Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson was given a blunt reality check before the College Football Playoff.

After Oklahoma beat Alabama on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Sooners players took photos on the Crimson Tide logo.

Simpson has two straight games with less than a 55% completion percentage, combining for 334 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in his last two games against Auburn and Georgia. Simpson has led an offense that has not scored more than 30 points agains an FBS team since Saturday, Oct. 18.

Alabama has played in nine of the 12 editions of the CFP, missing the cut in 2019, 2022 and 2024. Clemson and Ohio State are tied for second with seven appearances. Alabama has a 9-5 record in the College Football Playoff, winning six of its eight semifinal appearances and splitting its six CFP National Championship appearances.

There is just one week until the Alabama Crimson Tide faces the Oklahoma Sooners for the second time this season, this time in the first round of the college football playoffs. For fans planning to travel to the game,

Alabama’s record ninth CFP berth gets rolling Dec. 19 with a prime-time test against a fellow blue-blood college football program in Oklahoma.

Pavia, who was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, threw for 183 yards and ran for 58 for Vanderbilt but also threw an interception and lost a fumble. The loss also dropped the Commodores to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the SEC at that point.

Notre Dame’s exclusion from the playoff and the surrounding controversy could prompt the commissioners to finally agree on a 16-team format for next season.