The first College Football Playoff rankings created a debate Alabama cannot avoid: How much should one head-to-head result matter when the committee weighs a team’s full season?
Alabama opened at No. 5 with a 6-2 record. Tennessee, also 6-2, landed at No. 13 after beating the Crimson Tide by 16 points. LSU is No. 14, also at 6-2, and Alabama visits the Tigers Saturday in a game that could quickly change the playoff conversation.
The rankings are not final, and there are several weeks left for teams to improve their résumés. Still, the first reveal puts Alabama in an unusually visible position: a two-loss team ranked in the top five, with a recent head-to-head defeat to another two-loss team ranked eight places lower.
The committee says it weighs the whole resume
The selection committee says it evaluates a team’s full profile, including schedule strength, head-to-head results, results against common opponents and other relevant factors. Its guidance says head-to-head carries additional consideration when teams are comparable.
Let’s Roll! ✊ 📅 Sat. Nov. 7 ⌚️ 2:30 PM CT 📺 ABC https://t.co/zQnD3Ti4d4
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 5, 2026
That leaves room for debate about ...