A dismal performance in the SEC title games puts Alabama's playoff hopes in jeopardy

ATLANTA (AP) — Alabama may have played itself out of the College Football Playoff.

With a dismal performance that raises serious doubts about their postseason worthiness, the 10th-ranked Crimson Tide were dominated by No. 3 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Saturday.

The 28-7 loss was a major boost to the hopes of Notre Dame and Miami, both of which went into the weekend on the playoff bubble with no chance to improve their resumes before the selection committee chooses the 12-team field on Sunday.

While the committee will likely be reluctant to penalize a team that played an extra game — while surefire SEC playoff teams such as Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Oklahoma all watched from the comfort of home — the Tide's showing was so putrid over the first three quarters that it figures to be a restless night for coach Kalen DeBoer and his players.

Not that DeBoer was willing to concede the point.

He made it clear he considers the Tide (10-3, No. 9 CFP) a playoff team, no matter the outcome against Georgia (12-1, No. 3 CFP).

“If this game applies to and takes away from our resume, I don't think that's right. I really don't,” DeBoer said. “The precedent has been set. I don't know how you can go into a conference playoff game as the No. 1 seed, where you've done all these things throughout the year and playing in this game — against one of the top teams in the country, as well — can hurt you and keep you out of the playoff."

With Jam Miller sidelined by a lower leg injury, Alabama couldn't muster any semblance of a running game against a Georgia team it defeated 24-21 in Athens during the regular season. The Tide finished with minus-3 rushing yards and held the ball for just 23 minutes.

Trailing 21-0 and having barely cleared 100 yards of total offense, the Tide finally showed signs of life in the final period with a nine-play, 91-yard drive for their lone touchdown. But Ty Simpson's short throw that Germie Bernard turned into a 23-yard score was the only glimmer on a dark day in Atlanta.

When Alabama got the ball back deep in its own territory, DeBoer left the offense on the field for a fourth-and-2 play from the 12 — even with more than eight minutes still to play and all three of his timeouts.

Fittingly, Simpson's sideline pass sailed far over the head of his intended receiver, and Georgia quickly finished off the victory with Zachariah Branch's 13-yard catch-and-run for a TD.

“We know we're the best offense in the country,” said Simpson, who completed 19 of 39 passes for 212 yards with an interception. “When we don't show it, it's frustrating.”

The Tide also had a breakdown on special teams, giving up a blocked punt that set up Georgia's first touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, DeBoer wasn't concerned about style points or the ramifications of losing by three touchdowns instead of two. That's why he went for it on fourth down deep in his own territory.

“If we're really worried about the score, we probably would've punted,” DeBoer said. “But we're here to win an SEC championship. If you lose by one or you lose by more, it's still a loss. That's what I cared about. You can't worry how much you lose by. We're here to win. That's how we play.”

Most notably, Alabama can boast that it was the first school in SEC history to win four straight games over ranked teams without benefit of a bye week, reeling off victories over Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee in a stretch that seemed likely to ensure a CFP berth.

But the Tide also have the worst loss among the bubble teams, a 31-17 defeat by Florida State in the season opener — a result from more than three months ago that could come back to haunt Alabama in December. The Seminoles won just four more games to finish 5-7.

If DeBoer misses the expanded playoffs for the second straight year since taking over for Nick Saban, it's sure to raise the heat on the 51-year-old coach.

After all, Saban won six national titles and made the playoff eight out of 10 years even when it was just a four-team format.

Simpson said he's “not nervous at all” about earning a playoff berth.

“Our resume speaks for itself,” the quarterback said. “We went through a a really tough schedule. We're the most resilient team in the country.”

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Georgia linebacker Zayden Walker (10) hits Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) during the second half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) is tackles by Georgia linebacker Chris Cole (9) during the second half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Alabama running back Daniel Hill (4) runs against Georgia linebacker Chris Cole (9) during the first half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton (1) misses the catch against Georgia defensive back Ellis Robinson IV (1) during the first half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette (6) runs an intercepted ball against Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) during the first half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Georgia linebacker Gabe Harris Jr. (0) hits Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) during the first half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Alabama head coach Kalen Deboer speaks to an official during the first half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Georgia and Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday presented the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees with their medals during a ceremony in the Oval Office, hailing the slate of artists he was deeply involved in choosing as “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class” ever assembled.

This year's recipients are actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the rock band Kiss and actor-singer Michael Crawford.

