The Alabama Crimson Tide have been one of college football’s most dominant teams for the past decade, winning four national championships and appearing in the College Football Playoff (CFP) five times. With the 2021 season just around the corner, the question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Alabama will be in the playoffs this year.
Alabama’s Recent Success
Since head coach Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007, the Crimson Tide have been a juggernaut in the college football landscape. Under Saban’s leadership, Alabama has won four national championships and made five appearances in the College Football Playoff. The team has also won seven SEC championships and posted an impressive record of 131-20 (.867) during that time.
Alabama’s 2021 Schedule
Alabama’s 2021 schedule is not an easy one. The Crimson Tide open their season against Miami on September 4th in Atlanta, followed by home games against Mercer and Southern Miss. The non-conference schedule continues with a road game against USF on September 18th, before they open up SEC play at home against Ole Miss on September 25th.
The team then travels to Arkansas for a primetime matchup against the Razorbacks on October 2nd, followed by a home game against Georgia on October 9th. After that, Alabama will face Tennessee in Knoxville on October 16th and LSU at home on October 23rd. The Crimson Tide will then have a bye week before squaring off against Mississippi State on November 6th.
The regular season will close out with consecutive home games against LSU and Auburn, followed by a road trip to Texas A&M on November 27th.
Alabama’s Chances of Making the Playoffs
When it comes to Alabama’s chances of making the playoffs, it all boils down to their schedule. With the SEC West arguably being the toughest division in college football, Alabama will have their work cut out for them if they want to make the playoffs.
The team’s schedule includes six teams that were ranked in the top 25 of the AP poll at the end of the 2020 season (Miami, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State, and Auburn). The Crimson Tide will also have to face a Texas A&M team that is coming off of a successful season.
The competition in the SEC West will be fierce and Alabama will need to win the majority of their games if they want to make the playoffs. The team’s non-conference schedule is relatively easy and should give them some breathing room, but the SEC West is not a walk in the park.
Conclusion
The 2021 season will be a test for the Alabama Crimson Tide. With a tough schedule that includes six teams that were ranked in the top 25 of the AP poll at the end of the 2020 season, the team will need to prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with in order to make the playoffs.
Despite the difficult task ahead, the Crimson Tide have the talent and coaching staff to make a run at the playoffs. If the team can reach their potential and remain consistent throughout the season, Alabama will be a strong contender for a spot in the CFP.