Paul Finebaum addresses Alabama's championship chances after Tennessee loss

Alabama’s regular season went off track yesterday with their first loss of the season at Tennessee. It was the culmination of a less dominant start for the Crimson Tide as compared to other years and it finally bit them in Knoxville in Week 7. While Nick Saban’s team is still a contender, Paul Finebaum has taken note of the troubling signs in Tuscaloosa thus far.

During a recap of this weekend’s games with Matt Barrie, Finebaum says Alabama is still within the conversation for the College Football Playoff. However, their first seven weeks have created doubt in his eyes and it now has to be pointed out.

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“It’s getting worse as opposed to better,” said Finebaum. “Anyone out there who wants to say Alabama can still win the national championship? Yes, they can. Absolutely. But the trend lines are not good. That’s all we’re suggesting here.”

First, let’s look at the good. Alabama has a Top-20 offense and defense and a handful of the nation’s best players. Their schedule is also still chock full of opportunities and they have a resume over the last 14 seasons under Saban that suggests everything should add up in the end.

Still, the Tide have been underwhelming more than once this season. The Alabama that lost at the buzzer inside Neyland Stadium wasn’t the one we’ve all come to know. After some close calls and the loss to the Vols, Finebaum now has to see how Saban and Alabama respond before keeping them in the national title race.

“It’s the morning after a gut-wrenching loss. There have been worse, but losing to Tennessee is a big deal in the parlance of Alabama football. You just have to keep your eyes on this…What is going to solve the problem is on Nick Saban’s mind today,” Finebaum said. “He said we’ll learn from this. Well, obviously you didn’t learn from Texas. And you didn’t learn a thing from Texas A&M. What are you going to learn now Coach Saban?”