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Joel Klatt Reveals 'Monster Game' in 2025 with College Football Playoff Implications

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Grant Bricker | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 9:00 PM ET

The Alabama Crimson Tide had a hiatus from the College Football Playoff in Kalen DeBoer's first season as head coach.

On a recent edition of "The Joel Klatt Show ," Joel Klatt detailed a "monster game" that could very well decide whether the Crimson Tide makes the CFP in 2025. He believed that if everything goes to plan, the Week 11 meeting between Alabama and the LSU Tigers could be crucial for both teams.

Klatt clarified that Alabama would need to lose to the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 5, and LSU would need to lose to the Clemson Tigers in the season opener.

"I started thinking to myself, like okay, if games kind of go how we think," Klatt said. "Like, let's just say Georgia beats Alabama in Week 5. That's not out of the realm of possibility, clearly. In particular, being at home, let's just say that Clemson were to beat LSU because I think Clemson's going to be amazing. ...Now, all of a sudden, you've got this game. Week 11, November 8th, LSU at Alabama, and you're talking about a monster game with playoff implications."

DeBoer nearly led Alabama to a playoff berth last season, with the Crimson Tide ranked No. 11 in the CFP rankings heading into conference championship week.

However, the SMU Mustangs and Clemson took the final two spots. Alabama faced the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl to conclude the year, losing 19-13.

Klatt has commented on DeBoer in the offseason, mentioning how uncomfortable things could get between the Alabama head coach and fans with another loss to the hated rival, the Tennessee Volunteers.

Earlier in June, Klatt placed Alabama at No. 9 in his post-spring Top 25 rankings.

Alabama kicks off year two of the DeBoer era against the Florida State Seminoles on August 30.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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