DeBoer reacts to Alabama making the College Football Playoff

Oct 18, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer looks on in the third quarter against the Tennessee Volunteers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

Alabama football stayed put at No. 9 despite losing to Georgia in the SEC Championship game, and Kalen DeBoer joined the College Football Playoff Selection Show to talk about what it was like waiting for the committee’s decision.

“Yeah, when it’s not in your control, there’s always anxious times,” DeBoer said. “Just really still felt good about what we accomplished all season long, and you just trust that the resume, I guess if you want to call it that, is what’s gonna provide the information to help make this type of decision.”

The Crimson Tide ranked 11th in strength of schedule, much higher than Notre Dame at 42nd and Miami at 44th.

Alabama will have about 12 days to get its injured players healthy and fix the issues that Georgia exposed on Saturday.

“Really four of the last five, maybe more, were really physical games for us, last night included,” DeBoer said. “That was an extremely physical game and the last time we played Oklahoma, LSU, Auburn were all very physical games against very good teams. So, for us we got a couple days here. This will be the biggest gap we had with technically a bye week to prepare. We got finals and stuff going on, so the first couple days this week, certainly let the guys take care of business there and then get back to work. These guys are going to be chomping at the bit. They’re going to do everything they can. This time frame right now will allow us to certainly get healthier though.”

Players like LT Overton, Jam Miller, and Josh Cuevas are key players who did not play in the SEC Championship game, and the Crimson Tide will hope to have them back for the playoff.

Alabama will play at Oklahoma in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. The Sooners beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 in Bryant-Denny Stadium thanks to Alabama missing a field goal and turning the football over three times.