Welcome to the ultimate Alabama fan’s rooting guide to Rivalry Week 2025.
Below you’ll find every game that matters to the Crimson Tide and the College Football Playoff race, directly or indirectly.
If the No. 10 Crimson Tide loses the Iron Bowl, it will miss the playoff. But beat Auburn, and things get interesting.
With a win over Auburn, Alabama will make the SEC Championship Game. Win that game, and the Crimson Tide locks up an automatic bid for the playoff. But lose that game, and that leaves the door open to Alabama missing the playoff.
So depending on how things go, Alabama could use some help with a little over a week remaining until the selection show to put it in as good of a spot as possible heading into the final rankings.
Here’s a guide to the weekend and the results that can — and possibly will — help Alabama (9-2, 6-1 SEC) in its playoff hunt.
(All times Central).
No. 7 Ole Miss (10-1) at Mississippi State (5-6)
Logistics: 11 a.m. on ABC in Starkville, Mississippi
Root for: Mississippi State
If Ole Miss loses the Egg Bowl, this could clear space for Alabama to move up. The Rebels would have two wins over teams ranked in the CFP top 25 today (Oklahoma and Tulane) to go with a loss to a ranked team (Georgia) and an unranked team (Mississippi State). Alabama has the same number and type of losses but more ranked wins. In theory, the Crimson Tide would be ranked ahead of Ole Miss if the Rebels lose another game. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s certainly possible.
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin reaches out to fist bump offensive lineman Victor Curne (79) following a successful offensive series against Mississippi State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023. Mississippi won 17-7. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)APNo. 13 Utah (9-2) at Kansas (5-6)
Logistics: 11 a.m. on ESPN in Lawrence, Kansas
Root for: Kansas
The Utes aren’t likely to threaten Alabama for a playoff spot, but might as well clear them out and move them officially out of contention with a third loss.
No. 4 Georgia (10-1) at No. 23 Georgia Tech (9-2)
Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on ABC in Atlanta
Root for: Georgia Tech
This one is a bit tricky. There are reasons as to why both outcomes can help Alabama.
The argument for Georgia beating Georgia Tech — Alabama would still have a win over a top-four team. It’s arguably the best win of any team in contention for the playoff considering the Crimson Tide pulled it off in Athens.
The argument for Georgia Tech beating Georgia — A two-loss Georgia team would drop, perhaps into Alabama’s range. And considering Alabama has the head-to-head win over the Bulldogs, Georgia could fall behind the Crimson Tide. So Georgia Tech could help clear another team out of Alabama’s way.
We’ll pick the latter for the sake of this exercise, but it won’t be the worst thing in the world if Georgia wins this game.
No. 2 Indiana (11-0) at Purdue (2-9)
Logistics: 6:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock in West Lafayette, Indiana
Root for: Indiana
This game doesn’t have much significance for Alabama, but it’s better if Indiana wins. So long as the Hoosiers stay undefeated, it becomes less likely Michigan makes the Big Ten title game, which the Crimson Tide doesn’t want. (More on that soon)
Texas A&M wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman (3) reacts with quarterback Marcel Reed (10) after scoring a touchdown against Samford during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas.APNo. 3 Texas A&M (11-0) at No. 16 Texas (8-3)
Logistics: 6:30 p.m. on ABC in Austin, Texas
Root for: Texas A&M
You might disagree, but Alabama probably has a better shot at beating Texas A&M in the SEC Championship Game than it does at beating Georgia.
It would be tough to defeat the Bulldogs twice in one season. Plus, the Aggies might not be as good as their undefeated record indicates. They’re a good team no doubt, but they might not be as elite as their record and ranking signify.
Texas A&M has the No. 23 strength of schedule. That ranks No. 13 among SEC teams. Only Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Ole Miss have had easier schedules.
If Texas A&M beats Texas, the Aggies will make the SEC title game. If Texas A&M loses to Texas, and Alabama beats Auburn, the Crimson Tide will face Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
Flip the “root for” answer to Texas if you want Alabama to face Georgia in Atlanta.
