Alabama
What SEC championship round-robin tiebreakers mean for Alabama football after LSU win
Sixteen SEC football games remain until two championship game bids are awarded.
That is 65,536 potential outcomes to decide which two SEC teams have the chance to play for an SEC championship in Atlanta Dec. 7.
But despite losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee during conference play, Alabama football has a significant chance to make the SEC championship, especially after its 42-13 win at LSU Saturday night.
Here’s a look at where the Crimson Tide stand with three games left on its schedule including conference bouts against Oklahoma and Auburn.
Where Alabama stands in SEC standings
Alabama is one of five two-loss teams in the SEC along with Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU and Missouri.
Head-to-head, the Crimson Tide hold an advantage over each of them. Alabama beat Georgia, LSU and Missouri, while it has a better record against common conference opponents than Ole Miss.
Here is a look at the current SEC standings through Week 11 of the football season.
- Texas A&M (5-1)
- Tennessee (5-1)
- Texas (4-1)
- Georgia (5-2)
- Alabama (4-2)
- Ole Miss (4-2)
- LSU (3-2)
- Missouri (3-2)
- South Carolina (4-3)
- Arkansas (3-3)
- Vanderbilt (3-3)
- Florida (2-4)
- Auburn (1-5)
- Oklahoma (1-5)
- Kentucky (1-6)
- Mississippi State (0-6)
But head-to-head tiebreakers may not be what Alabama needs to have an advantage in by the end of the season.
What SEC round-robin tiebreaker means for Alabama football
In the event of a tie between three or more teams vying for an SEC championship bid, the tiebreaker begins at head-to-head competition among the tied teams and the record against all common conference opponents. From there, the record against the highest-placed common conference will be compared.
If a tie remains, the teams will be ranked by cumulative conference winning percentage of all conference opponents among tied teams, followed by a comparison of relative total scoring margin. As a last resort, a random draw of the tied teams will ensue.
The farther tiebreakers go, the more they would favor Alabama.
In SEC play, Alabama has faced five teams currently ranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll top 25: Georga, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri and LSU.
If Alabama were to win out, according to mred’s SEC standings tracker, its conference opponent win percentage would be better than teams like Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee, if it loses to the Bulldogs Saturday, and Texas A&M, if it loses to Texas Nov. 30.
But it’s close. The Crimson Tide’s advantage is by 0.0.156 percentage points.
Which games could decide Alabama SEC championship fate?
If Texas wins its next two games against Arkansas and Kentucky, and Texas A&M beats Auburn Nov. 23, the Longhorns vs. Aggies game Nov. 30 will be for the top seed in the SEC. The loser would fall below two-loss Alabama because of the Crimson Tide’s conference opponent win percentage.
After Georgia’s loss to Ole Miss Saturday, Tennessee alone could decide the Crimson Tide’s fate.
If the Volunteers beat the Bulldogs and Vanderbilt, the SEC championship bid is theirs. If Tennessee loses to either team, and is in group of two-loss teams tied with Alabama, the Crimson Tide would take the SEC championship slot if it wins out even with Tennessee holding the individual head-to-head tiebreaker against Alabama.
An Arkansas win against Missouri Nov. 30 could also disrupt Alabama’s plans for an SEC championship. If the Razorbacks beat the Tigers, LSU would jump Alabama for an SEC championship bid in a five-way tie of two-loss SEC teams between the Crimson Tide, LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – 7-seeded Alabama continues NCAA regional action in the Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday against USC Upstate. The Crimson Tide is coming off a monstrous offensive effort on Friday that saw the team score the most runs in program NCAA Tournament history with 21. The Spartans scored in each of the first four innings to upset Oklahoma State and advance to Saturday’s winner’s bracket game.
Alabama Baseball Regional Tournament Central: Schedule, How to Watch, Bracket Breakdown
Live Updates (Refresh Your Browser For Latest Updates at the Top)
Pregame
- Tonight’s start time has been delayed as we’ve entered a weather delay.
- Alabama vs. USC Upstate will have a first pitch time of 6:23 p.m. CT. The grounds crew is currently tending the field in between matchups.
- 5:13 p.m. CT – Oklahoma State beat Alabama State 8-7 in 11 innings to eliminate the Hornets from the Tuscaloosa Regional. The Cowboys move into tomorrow’s elimination game against the loser of Alabama and USC Upstate on Sunday.
