Barrett Jones Explains Why Alabama Didn’t Make the Playoff Despite High Expectations

Former Alabama offensive lineman and three-time national champion Barrett Jones recently weighed in on why the Crimson Tide, despite being heavily favored, failed to make the College Football Playoff this season. In an interview, Jones shared his thoughts on several key reasons behind Alabama’s absence from the postseason, despite high preseason expectations.

One of the main factors Jones cited was Alabama’s early-season inconsistency. Despite boasting a talented roster, the Tide struggled in crucial games, notably a narrow win over Texas and a surprising loss to South Florida. These missteps, particularly the issues at quarterback, led to a loss of momentum that Alabama couldn’t recover from. “In past years, Alabama could afford a couple of slip-ups, but this year, every game was critical,” Jones said. “They had too many questions and didn’t look like the dominant team they usually are.”

Jones also pointed to Alabama’s lack of a signature win on their schedule. While the Tide won several key SEC games, they didn’t have a victory over a top-tier, playoff-caliber team that could bolster their resume. “When you look at the playoff teams, they all had one or two big wins that pushed them ahead,” Jones noted. “Alabama didn’t have that statement win this year.”

Additionally, Jones mentioned the increased competition in the SEC, with Georgia continuing to reign supreme and other teams like LSU and Ole Miss rising to the occasion. “The SEC is as tough as it’s ever been,” Jones explained. “Alabama isn’t the only juggernaut anymore.”

In the end, Jones believes the combination of early-season mistakes, a lack of marquee wins, and the competitive SEC landscape ultimately kept Alabama out of the playoff race.