As October comes to a close, Alabama football remains optimistic, with the team maintaining that all its primary goals for the season are still achievable. Despite setbacks with losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee, Alabama’s chances of making the SEC Championship game aren’t completely off the table.
Alabama finds itself in a crowded SEC standings with two conference losses, joining Arkansas, Florida, Ole Miss, Missouri, and Vanderbilt. However, Texas A&M currently leads the pack with a flawless conference record, followed by Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, and Texas, all of whom have only one SEC loss.
While the Crimson Tide’s primary focus may be securing a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP), an SEC Championship appearance remains within reach—though it will require a nearly flawless performance in their remaining games.
Current SEC Standings and Alabama’s Position
With matchups against LSU, Mercer, Oklahoma, and Auburn still on the calendar, Alabama stands sixth in the SEC. Here’s a closer look at the current standings:
– **Texas A&M**: 7-1 overall, 5-0 SEC
– **Georgia**: 6-1, 4-1
– **LSU**: 6-2, 3-1
– **Tennessee**: 6-1, 3-1
– **Texas**: 7-1, 3-1
– **Alabama**: 6-2, 3-2
– **Arkansas**: 5-3, 3-2
– **Florida**: 4-3, 2-2
– **Ole Miss**: 6-2, 2-2
– **Missouri**: 6-2, 2-2
– **Vanderbilt**: 5-3, 2-2
– **South Carolina**: 4-3, 2-3
– **Auburn**: 3-5, 1-4
– **Oklahoma**: 4-4, 1-4
– **Kentucky**: 3-5, 1-5
– **Mississippi State**: 1-7, 0-5
With Texas A&M still undefeated in conference play, Alabama needs to finish the season strong and hope for favorable outcomes across the league to secure a path to Atlanta in December.
#### The Path to the SEC Championship: How Alabama Can Qualify
This season marks a shift in the SEC structure, with the elimination of divisions. Now, the two teams with the best conference records will square off for the SEC title on December 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. In the case of ties in conference records, the SEC employs a series of tiebreakers:
1. **Head-to-head results** between tied teams
2. **Record against all shared conference opponents**
3. **Record against the highest-ranked common conference opponent**, progressing through the standings as necessary
4. **Cumulative conference win percentage** of all opponents faced by the tied teams
5. **Relative total scoring margin** in all conference games among the tied teams
6. **Random draw** if all other criteria fail
If two teams share the best record, both qualify, with tiebreakers used only to designate the home team.
Alabama’s Odds of Making the SEC Championship
Alabama currently holds +3000 odds to claim the SEC title, according to BetMGM, placing them behind Georgia (+200), Texas (+200), Texas A&M (+400), LSU (+700), and Tennessee (+900). With a narrow margin for error, the Crimson Tide will need strong finishes and perhaps a bit of luck to make their way to the SEC Championship.
Could the SEC Land Multiple Teams in the College Football Playoff?
Even if Alabama misses the SEC Championship, the College Football Playoff remains an attainable goal. BetMGM gives Alabama -105 odds to qualify for the expanded CFP in 2024, trailing Georgia (-1600), Texas (-900), Tennessee (-175), and Texas A&M (-105).
While Alabama’s chances hinge on their ability to secure wins in the final stretch, their postseason dreams remain alive—both for the SEC Championship and beyond.
