After Nick Saban’s retirement, it didn’t take long for Alabama football to hit rough patches. Although the Crimson Tide remain ranked in the top ten in most polls, their recent loss to Vanderbilt—something that hadn’t happened in 40 years (since Sept. 28, 1984)—is hard to forgive. Alabama is losing key talent and might face more off-field issues if their on-field struggles persist. Some five-star recruits are already voicing concerns, though one, Caleb Cunningham, is staying committed to Alabama.
Cunningham, a wide receiver, was among those surprised by Vanderbilt’s upset, as he told Tide Sports reporter Colin Gay.
“That really shocked me,” Cunningham said. “But it’s football. It hasn’t changed my commitment. I’m still 100% locked in. In the SEC, you never know who’s going to win, but losing to Vandy is kind of wild…”
Cunningham, the top-rated player in Mississippi for the 2025 class and the nation’s second-ranked wide receiver, predicts a strong comeback.
“They’re going to go crazy from here on out,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll lose again. They’ve got everything they need to succeed.”
However, with many Power Five schools trying to flip his commitment, another Alabama loss could hurt their recruiting efforts. Alabama has already fallen from the top spot in ESPN’s 2025 rankings.
Alabama’s College Football Playoff (CFP) hopes are now hanging by a thread in the SEC. After Vanderbilt’s upset, Alabama faces tough SEC matchups ahead, including games against ranked Tennessee, Missouri, LSU, and Oklahoma. They must win every remaining game to stay in the CFP conversation. While the win over Georgia helps, other two-loss teams may have stronger resumes, and rival programs will surely point that out to recruits like Cunningham more quickly than the CFP committee will.