Football karma always has a way of evening the score. And this time, it appears to have paid a visit to Tuscaloosa. Alabama Crimson Tide fans, who are accustomed to seeing their once a great Nick Saban led Crimson Tide glide into the playoffs on sheer reputation, found themselves grappling with a playoff snub this year. But before the chorus of disbelief reaches fever pitch, Fox Sports’ RJ Young served up a reality check, unpacking the reasons why Alabama’s playoff hopes were drowned by the SMU Mustangs’ underdog roar.

On The Number One CFB Show, Young wasted no time addressing Alabama’s “predictable hissy fit” over their exclusion from the CFP. He pointed out a critical shift in playoff selection dynamics: “I think if you’re Alabama, you were expecting to get the SEC bump that you got last year.” However, the committee’s decision to prioritize SMU’s near-flawless resume—with two razor-thin losses to BYU and Clemson—over Alabama’s traditional SEC dominance signaled a change in the winds. The Mustangs’ heartbreaking three-point loss to Clemson, where they clawed back from a 31-14 deficit, showcased the grit and determination that the committee rewarded.

The host highlighted the irony in Alabama’s plight, drawing parallels to last season when the SEC champion (also Alabama) leapfrogged a less-flashy ACC champion, who undefeated. “Florida State team that was left out of the four team playoff.” This year, the committee seemed intent on rewarding merit over name-brand recognition. “We’ve come to the point where we are overvaluing the conference championship game,” the Fox analyst remarked. Yet, SMU’s close losses proved they belonged, while Alabama’s marquee win over Georgia wasn’t enough to counterbalance their earlier stumbles. Digressed DeBoer and the Crimson Tide’s crying over the snub, the analyst, he summed up, “Alabama’s got a point but it’s not the point that they raised so I’m not going to give them credit for it.”

Adding fuel to the debate was College Football Playoff Chairman Warde Manuel, who cited SMU’s resiliency: “Losing two games by a total of six points stood out,” he explained on The Rich Eisen Show. Alabama’s fans may point to their strength of schedule, but the Mustangs’ ability to push a playoff-bound Clemson team to the brink carried weight. Clemson kicker Hauser’s game-winning 56-yard field goal may have sealed Kalen DeBoer and Bama’s fate as much as it did the Tigers’ conference title.

Meanwhile, SMU’s playoff campaign gained unexpected traction from an unlikely source—Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who right now would be happier than the Ponies coach Rhett Lashlee himself. After the Mustangs’ valiant effort in the ACC Championship, Swinney became their biggest cheerleader. after the game. His endorsement only added credibility to SMU’s inclusion and underscored Alabama’s exclusion. Leaving their year 1 coach DeBoer in shambles as his reaction tells it.

Lessons and looking ahead is the motto for Kalen DeBoer

It’s not often that Alabama finds itself on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff, but here we are. During Sunday’s press conference, the 9-3 record holder DeBoer didn’t sugarcoat the disappointment of the Crimson Tide being passed over for the final playoff spot in favor of SMU. Instead, he turned the moment into a teachable one for his squad.

“We’ve got to make sure it’s not in other people’s hands,” DeBoer said, laying out the blueprint for next year. “Keep ourselves focused. Just knowing that the process doesn’t always go how you think it will.” His words hit like a postgame pep talk, urging his team to control its destiny in the future instead of relying on the whims of the CFP committee.

While the Tide had their eyes set on more, DeBoer is embracing the challenge ahead. “We’ve got one more game together, and we’re going to make the most of it,” he said with a determined grin.

Alabama now shifts its focus to the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan on New Year’s Eve. It’s not the playoff, but you can bet the Tide will come out with something to prove—and a chip on their shoulder.