The college football playoff semifinals are set to kick off on Saturday, with #2 Michigan facing #3 Texas Christian and #1 Georgia taking on #4 Ohio State. However, all eyes are already looking ahead to next year’s playoff, which will feature two powerhouse programs loaded with talent – the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Longhorns and Crimson Tide Have Playoff Pedigree
Both Texas and Alabama have rich histories when it comes to college football success. The Longhorns lay claim to four national titles, while the Crimson Tide top the leaderboard with a whopping 17 championships. In the 9 year history of the playoff era, Alabama has made 7 appearances, winning 3 titles. Texas is making just their second showing, but they’ve demonstrated the ability to compete with the playoff regulars this season.
| Team | National Titles | Playoff Appearances | Playoff Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 17 | 7 | 13-4 |
| Texas | 4 | 2 | 1-1 |
The two college football blue bloods will clash in next year’s semifinals, as Texas earned their way into the expanded 12-team bracket, while Alabama is all but guaranteed a spot given their consisten dominance.
Longhorns Surge Sets Up Playoff Showdown
Texas found themselves unranked to start the 2022 season after going 5-7 last year. However, the hiring of head coach Steve Sarkisian paid dividends in his second year, as the Longhorns upset #4 TCU to secure a spot in the Big 12 championship. Although they came up short against #3 Kansas State, their strong regular season earned them the #6 playoff seed. Star quarterback Quinn Ewers leads a high flying offense ready to light up the scoreboards when they take on college football giants like Alabama.
Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide are doing what they usually do – steamrolling the competition behind coach Nick Saban. They avenged their loss to Tennessee by dominating every opponent since, including an SEC championship win over #11 LSU. Alabama locked up the #2 playoff seed and enter the postseason as the betting favorites to win their 7th national championship in 9 years at +250 odds. Heisman trophy winner Bryce Young pilots a loaded roster on both sides of the ball.
Epic Clash On Tap For 2024
While this year’s playoffs feature some exciting matchups, all eyes are looking ahead to the 2024 showdown between Texas and Alabama. The two traditional powers have only met nine times, with the Longhorns holding a 7-1-1 advantage. However, the Crimson Tide crushed Texas in their last meeting – the 2010 BCS national championship game.
Alabama and Texas seem destined to collide next postseason, which would set up a monumental semifinal contest. The game itself would be must-see television given the history and pedigree of both programs. And with a national championship berth on the line, expect an instant classic quarterback duel between Quinn Ewers and Bryce Young.
No matter what happens the rest of this playoff, the college football world already has their eyes on Texas vs Alabama in 2024. Buckle up for an offseason of hype leading up to what could be one of the greatest playoff showdowns yet.
Supporting Information
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Alabama is making their 9th playoff appearance in 10 years. Having missed the cut last season, Nick Saban has the Tide back near the top behind Heisman winning QB Bryce Young (Source: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/michigan-alabama-texas-washington-college-football-playoff-by-the-numbers)
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Texas had a big turnaround under 2nd year coach Steve Sarkisian, going from 5 wins last year to 8 so far this season. QB Quinn Ewers leads a high scoring offense that could challenge the Alabama defense. (Source: https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/what-college-football-bowl-games-are-on-today-schedule-start-times-for-ohio-state-notre-dame-and-more)
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Alabama is currently +250 betting favorites to win the 2023 championship according to most sportsbooks. Ohio State follows at +300 odds. (Source: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/betting/news/college-football-national-championship-futures-odds-michigan-alabama-texas-washington-2024/19a8463f8ba59ebead082d43)
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The 2024 college football playoff field will expand from 4 to 12 teams. 6 highest ranked conference champions get automatic bids, then 6 at-large spots fill out the bracket. (Source: https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/college-football-championship/cfp-college-football-playoff-schedule-dates-how-to-watch-2023-2024/525-29ff7492-34a1-4240-8201-610381c84562)
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Texas leads the all-time series with Alabama 7-1-1, however the Tide blew out the Longhorns 37-21 in the 2010 BCS championship under coach Nick Saban. (Source: https://www.wvtm13.com/article/2024-rose-bowl-alabama-michigan-college-football-playoffs/46236951)
This sets the stage for an epic showdown when these two traditional powers clash next postseason. Buckle up for a potential instant classic with a trip to the national title game on the line!
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