Alabama’s struggles to run football cited in reason why Tide dropped in playoff rankings

Nov 15, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Daniel Hill (4) runs the ball against Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Eli Bowen (23) during the third quarter at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

Alabama football’s struggling run game was taken into consideration when the College Football Playoff Committee compared the Tide to Oklahoma and Notre Dame.

The Sooners and the Fighting Irish are ranked ahead of Alabama in the latest rankings with the Tide at No. 10.

The committee’s chairman Hunter Yurachek discussed Alabama’s struggles to run the football this season while talking to the reporters after the rankings were released on Tuesday.

“Florida State was up in that game 24-7, and they held Alabama to less than 100 yards rushing in that game,” Yurachek said. “Really, that was a sign of some of the struggles Alabama was going to have rushing the ball. You go back and look at Alabama’s game at South Carolina, where they scored two touchdowns late to win that game. The next game against LSU, where they won both of those, but didn’t rush the ball for 100 yards. Again, against Oklahoma, was not able to move the ball on the ground. You look at the games that Alabama has struggled in, starting the season against Florida State, where they struggled to run the ball.”

Alabama’s rushing attack has left a lot to be desired over the last few weeks. The Tide’s running back, Jam Miller revealed the Tide’s running backs were taking blame for the Tide’s lack of run production on Tuesday.

“Our O-Line got way better, like what I said, running backs, we take the blame for it,” Miller said. “We need to do better at pass protection, just hitting the holes right, reading the O-Line and just getting what we could get.”