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The No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1 SEC) are set for a crucial Week 8 matchup against the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (5-1, 2-1), with implications for the College Football Playoff race.
Despite their strong record this season, Alabama trails Texas in the national rankings, but this clash offers them a chance to strengthen their case as a contender for the No. 1 spot.
For the Crimson Tide to surpass Texas, who defeated them earlier this season, Alabama must continue to demonstrate dominance on both sides of the ball and secure a dominant win against the Volunteers.
What Alabama needs to do to overtake Texas
To overtake Texas for the No. 1 spot in college football, Alabama must continue to deliver dominant performances throughout the season. The Crimson Tide will need decisive victories against their upcoming opponents and key SEC matchups to strengthen their profile.
A critical factor will be quarterback Jalen Milroe, who has been the key for Alabama's offense. Milroe's dual-threat ability has supported Alabama's scoring offense throughout the season, which ranks among the top ten nationally, averaging over 41 points per game.
Texas’ slight stumble in recent games could open the door for Alabama. By showcasing their dominance in the SEC and remaining undefeated for the rest of the season, Alabama could very well reclaim their No. 1 ranking.
Alabama Football's current ranking
Alabama enters Week 8 ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll with a 5-1 record, while Texas sits in a higher position due to their head-to-head win over the Crimson Tide earlier this season. However, Alabama's steady improvement since that loss has kept them in the playoff conversation.
If Alabama can string together convincing wins, including a decisive victory over Tennessee, they could climb higher in the rankings, especially with Texas facing tough competition.
Alabama vs. Tennessee head-to-head
Alabama holds the advantage in the historic rivalry with Tennessee, as it lists its official record as 59-39-7. However, if vacated games are included, Alabama’s actual record against the Volunteers stands at 60-38-8.
According to Tennessee’s record book figures, the Vols were listed as 39-60-7 in their 106 meetings. The most recent Tennessee victory came in 2022 when the Vols broke Alabama’s 15-game winning streak with an electrifying 52-49 win in Knoxville.
Alabama's strength of schedule
Alabama is not traveling on a straight road this 2024 college football season when it comes to schedules. The Crimson Tide ranked sixth in preseason strength of schedule metrics. After six games, the Crimson Tide have a 5-1 record, and their remaining schedule ranks 41st in terms of difficulty.
So far, Kalen DeBoer and Co. have put on strong performances against highly-ranked opponents, but the game against Tennessee will be a tough test as they continue their push toward the top spot in the SEC and national rankings.
With a projected win-loss record of 9.5-2.5, Alabama remains one of the top teams in the country, especially after Nick Saban's retirement earlier this year. However, a win against the Vols will go a long way in the conversation for a College Football Playoff spot, making this Week 8 matchup crucial for the Crimson Tide.
