loss squads like Kentucky and Notre Dame. Miami tops the list, followed by Georgia and Utah. The committee cited Alabama’s “signature wins” over Kentucky, South Carolina and Mississippi State as key factors, while Tennessee slipped despite a head‑to‑head victory. Alabama now sits with a straight path to the playoffs if it wins out, and Fanduel lists the Tide as the fourth‑best playoff prospect at -360 odds. The rankings also spark debate over UCLA’s low placement and Georgia’s loss to Auburn.
The inaugural College Football Playoff rankings drop Alabama surprisingly at No. 5 despite a 6‑2 record, while Notre Dame slips to No. 11 even though it’s 7‑1. Miami (FL) leads at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Utah, and Indiana. Ohio State falls after a second loss to USC, and Texas and UCLA also land in the top ten. The committee’s choices spark debate ahead of Week 10’s slate of seven ranked matchups, including Ohio State vs. Oregon and Notre Dame vs. Miami.
Indiana University football lands a No. 4 spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday, joining Miami (FL), Georgia and Utah in the top three. The 12-team playoff field—now featuring Indiana ahead of Alabama, Kentucky, Texas and others—will be finalized later in the season. This breakthrough ranking underscores Hoosiers’ surge and sets the stage for a potential playoff run.
Stephen A. Smith calls for an investigation into Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer's $87.5 million extension, questioning why the school granted a seven‑year deal after just a 20‑8 record in his first two seasons. The critic notes DeBoer’s $12.5 million annual salary and $10 million buyout, asking if he’s worthy of replacing Nick Saban. With Alabama and LSU both sitting at 6‑2, Smith and analyst Paul Finebaum warn that the upcoming LSU clash at Tiger Stadium could decide the Crimson Tide’s playoff fate, intensifying scrutiny on DeBoer’s contract and performance.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin laments that the Nov. 7, 2026 matchup against No. 9 Alabama will be the final scheduled meeting of the historic rivalry, after the SEC’s new format left both teams out of the three protected games. The Tigers, who are 1‑6 in their last seven night home games versus the Crimson Tide, must now play at 3:30 p.m. ET—a rarity since 2010—adding intrigue to the 6‑2‑record showdown. With Alabama holding a 58‑27‑5 series lead and both teams eyeing SEC positioning, the game marks the end of an era and Kiffin’s first face‑off as LSU’s head coach.
Alabama and LSU have faced each other every year since 1964, but that will change during the 2027 college football season.
We're here, with Miami at Notre Dame, Alabama at LSU, and BYU at Utah headlining a loaded Week 10. Here's the schedule with game times, previews, and TV.
Lane Kiffin expresses disappointment that the LSU‑Alabama rivalry will be on hiatus after this Saturday’s showdown at Tiger Stadium, noting the matchup’s significance for both programs. The contest, deemed critical for conference standings, marks the last meeting between the Tigers and Crimson Tide for two years, a gap that could alter recruiting and momentum heading into the 2027 season.
Week 9 of the 2026 college football season reshapes the CFP picture. Georgia, Miami, Utah and UCLA claim the four championship spots, while Boise State leads the Group of 6. At‑larges include Notre Dame, Indiana, BYU, Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and Ohio State, with Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Wake Forest, LSU and Tennessee on the fringe. Key storylines: Ohio State looks ordinary after Julian Sayin’s injury, UCLA sits unbeaten in conference play, Wake Forest fights for an ACC at‑large, and the Big 12 could send three 11‑1 teams to championship weekend. The SEC’s upcoming matchups will further tighten the playoff race.
Alabama heads into the LSU showdown with a health boost and a secondary in need of a reset. Defensive backs like Zabien Brown and Dijon Lee Jr. have shown flashes – Brown’s pick‑six and Lee’s two interceptions – but the unit still suffers coverage lapses and inconsistent tackling. Safeties rank a modest C+, with Bray Hubbard steady and Keon Sabb underperforming. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide’s women’s basketball opens its 2026‑27 season under new coach Pauline Love, a former Oklahoma associate head coach, against Queens on the SEC Network+. The article warns that if Alabama’s secondary clicks on Saturday and injured players return, the Tide can capitalize on LSU’s recent stumble and keep playoff hopes alive.
LSU and Alabama meet in a pivotal Week 10 SEC showdown at Death Valley on November 2, 2026. Both teams sit 6-2, with Alabama ranked No. 9 and LSU No. 15, and a win is essential for CFP and SEC title hopes. Circa Sports opens the game with LSU as a 4‑point favorite and an over/under of 53 points. The Tigers, fresh off a bye, aim to snap Alabama’s three‑game streak in a rivalry that dates back to 1895 (Alabama leads 58‑27‑5). The 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff airs on ABC.