Starting Lineups
USC Upstate
Alabama
How to Watch: 7-Seed Alabama vs. USC Upstate in the Tuscaloosa Regional
Who: 7-seed Alabama (38-19, 18-12 SEC) vs. USC Upstate (34-28, 13-11 Big South Conference)
What: NCAA Regional Game 4
When: Saturday, May 30, 6 p.m. CT
Where: Sewell-Thomas Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV: ESPN +
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network. LISTEN LIVE
Series: Alabama and USC Upstate have never played in baseball.
Last Meeting: The Crimson Tide and Spartans have never played in baseball.
Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide used 15 hits, and took advantage of eight walks, four errors, and four wild pitches to beat Alabama State 21-3 in their first NCAA Regional matchup of the weekend. Alabama had four different players hit home runs as the Crimson Tide cruised to an easy win.
Last time out, USC Upstate: The Spartans upset Oklahoma State 8-5 in their first game of the NCAA Regional. USC Upstate struck out 10 batters and scored in each of the first four innings to upset the Cowboys.
Tuscaloosa Regional Information
- Alabama, (37-19)
- Oklahoma State, (37-20)
- USC Upstate, (31-27)
- Alabama State, (31-21)
Friday
- Game 1 – #2 Oklahoma St. (37-20) vs. #3 USC Upstate (33-28), 1 p.m. CT, ESPN+
- Game 2 – #1 Alabama (37-19) vs. #4 Alabama St. (34-21), 6 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Saturday
- Game 3 – Oklahoma State vs. Alabama State – 1 p.m. CT
- Game 4 – USC Upstate vs. Alabama – 6 p.m. CT
Sunday
- Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 – 2 p.m. CT
- Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 – 7 p.m. CT
Monday
Game 7 – IF Necessary – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 – TBD
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The Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Alabama State Hornets meet in the first game of Saturday’s action at the Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday.
The Cowboys (37-21) and the Hornets lost their first games of the tournament on Friday. The loser of this game will be eliminated. The winner of this game will advance to another elimination game on Sunday between the loser of the USC Upstate-Alabama game, which follows OSU-ASU
Oklahoma State fans can keep up with the game here, including lineups and inning by inning details on the game. Check out Oklahoma State On SI’s NCAA Tournament Central for everything related to the Tuscaloosa Regional.
Game Details
Oklahoma State vs. Alabama State
Time: 1 p.m. central
TV: ESPN+ (Derek Jones & Jared Mitchell on the call). NOTE: TV is subject to change without notice.
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network & The Varsity Network App/93.7 KSPI-FM or okla.state/GetVarsity (Rex Holt on the call)
OSU Batting Order
The batting order for Saturday’s game will be posted here when it is released by the team.
Xxx
Tuscaloosa Regional
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala. Venue: Sewell-Thomas Stadium (5,867).
Friday’s Results
Game 1: USC Upstate 8, Oklahoma State 5
Game 2: Alabama 21, Alabama State 3
Saturday’s Games
Game 3: Oklahoma State vs. Alabama State, TBA (elimination game)
Game 4: USC Upstate vs. Alabama, TBA (advances to Sunday’s final)
Sunday’s Games
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 (elimination game)
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
Monday’s Game
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary)
(Times subject to change for TV purposes)
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – For those incarcerated in Alabama, there is a path to employment through the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Re-Entry Program.
The Bureau looks at where someone may live after serving their sentence and starts connecting them with potential employers, while also conducting drug screenings to help ensure employers and communities are getting a safe employee.
“We make sure as they’re moving through our re-entry programs that they’re re-assessed for mental health stability for substance abuse challenges,” said Rebecca Bensema, Assistant Director of Re-entry and Rehabilitation.
Bensema said the agency sits down with inmates to gauge their interests and review their work history to help match them with opportunities.
Bureau Director Cam Ward explained that there are areas where an individual would be unable to work because of their conviction.
“For example, if I committed check fraud, I’m not going to be able to get a job at the bank. Sex offense… you’re not going to be eligible to work anywhere near kids or sensitive facilities,” Ward said.
Ward said offering job possibilities to people leaving incarceration is key to reducing recidivism and repeat offenses.
“Give the employer all the information and if they want to hire somebody based on their criminal history, let the employer decide, don’t let the government be the one who dictates it,” he said.
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles says it currently has positions open that people with a criminal background can apply for.
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