Alabama football is excluded from the final top 25 coaches poll by five coaches.

The 2024 College Football season ended with a surprising twist for the Alabama Crimson Tide, as they were notably excluded from the final AP Top 25 Coaches Poll by five different coaches. Despite being one of the most storied programs in college football history, with multiple national championships and a legacy of sustained excellence, Alabama’s absence from the final rankings left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads and questioning the criteria used by voters to determine their rankings. This exclusion comes on the heels of a season that was considered by many to be an underperformance for a program of Alabama’s caliber, but it also raises deeper questions about the nature of the Coaches Poll and the factors that influence voting decisions.

This article will delve into the reasons behind Alabama’s exclusion, the reactions from the fanbase and experts, and the broader implications this has on the College Football Playoff (CFP) landscape, as well as the influence of coaches and voting practices on the final rankings.

The Exclusion: What Happened?

As the final Coaches Poll for the 2024 season was released, it became apparent that Alabama, a team that has consistently finished among the nation’s top teams under head coach Nick Saban, was conspicuously missing. The Crimson Tide, who finished the season with a 10-2 record, were eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Although their resume featured a number of impressive victories, including a strong win over Ole Miss and a tough victory over Texas A&M, it wasn’t enough to secure them a spot in the final Coaches Poll.

The most surprising aspect of Alabama’s absence was that five coaches failed to include them in their final poll. In fact, they weren’t even given a spot in the “others receiving votes” section by some coaches, which means they were effectively ranked outside the top 50 teams in the country by those particular voters. This raised immediate questions among fans and analysts: How did a team like Alabama, with their pedigree and a resume featuring strong wins, get overlooked in favor of other teams?

The Criteria for Coaches Poll Voting

The Coaches Poll is a ranking of the top 25 teams in college football, voted on by a panel of head coaches across the country. Each coach submits a ballot based on their own subjective assessment of the best teams in the nation. The poll does not have an official, publicly-available methodology for how coaches arrive at their rankings, but it is generally assumed that a combination of team performance, overall record, strength of schedule, and head-to-head matchups plays a role.

The Coaches Poll is influential, but it is important to remember that it is not the sole determinant for playoff placement or bowl game invitations. The College Football Playoff committee, which is composed of a separate group of individuals, makes the final decision on which teams are selected for the four-team postseason tournament. However, the Coaches Poll can have significant sway in shaping national perceptions, influencing media coverage, and ultimately affecting the voting behavior of the College Football Playoff committee.

Why Was Alabama Excluded?

Alabama’s exclusion from the final Coaches Poll is puzzling to many, considering the history of the program. Under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide have been a model of consistency, making the College Football Playoff in every year since its inception in 2014 and winning multiple national titles. Despite their 10-2 record in 2024 and a competitive loss to Georgia, Alabama fans and analysts believed that the team had done enough to at least earn a spot in the Coaches Poll’s top 25.

There are several factors that may explain why some coaches chose to leave Alabama off their ballots entirely:

1. Underperformance Relative to Expectations

The most obvious reason for Alabama’s exclusion is the perceived underperformance of the team in 2024. While a 10-2 record is nothing to scoff at, it was a relatively disappointing season for Alabama compared to the lofty expectations that the program typically carries. The Crimson Tide’s losses came to two of the top teams in the nation—LSU and Georgia—both of whom were dominant in their respective matchups against Alabama.

The loss to LSU, in particular, was a shock to many fans and analysts. It was a rare setback for Alabama, especially given their long-standing dominance in the SEC. Alabama’s failure to make the College Football Playoff for the first time in several years only compounded the perception that the team had underachieved.

Some coaches may have been more focused on teams that had performed at a higher level or exceeded expectations in 2024, especially with the expanded competitiveness of the College Football Playoff field. Teams like Ohio State, Michigan, and even lesser-known squads with strong seasons may have simply been ranked ahead of Alabama based on their performance, even if their schedules and results weren’t as impressive as Alabama’s overall body of work.