College football fans are lamenting a loss of the sport's traditional 'villain' – a dominant team to hate. The author argues that NIL deals and the transfer portal have leveled the playing field, weakening depth at powerhouses like Alabama and spreading talent to mid‑tier programs. Without a perennial dynasty such as Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide, Ohio State, Texas or Notre Dame, viewers lack the petty hate that once drove TV ratings and weekly excitement. Playoff expansion and increased parity further dilute drama, leaving fans yearning for a clear adversary to rally against.
The Game Haus releases its November 1 College Football Playoff bracketology, highlighting the current first‑round byes and hosts. Miami (8‑0) and Georgia (7‑1) lead the byes, with UCLA, Utah and Indiana also in the mix. BYU, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Boise State round out the top 12, each with key wins and upcoming matchups noted. Notable games include Miami at Notre Dame, Georgia at Ole Miss, and Utah versus BYU. The list also flags LSU and other teams on the bubble as the CFP committee weighs strength of record and eye‑test factors.
Alabama’s bye week gives fans a full slate of college football on Saturday, Oct. 31. The day kicks off with #22 Arizona vs. #13 Texas Tech (11:00 CT), a win for Texas Tech could dent the SEC’s playoff hopes. The Big Ten pits Wisconsin at #25 Iowa, while the SEC’s marquee clash is #17 Florida vs. #3 Georgia at 2:30 CT – the famed “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.” Other notable games include Auburn at #12 Ole Miss (11:30 CT), Miami vs. North Carolina, Ohio State’s new‑QB showdown with USC, and a Clemson‑Florida State ACC slugfest. A schedule graphic from CFBGrid.com rounds out the guide.
Alabama’s bye week on Oct. 31 gives fans a chance to catch a stacked slate of college football. The Big 12 kicks off with #22 Arizona vs. #13 Texas Tech at 11:00 a.m. Central, a win‑or‑lose game that could impact SEC playoff hopes. The Big 10 follows with #25 Iowa taking on Wisconsin, while the SEC’s marquee matchup pits #12 Ole Miss against Auburn at 11:30 a.m. The headline at 2:30 p.m. is #17 Florida vs. #3 Georgia in the classic “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” a potential playoff‑changing showdown. Evening games include Miami vs. North Carolina, Ohio State’s new quarterback vs. USC, plus SEC duels Mississippi State‑Texas, Missouri‑Arkansas, and an ACC clash of Clemson‑Florida State. A schedule graphic from CFBGrid.com rounds out the guide.
Alabama faces a zero‑tolerance road to the College Football Playoff after back‑to‑back losses to Georgia and Tennessee left the Crimson Tide with no margin for error. The biggest hurdle comes on Nov. 7 at LSU, where quarterback Sam Leavitt—now posting a 85.9 QBR, 2,173 passing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns—could hand Bama its third defeat. A second challenge is the SEC’s heightened parity; with most teams holding at least two conference losses, Alabama must outpace rivals like Georgia and Kentucky to avoid being boxed out. The article outlines why these obstacles make the Tide’s playoff hopes precarious.
Entering Week 9, the College Football Playoff race tightens with three unbeaten teams—No. 1 Miami, No. 6 Utah, and No. 7 UCLA—still in contention. Georgia (SEC) returns from a bye to face No. 17 Florida, while Ohio State (Big Ten) aims to stay on track after a statement win at Indiana. Miami (ACC) rides a 52‑23 thrashing of Pittsburgh into a showdown at North Carolina, and Utah (Big 12) heads to Cincinnati after a 21‑13 victory over Houston. At‑large hopefuls include Indiana (No. 4), UCLA (No. 7), Kentucky (No. 9), BYU (No. 8), Texas and Alabama. The projected top four seeds are Miami, Ohio State, Georgia and Indiana, with a tentative bracket favoring Miami over Georgia for the national title.
In the SEC coaches’ teleconference, Michigan’s Kalen DeBoer defended offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, calling him a “great play‑caller” and blaming recent offensive hiccups on execution, not scheme. DeBoer also addressed Noah Rogers’ limited snaps, praised Rico Scott’s recent impact, and offered high praise for LSU’s explosive offense and Lane Kiffin’s coaching. Meanwhile, Kiffin warned LSU about Alabama’s “most talented” lineup, likening them to historic Crimson Tide squads, a claim met with skepticism from analyst Michael Casagrande. The exchange highlights contrasting coaching philosophies ahead of LSU’s upcoming SEC showdown.
