Alabama’s reign at the top of the college football rankings has come to an abrupt end following a stunning 40-35 loss to unranked Vanderbilt in Nashville. This defeat marks Vanderbilt’s first victory against a top-five ranked team in 61 attempts, as well as their first win against a No. 1 team in 11 tries.
The Crimson Tide struggled to contain Vanderbilt’s offense, led by Diego Pavia, who helped the Commodores outgain Alabama with 418 total yards to 394. Vanderbilt was also successful on 12 of 18 third-down conversions and 1 of 1 on fourth down while dominating time of possession 42:08 to 17:52. Alabama never took the lead throughout the game.
With this loss, Alabama’s historical record in games where they were ranked No. 1 against unranked opponents stands at 63-4. The defeat raises questions about Alabama’s ongoing standing in the top 25 rankings and its implications for the College Football Playoff.
Despite the loss, Alabama could still make a strong case for the expanded 12-team playoff system set to begin in 2024, meaning a single defeat, even a significant one like this, doesn’t eliminate playoff possibilities. However, the sting of this upset will linger as the Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 prepare to release their updated rankings on Sunday.
Several factors will influence Alabama’s new ranking, including the outcomes of other teams in the top 15. Notably, top-ranked Texas, No. 12 LSU, and No. 13 Notre Dame are on bye weeks, which may impact Alabama’s standings. Additionally, Alabama won’t be the only top-10 team suffering a loss this week, as No. 4 Tennessee, No. 9 Missouri, and No. 10 Michigan also faced defeats.
While these results may slightly cushion Alabama’s drop, the historic nature of their loss to an unranked opponent means they will need to undertake a significant climb back up the rankings if they hope to regain their status. Predictions suggest Alabama could fall to around No. 12 in the upcoming rankings.