It’s never a dull moment in college football, and particularly in the CBS Sports HQ. This season’s playoff picture is heating up in ways that no one expected. Every week is building the suspense as teams claw their way into the mix, while others—who once held the top spots—are being tested and re-evaluated. Kalen DeBoer’s team is one such team. In a world where few phrases shake fans up quite like “playoff snub,” this time, the Alabama Crimson Tide were left clutching their hats in shock.

CBS’s Leger Douzable recently set the stage for some serious playoff buzz by leaving the Crimson Tide entirely off his playoff predictions list, sending tremors around Tuscaloosa. Bama, with its storied history and pre-season national championship hopes, was once a virtual playoff shoo-in. But their two losses and a few shaky plays have left some mic-warriors casting doubt.

Adding more spice, “You see my list, the #12 spot, Boise State, I think there could be madness in the playoffs.” Douzable threw in SMU and Boise State, predicting them to leapfrog a blue and white notable from Utah. The Kalen DeBoer and boys’ absence from the list is particularly eyebrow-raising, as deemed as the SEC giants. The team’s 2024 season had moments of promise, but their two losses and the rise of rivals like Georgia have dimmed those initial championship dreams.

According to the analyst, the Broncos (7-1) are sitting pretty in the CFP rankings. Douzable sees a Cinderella storyline in the making. For Boise, the scenario hinges on rival BYU slipping late in the season, which would likely propel Boise to a conference title and potentially open that coveted playoff door. The Mustangs (8-1), on the other hand, also caught Douzable’s eye, “I love what I’m seeing about SMU, disrespected too much this season, they deserve to be in the top 12.”

Although Douzable’s bold call reflects the shifting tide in the SEC, where even the mighty Tide seems mortal. For a team used to living in the playoff spotlight, can they run it back like the good old Saban days to prove them wrong?

A ray of hope still left for Kalen DeBoer’s team

Alabama’s back is against the wall if we talk about the playoffs. The Bama fans may feel down, but hope ‘could be’ far from lost. While Douzable and other analysts might be counting them out, the Kalen DeBoer army is on the outside, looking in at the top of the SEC. After South Carolina’s 44-20 thrashing of the Aggies on Saturday, no SEC teams remain undefeated. They need help from outside and Tennessee and Aggies next week’s fixtures can determine their championship fate.

The Crimson Tide can hold a tiebreaker advantage if their rivals add a second loss. And if they do not make the SEC Championship, but beat LSU, Mercer, Oklahoma, and Auburn, Bama’s chances to make a wild card entry into the CFP will be 97% with a 58% chance of hosting a first-round game. But numbers can be deceiving!

They need to put that work in and will have to address some issues on both offense and defense. This playoff snub might just be the fire the Crimson Tide need to prove the doubters wrong.