Barstool Sports host T‑Bob Herbert questions ESPN’s push for the Protect College Sports Act, arguing that college football may not need saving. While former Alabama coach Nick Saban champions the legislation, Herbert points to a more competitive landscape—UCLA topping the Big Ten, Kentucky leading the SEC, and Utah heading the Big 12—as evidence that the NIL and transfer‑portal era has made the game more unpredictable and exciting. He acknowledges a "mercenary" feel and fewer blowouts, but celebrates the surge of underdog stories and fan engagement. The piece also notes critics like Domonique Foxworth and Stephen A. Smith who doubt the bill’s motives.
Week 9 finds the SEC in flux as Kentucky seizes the lead after Georgia’s bye, while Alabama looms as a top challenger. LSU’s focus centers on linebacker Whit Weeks, whose leg fracture on Sept. 26 shows promising healing and could see him back in practice—and possibly against Alabama—next week. Meanwhile, highly recruited basketball guard R.J. Luis fights a court battle to secure eligibility, sparking debate over his future play. The roundup also highlights Sam Leavitt’s pivotal matchup against Alabama, underscoring the conference’s unpredictable race for the top spot.
Lane Kiffin claims the SEC is sabotaging LSU’s home‑field edge by moving the October 28 showdown with Alabama to a 2:30 p.m. CT afternoon slot on ABC, stripping Death Valley of its famed night‑time intimidation. He notes LSU is 117‑16 in night games since 2000 and that 14 of the last 15 LSU‑Alabama meetings were primetime. While Kiffin suspects retaliation amid ongoing legal disputes with the conference, the article points out kickoff times are set by TV networks, not the SEC. The coveted night window instead went to Ole Miss vs. Georgia, adding sting for Kiffin. Both teams sit 6‑2, making the timing controversy critical as they fight for playoff survival.
Ohio State intensifies its recruiting blitz, extending an offer to 2029 wide receiver prospect Kuika Moali‘i from St. John Bosco and keeping 2028 offensive lineman R’Monie Edwards in the mix. Moali‘i, a 6‑foot‑3, 205‑lb sophomore, joins a list that includes Alabama, USC and Washington, while Edwards, a 6‑foot‑5, 310‑lb tackle ranked No. 107 nationally, narrows his options to 15 schools, still favoring OSU. The Buckeyes also target linebacker Tahj Gray, the No. 17 national prospect, ahead of an upcoming Oregon game. Ohio State’s staff aims to bring these high‑profile recruits on campus soon.
Tennessee land a 2027 cornerback recruit as Preston Glasco verbally commits to Josh Heupel’s program, turning down offers from Alabama and Georgia. The 6‑2, 190‑pound junior from Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., is a 3‑star prospect – the No. 88 cornerback nationally, No. 104 in the Peach State, and ranked 883 overall by 247Sports. Glasco had 21 scholarship offers, including from Florida State and Oklahoma State, but chose the Vols in an all‑SEC final three. His signing brings Tennessee’s 2027 class to 19 pledges, ranked No. 22 nationally.
Week 8 shakes up the SEC as Alabama storms past Texas A&M 31‑20, highlighted by QB Keelon Russell’s 311 passing yards and three TDs. LSU crushes Auburn 38‑17 behind Sam Leavitt’s 388 yards and three touchdowns, while Kentucky dominates Vanderbilt 34‑17 with QB Kenny Minchey’s dual‑threat performance. Texas falls 34‑27 to #19 Ole Miss, and South Carolina upsets #11 Tennessee 27‑24 on LaNorris Sellers’ 210‑yard, three‑score effort. The latest standings put Kentucky (7‑1, 5‑1 SEC) atop the conference, followed by Georgia (6‑1) and Alabama (6‑2). Key standout stats include RB Raleek Brown’s 157 rushing yards for Texas and DB Jelani McDonald’s pick for Ole Miss.
ESPN and SEC Network host Paul Finebaum reveals on The Awful Announcing Podcast that he’s faced death threats due to his outspoken criticism of SEC football. He recounts hostile backlash from the 1980s when he critiqued Alabama’s struggles, a 2008‑09 incident where his home address was posted online with a death threat, and even a coach’s father threatening him. Despite security measures and the intimidation, Finebaum says the threats haven’t silenced his hot‑takes on college football and SEC power players.