No. 1 Ohio State (11-0) at No. 15 Michigan (9-2)
Logistics: 11 a.m. on FOX in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Root for: Ohio State
Michigan could become a threat for a playoff spot if it beats Ohio State. In fact, the Wolverines can still make the Big Ten Championship Game. If Michigan wins and either Oregon or Indiana lose, the Wolverines will play for the conference’s automatic bid.
If Michigan receives the automatic bid, there’s a scenario where Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon and Michigan all make the playoff. Right now, the Big Ten is on track to get only three teams in the field.
Even if the Wolverines don’t make the Big Ten title game, would the committee move them up ahead of Alabama after a win over the No. 1 team? Maybe. Maybe not.
But the picture gets messier at the bubble if the Wolverines beat Ohio State.
Alabama fans should be rooting for an undefeated regular season for the Buckeyes. If Michigan loses to Ohio State, that’s one less bubble team for the Crimson Tide to worry about.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, left, and Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore shake hands after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.APNo. 5 Texas Tech (10-1) at West Virginia (4-7)
Logistics: 11 a.m. on ESPN in Morgantown, West Virginia
Root for: West Virginia
Could a second loss send Texas Tech tumbling past Alabama? Perhaps.
Texas Tech would have a loss to a ranked team (Arizona State) and a loss to an unranked team (West Virginia). Plus, the Red Raiders would have two wins over ranked teams: Utah and BYU.
A second loss would especially be helpful if the final spot goes to either Texas Tech or Alabama if both lose their respective conference championship games. Alabama would, in theory, have the better resume with more wins over ranked teams and the same types of losses.
The Red Raiders probably won’t lose this game against West Virginia, though. So save your rooting energy for other matchups.
No. 12 Miami (9-2) at No. 22 Pitt (8-3)
Logistics: 11 a.m. on ABC in Pittsburgh
Root for: Pitt
Right now, the Hurricanes aren’t keeping the Crimson Tide out of the playoff, but they could become a problem depending on how things shake out over the next two weeks.
Pitt can go ahead and clear out Miami from being near the bubble by handing the Hurricanes a third loss.
UCF (5-6) at No. 11 BYU (10-1)
Logistics: Noon on ESPN2 in Provo, Utah
Root for: UCF
It wouldn’t hurt to bump BYU away from the bubble, though the Cougars could still get into the Big 12 title game with a loss as long as Texas Tech and Utah also lose.
No. 6 Oregon (10-1) at Washington (8-3)
Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on CBS in Seattle
Root for: Washington
A second loss could drop the Ducks behind Alabama.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning chats with the offensive line during a timeout as the No. 8 Ducks face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Sean Meagher/The OregonianLSU (7-4) at No. 8 Oklahoma (9-2)
Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on ABC in Norman, Oklahoma
Root for: LSU
The Sooners have the head-to-head victory over Alabama. As long as the Crimson Tide has the same record, Oklahoma will always be ranked higher, probably. We say probably considering Miami and Notre Dame have the same record and the Hurricanes beat the Fighting Irish, yet Notre Dame remains ranked higher.
LSU could do Alabama a big favor and win Saturday.
No. 14 Vanderbilt (9-2) at No. 19 Tennessee (8-3)
Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on ESPN in Knoxville, Tennessee
Root for: Tennessee
Vanderbilt isn’t likely to take a playoff spot from Alabama, considering Alabama won the head-to-head matchup. The committee also wouldn’t likely place a 10-2 Vanderbilt team ahead of a 10-3 Alabama team that has a third loss because the Crimson Tide played in its conference championship game. So even though the Commodores are somewhat alive for the playoff still, that’s really only if Alabama loses the Iron Bowl, which would knock the Crimson Tide out of the playoff anyway.
Rooting for Tennessee has more to do with boosting Alabama’s resume. A fourth loss could drop the Vols out of the CFP top 25. Vanderbilt is likely to stay ranked, even with a loss to Tennessee.
No. 9 Notre Dame (9-2) at Stanford (4-7)
Logistics: 9:30 p.m. on ESPN in Stanford, California
Root for: Stanford
This is the last chance for Notre Dame to lose a game before the selection show. At this point that’s likely the only way, outside of Alabama winning the SEC, in which the Fighting Irish drop behind Alabama in the rankings.