Alabama Football News

Former Alabama running back tells why Tide is ‘not’ a playoff team, has confidence in other teams

by
Justin Smith
December 7, 2025

Nov 8, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; A long pass to a wide open Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) is just a shade too long and falls incomplete during the second half of the game with LSU at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 20-9. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Former Alabama running back and CBS Sports college football analyst Damien Harris feels the Crimson Tide is not a playoff team after losing to Georgia in the SEC Championship.

Harris was able to watch the Tide lose to the Bulldogs live in Atlanta. The team he saw left him with a lot of doubt, and he revealed why when he was asked, Is Alabama a playoff team?

“No, they are not,” Harris said. “Miami, I would have a lot of confidence that they would score more than seven points against this defense. Texas already did it. Vanderbilt, I believe they could do it. This Alabama team, specifically the offense, it did not look playoff caliber, straight up and down.”

Alabama has an 82.8 percent chance to make the playoff, according to ESPN’s FPI. Alabama is 10-3 after losing to Georgia in the SEC Championship.

The College Football Playoff committee’s final bracket will be revealed live on ESPN

Justin Smith( Managing Editor, Director of Recruiting )

Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.