The latest College Football Playoff rankings were released Tuesday night, and Alabama held steady at No. 4, sitting behind Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M.

It’s a solid position for the Crimson Tide, but everyone inside the program knows that rankings in early November don’t guarantee anything.

What matters most now is finishing, and finishing strong.

Head coach Kalen DeBoer and his team understand the challenge ahead. Alabama’s playoff hopes depend not on where the committee places them this week, but on what they do in the coming Saturdays. The Tide can’t afford to take a single opponent lightly, because the road ahead won’t be easy.

This week, No. 11 Oklahoma comes to Tuscaloosa. A high-powered, well-coached team looking to make a statement of its own. The Sooners’ offense can put points on the board in a hurry, and Alabama’s defense will have to be sharp from the opening snap. The energy at Bryant–Denny Stadium is expected to be electric, but the Tide will need more than crowd noise to stay in control.

And once that test is over, the Tide still have to deal with their biggest rival. 

Auburn, who nearly pulled off a shocking upset of Vanderbilt in overtime last week, will be waiting in the Iron Bowl. This time, with a new head coach, an intense home field advantage, and a chip on their shoulder. Rivalry games are unpredictable, and recent years have shown that anything can happen when Alabama and Auburn meet.

So, while Alabama Crimson Tide fans may glance at the rankings and feel good about Alabama’s spot in the top four, the message inside the locker room remains simple: rankings don’t win championships. Hard work, and winning does. 

And for that to happen, the Crimson Tide must handle their business week by week, quarter by quarter, and play with the urgency of a team that knows every snap matters. Because, it really does. Alabama cannot afford to overlook any opponent they still have to face. 

The College Football Playoff picture will sort itself out in time. For now, Alabama’s focus has to stay on the field, where championships are truly earned.