Alabama’s Lackluster Win Raises Concerns
The Alabama Crimson Tide’s narrow 17-3 victory over the South Florida Bulls on Saturday did little to inspire confidence among voters. Despite being heavily favored, Alabama struggled to put away a team that went 1-11 last season. The Bulls, who haven’t won against a Football Bowl Subdivision program since the 2021 season, managed to keep the score tied at halftime and trailed by just one score in the fourth quarter.
The lackluster performance by Alabama led to their drop of three spots to 13th in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll. This is the first time since 2015 that Alabama has been ranked outside of the top 10, following their upset loss against Ole Miss. Their streak of 128 consecutive weeks in the top 10, the second longest in the poll’s history, has come to an end. Taking their place as the team with the longest current streak is the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, who have been ranked for 37 consecutive weeks.
Another streak that Alabama saw come to an end this week was their 42-game run since 2007 of scoring at least 20 points against non-Power-5 opposition. The Crimson Tide had dominated these games, winning by an average of 40 points. However, their struggles on offense against South Florida prevented them from extending this streak.
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Alabama’s Playoff Hopes on the Line
Despite their shaky performance, Alabama still has a chance to make the College Football Playoff. However, a loss against No. 15 Ole Miss this week would severely diminish their chances. Of the 36 teams that have competed in the playoff, only 22 have entered with one loss. No team with two or more losses has ever been selected for the playoff. So the game against Ole Miss is crucial for Alabama’s playoff aspirations.
In order to defeat Ole Miss, Alabama will need improved play at quarterback and on the offensive line. Quarterback Jalen Milroe was benched after throwing two interceptions in the loss against Texas in week 2. The offensive line also struggled, allowing five sacks against South Florida and a total of 12 sacks through three games. Alabama’s hopes rest on the shoulders of Milroe and the offensive line’s ability to step up and perform better.
Shifting Rankings in the Top 25
Florida has returned to the top 25 after a win against Tennessee, while the Vols dropped two spots to No. 23. This is the first time since 2017 that Florida, No. 4 Florida State, and No. 20 Miami are all ranked in the same poll. Meanwhile, Kansas State fell out of the rankings after a loss to Missouri on a game-winning field goal.
Florida State narrowly escaped with a win against Boston College and dropped one spot in the rankings. On the other hand, Texas moved up after a win against Wyoming. The Seminoles face a tough test in their upcoming game against the unranked Clemson Tigers, with the possibility of an upset.
Colorado won a thrilling comeback game in overtime against Colorado State, but voters dropped them one spot to No. 19. Their next game against No. 10 Oregon will provide a true test of their capabilities. This matchup also features an exciting quarterback battle between Sheduer Sanders of Colorado and Bo Nix of Oregon.
Exciting Matchups in Week 4
This week’s game to watch will be the matchup between No. 6 Ohio State and No. 9 Notre Dame. Both teams have been performing well, with Ohio State’s wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. standing out in their recent win against Western Kentucky. The Irish, led by quarterback Sam Hartman, have scored 40 or more points in each of their four wins and look to continue their high-scoring streak.
Among the six games featuring two top 25 teams in Week 4, three are Pac-12 matchups. Oregon State will travel to face Washington State, while UCLA will visit Utah. In addition, No. 7 Penn State will host No. 24 Iowa in a classic Big Ten showdown.
According to oddsmakers at BetMGM, the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame game is expected to be a high-scoring affair, with an over/under set at 54.5 points. Ohio State is a 3.5-point favorite.
Conclusion
The narrow win by Alabama against South Florida has raised concerns among voters and dropped them to 13th in the rankings. Their hopes of making the College Football Playoff hinge on their upcoming game against Ole Miss. Other teams in the top 25 have also faced challenges and some have even fallen out of the rankings. Exciting matchups in Week 4 will determine the direction of the rankings moving forward, making it an exciting time for college football fans.
