The suspense is over. The College Football Playoff selection committee unveiled the final 12-team bracket on Sunday, confirming that Alabama (10-3) has secured an at-large bid as the No. 9 seed. Their reward? A trip to Norman to face the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) in a first-round elimination game.
Top 4 Seeds (Byes)
- Indiana (12-1) - Big Ten Champion
- Ohio State (11-2) - Big Ten At-Large (Highest ranked remaining)
- Georgia (12-1) - SEC Champion
- Texas Tech (11-2) - Big 12 Champion
First Round Matchups (Dec 19-20)
- #12 James Madison at #5 Oregon
- #11 Tulane at #6 Ole Miss
- #10 Miami (FL) at #7 Texas A&M
- #9 Alabama at #8 Oklahoma
Path to the Championship
The road doesn't get easier. The winner of the Alabama-Oklahoma game will advance to the quarterfinals to face the No. 1 seed Indiana Hoosiers at the Rose Bowl. While Indiana has been the Cinderella story of the 2025 season, a potential quarterfinal matchup against the Hoosiers offers an intriguing clash of styles.
Iron Bowl Lens: A New Frontier
Nick Saban's dynasty was built on winning neutral site openers (Atlanta, Arlington) and playoff games (Miami, Dallas). He never had to play a true road playoff game. This trip to Norman represents a new era of difficulty. DeBoer isn't just fighting Oklahoma; he's fighting history without the neutral-field armor Saban usually earned.