Kalen DeBoer’s first season in Tuscaloosa got off to a rocky start, but it wasn’t until Week 13 that he truly started to feel the full heat from the Alabama fan base. Even after losses to plucky Vanderbilt and rival Tennessee by a total of 12 points, the Crimson Tide were in solid position to make the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff ... and then they traveled to Norman, Okla. and got blasted by an Oklahoma team that would finish under .500 in its first SEC season.
The 24–3 loss ultimately doomed the Crimson Tide, who were one at-large spot outside of the playoff, finishing behind ACC runner-up SMU and jumped by surprising Big 12 and ACC champions Arizona State and Clemson. Fast-forward 51 Saturdays, and both teams find themselves in better positions. Alabama has overcome a bad Week 1 loss to Florida State and is currently ranked No. 4 by the CFP selection committee. This year, the top four teams in the final ranking will receive first-round byes, regardless of conference champion status.