2. Questionable Losses

Alabama’s two losses in 2024 were significant. The team fell to LSU in a high-profile game that saw Alabama’s offense struggle against a high-powered LSU team. Although the Crimson Tide held their own for most of the game, they were ultimately outpaced in the final moments, raising questions about their ability to compete with top-tier programs when it mattered most.

Their SEC Championship loss to Georgia was even more damaging. In a game that many expected to be competitive, Alabama was thoroughly outplayed by the Bulldogs, who seemed to have a superior game plan and execution. Georgia’s defensive prowess limited Alabama’s offense, while their own offense was highly effective against the Tide. For some coaches, this loss—especially the margin of defeat—was enough to drop Alabama out of their top 25 rankings.

These losses were further compounded by Alabama’s inability to win the SEC, traditionally one of the most prestigious and challenging conferences in the country. Coaches may have viewed this as a sign that Alabama, while still a top-tier program, wasn’t quite as dominant as in years past.

3. Emergence of Other Programs

The 2024 season saw the rise of several other programs that were competing for national relevance and attention. Teams like Michigan, Washington, and Oregon had breakthrough seasons, finishing with impressive records and earning spots in the College Football Playoff discussion. While Alabama’s season was solid, it was not extraordinary enough to compete with these teams, many of whom had fewer blemishes on their record and more consistent performances throughout the season.

With other teams emerging as legitimate contenders for the playoff, coaches may have felt that Alabama’s place in the rankings should be lowered in favor of these programs that had more compelling and consistent seasons.

4. The Influence of the Selection Committee

Though the Coaches Poll is subjective and voted on by a panel of coaches, there is no doubt that the opinions and decisions of the College Football Playoff selection committee play a significant role in shaping how coaches view teams. With Alabama being excluded from the Playoff for the first time in years, this created a ripple effect where coaches began to view the Crimson Tide as less of a contender. This shift in perception—driven in part by the Playoff selection committee—may have led some coaches to rank Alabama lower than they would have in previous years.

It is also possible that the Coaches Poll was influenced by the broader narrative surrounding Alabama’s underwhelming performance in 2024, with many national media outlets and analysts questioning whether the Tide’s dominance in the past was fading. Coaches who are aware of the national discourse surrounding teams might have taken that into account when casting their ballots, further reinforcing the notion that Alabama did not deserve a spot in the final rankings.

Reactions to Alabama’s Exclusion

The exclusion of Alabama from the final Coaches Poll stirred immediate controversy, especially among the Crimson Tide fanbase. Fans and analysts alike were quick to point out the inconsistency in how teams were ranked and questioned the credibility of a voting process that could omit such a historically dominant program from the top 25.

The situation sparked broader conversations about the current state of college football rankings and whether the Coaches Poll, in its current format, is truly reflective of a team’s merit. Some fans argued that the poll should be based purely on performance on the field rather than narratives or biases against certain programs. Others pointed out the importance of tradition and history when evaluating teams, particularly when it comes to schools like Alabama, who have demonstrated consistent excellence year after year.

In contrast, critics of Alabama’s placement in the rankings argued that their exclusion was justified, citing the team’s underwhelming season and lack of significant wins over top-ranked opponents. These critics believed that the Coaches Poll should reflect the current landscape of college football, which has seen other programs emerge as stronger contenders in recent seasons.

The Future of College Football Rankings

The exclusion of Alabama from the final Coaches Poll is an indicator of the ongoing evolution of college football rankings and the ways in which voters and selectors view teams. As the sport continues to grow and expand, especially with the upcoming College Football Playoff expansion, these rankings will play an increasingly important role in shaping the national landscape.

For Alabama, the exclusion from the final Coaches Poll represents a pivotal moment in the program’s history, one that challenges their perception as a perennial playoff contender. However, it also serves as a reminder that college football is a dynamic and evolving sport, where no team—no matter how dominant—can rest on its laurels.

As the Crimson Tide look to bounce back in 2025, the exclusion may serve as motivation for the program to prove that they still deserve their place among the top teams in the nation. With the postseason expanding and the future of college football in flux, Alabama’s absence from the final Coaches Poll might be a temporary setback—but it’s also a sign of the growing competitiveness of college football at the highest level.