Alabama Lands at No. 5 in First CFP Rankings Despite Two Losses

The Alabama Crimson Tide have officially earned a spot inside the top five of the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2026 season. Despite already suffering two losses, the selection committee placed Alabama at No. 5, giving Kalen DeBoer’s team an early opportunity to compete for a national championship.

At 6-2 overall and 4-2 in SEC play, Alabama has experienced an interesting season. The Crimson Tide started strong but suffered consecutive losses against Georgia and Tennessee, raising questions about their consistency and championship expectations.

However, the committee clearly believes Alabama has one of the strongest resumes in the country.

Alabama Gets Major Recognition

One of the biggest reasons Alabama landed at No. 5 is its impressive collection of victories. The Crimson Tide have defeated Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Texas A&M.

Their 45-17 victory over Kentucky was particularly important. With Kentucky sitting at No. 6 in the first CFP rankings, Alabama holds a valuable head-to-head victory over another highly ranked SEC program.

DeBoer has also helped Alabama remain competitive despite the difficult stretch in October. The Crimson Tide responded to their losses against Georgia and Tennessee with a 31-20 victory over Texas A&M.

That bounce back performance helped Alabama regain some momentum heading into November.

A Huge Opportunity Against LSU

Alabama’s next challenge will be another important SEC matchup against LSU on November 7.

The Tigers currently sit at No. 14 in the first CFP rankings, making this another opportunity for Alabama to add a quality victory to its playoff resume.

With games against Vanderbilt and Auburn still remaining, the Crimson Tide have opportunities to strengthen their position.

Can Alabama Make Another Championship Run?

Landing at No. 5 is a significant accomplishment for Alabama, especially considering its two losses.

However, the Crimson Tide cannot afford to become comfortable. The expanded 12 team playoff gives Alabama some room for error, but another loss could make its path much more difficult.

The committee has shown that it still believes in Alabama’s potential. Now, DeBoer and his players must prove that ranking is deserved.

The road to the playoff is far from over, but Alabama has officially put itself in the conversation.