ESPN predicts if Alabama will make the College Football Playoff after 0-1 start

To climb back into contention, the Tide will likely need to run the table in the SEC and defeat multiple top-10 opponents along the way. That leaves little margin for a program still searching for consistency on both sides of the ball after Week 1.

Alabama has faced early-season adversity before and recovered, but the difference now is the expanded playoff makes the early shuffle in rankings more punishing. Bonagura noted that Florida State’s win was not just an upset but also a statement about how quickly fortunes can change in college football.

Florida State’s Surge Shifts National Picture

For Florida State, the win over Alabama was more than symbolic. It validated the Seminoles’ aggressive portal additions, their belief in coach Mike Norvell’s system and the resilience of a team coming off a disastrous 2024 season. The Seminoles are projected as high as a quarterfinal participant in ESPN’s bracket, potentially facing Ohio State or Georgia if the season were played out today.

The broader story is how the Seminoles’ rise reshapes the playoff race across conferences. Florida State’s return to form bolsters the ACC’s standing, while Alabama’s early misstep adds uncertainty to the SEC’s usual dominance. Programs like LSU and Georgia are now positioned as more secure playoff bets, with Alabama forced into a chase scenario.

Momentum this early in the season is fragile, but the contrast between Alabama’s drop and Florida State’s surge reflects the volatility in college football’s new era. One week into the 2025 campaign, a single loss is already reshaping the view of the postseason picture.

Alabama’s loss may not end its championship dreams, but it places the program in a position it hasn’t faced in nearly a decade: outside looking in.

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