In a groundbreaking change to college football, the playoffs will expand to 12 teams in 2024. This shift aims to diversify fan bases beyond the usual dominant teams such as Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson. While the SEC and Big Ten will still hold significant influence in the playoffs, the Big 12, ACC, and Group of 5 teams will also earn automatic bids.
According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, his post-spring top-25 rankings now take into account transfers and spring games. In these rankings, Alabama is ranked No. 7 behind Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas. However, if the season ended today, Alabama would finish No. 5 in the final playoff rankings.
Under the new playoff format, the top four teams receive a first-round bye. If this were to happen during this upcoming season, Alabama would host Notre Dame in Tuscaloosa with the winner likely facing Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Despite a coaching change from Nick Saban to Kalen Deboer and standout player Jalen Milroe’s contributions, Alabama is expected to be a strong contender for the playoffs once again.
Follow @RollTideWire on Twitter for continued coverage of Alabama football news and updates throughout this exciting season filled with surprises!
