During Auburn’s basketball game against Richmond on December 8, fans at Neville Arena seized the opportunity to troll Alabama after the Crimson Tide’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff. According to On3’s Justin Hokanson, the Auburn student section erupted in chants of “SMU,” referencing the school that secured a playoff spot over Alabama.
The chants came after Alabama head coach Nick Saban voiced his frustration about the snub, questioning the value of scheduling tough teams in the future if strength of schedule isn’t given proper weight in the selection process. On social media, Tiger fans celebrated the moment as they basked in Alabama’s playoff miss, especially as Auburn football’s own bowl hopes had been dashed.
While Auburn football may be facing a quiet offseason, the Tigers’ basketball team, under Bruce Pearl, remains a top-10 contender, and the football program has a highly-ranked recruiting class on the horizon for 2025. Meanwhile, Alabama’s future under new coach Kalen DeBoer appears less promising, as the Tide failed to make the expanded 12-team playoff after a strong season under Saban.
SMU will face Penn State in the first round of the College Football Playoff, while Alabama’s bowl destination is yet to be determined, with possible appearances in the Citrus Bowl, ReliaQuest Bowl, or TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
