# Dark Place: Paul Finebaum on Alabama's Scary Spot After Tennessee Loss

> Paul Finebaum says Alabama's loss to Tennessee puts them in a dark place with no playoff hope.
- Title: Dark Place: Paul Finebaum on Alabama's Scary Spot After…
- Summary: Paul Finebaum says Alabama's loss to Tennessee puts them in a dark place with no playoff hope. Alabama's loss to Tennessee leaves them in a dark place with…
- Keywords: alabama, kalen deboer, tennessee, college football, college football playoff, cruisal tide, sports, Dark, Place, Paul, Finebaum, Alabama's
- Source: EssentiallySports — https://essentiallysports.com/ncaa-college-football-news-dark-place-paul-finebaum-reveals-what-scares-alabama-nation-most-about-kalen-deboer-after-tennessee-defeat
- Author: Suryakant Das
- Published: 2026-10-18T20:55:16+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: alabama, kalen deboer, tennessee, college football, college football playoff, cruisal tide, sports
## Alabama's Dark Place
Paul Finebaum says Alabama's loss to Tennessee puts them in a dark place with no playoff hope.

> Alabama’s not done, but they are in a very dark place
## DeBoer's Pattern
DeBoer's team struggles to maintain momentum after wins, turning highs into lows.

> Every time he gets the fan base behind him, he loses them
## Recent Losses
Alabama lost to unranked Vanderbilt and 5-5 Oklahoma after beating Georgia and LSU.

> He also highlighted alabama’s 2024 loss to unranked vanderbilt just a week after toppling no. 2 georgia
## Playoff Risk
Alabama's playoff hopes are at risk with one loss away from missing the 2026 playoff.

> In his view, deboer is sitting on the cut line, just one loss away from missing the 2026 playoff
## Key takeaway

Alabama's loss to Tennessee leaves them in a dark place with playoff hopes at risk.