Trump said they are a group of “incredible people” who represent the “very best in American arts and culture” and that, “I know most of them and I've been a fan of all of them.”

“This is a group of icons whose work and accomplishments have inspired, uplifted and unified millions and millions of Americans,” said a tuxedo-clad Trump. "This is perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class of Kennedy Center Honorees ever assembled.”

Trump ignored the Kennedy Center and its premier awards program during his first term as president. But the Republican has instituted a series of changes since returning to office in January, most notably ousting its board of trustees and replacing them with GOP supporters who voted him in as chairman of the board.

Trump also has criticized the center's programming and its physical appearance, and has vowed to overhaul both.

The president placed around each honoree's neck a new medal that was designed, created and donated by jeweler Tiffany & Co., according to the Kennedy Center and Trump.

It's a gold disc etched on one side with the Kennedy Center's image and rainbow colors. The honoree's name appears on the reverse side with the date of the ceremony. The medallion hangs from a navy blue ribbon and replaces a large rainbow ribbon decorated with three gold plates that rested on the honoree's shoulders and chest and had been used since the first honors program in 1978.

Strait, wearing a cowboy hat, was first to receive his medal. When the country singer started to take off the hat, Trump said, “If you want to leave it on, you can. I think we can get it through.” But Strait took it off.

The president said Crawford was a “great star of Broadway” for his lead role in the long-running “Phantom of the Opera.” Of Gaynor, he said, “We have the disco queen, and she was indeed, and nobody did it like Gloria Gaynor.”

Trump was effusive about his friend Stallone, calling him a “wonderful” and “spectacular” person and “one of the true, great movie stars” and "one of the great legends."

Kiss is an “incredible rock band," he said.

Songs by honorees Gaynor and Kiss played in the Rose Garden just outside the Oval Office as members of the White House press corps waited nearby for Trump to begin the ceremony.

The president said in August that he was “about 98% involved” in choosing the 2025 honorees when he personally announced them at the Kennedy Center, the first slate chosen under his leadership. The honorees traditionally had been announced by press release.

It was unclear how they were chosen. Before Trump, it fell to a bipartisan selection committee.

“These are among the greatest artists, actors and performers of their generation. The greatest that we’ve seen,” Trump said. “We can hardly imagine the country music phenomena without its king of country, or American disco without its first lady, or Broadway without its phantom — and that was a phantom, let me tell you — or rock and roll without its hottest band in the world, and that’s what they are, or Hollywood without one of its greatest visionaries."

“Each of you has made an indelible mark on American life and together you have defined entire genres and set new standards for the performing arts,” Trump said.

Trump also attended an annual State Department dinner for the honorees on Saturday. In years past, the honorees received their medallions there but Trump moved that to the White House.

Trump said during pre-dinner remarks that the honorees are more than celebrities.

“It gives me tremendous pleasure to congratulate them once again and say thank you for your incredible career,” he said. “Thank you for gracing us with this wisdom and just genius that you have.”

Meanwhile, the glitzy Kennedy Center Honors program and its series of tribute speeches and performances for each recipient is set to be taped on Sunday at the performing arts center for broadcast later in December on CBS and Paramount+. Trump is to attend the program for the first time as president, accompanied by his wife, first lady Melania Trump.

The president said in August that he had agreed to host the show, and he seemed to confirm on Saturday that he would do so, predicting that the broadcast would garner its highest ratings ever as a result. Presidents traditionally attend the program and sit with the honorees in the audience. None has ever served as host.

He said he looked forward to Sunday's celebration.

“It’s going to be something that I believe, and I’m going to make a prediction: this will be the highest-rated show that they’ve ever done and they’ve gotten some pretty good ratings, but there’s nothing like what’s going to happen tomorrow night,” Trump said.

The president also swiped at late-night TV show host Jimmy Kimmel, whose program was briefly suspended earlier this year by ABC following criticism of his comments related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September.

Kimmel and Trump are sharp critics of each other, with the president regularly deriding Kimmel's talent as a host. Kimmel has hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Academy Award multiple times.

Trump said he should be able to outdo Kimmel.

“I've watched some of the people that host. Jimmy Kimmel was horrible,” Trump said. “If I can't beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don't think I should be president.”

President Donald Trump speaks at a Kennedy Center Honors reception for recipients Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Kiss, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford at the State Department, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, left, presents Sylvester Stallone with his Kennedy Center Honors medal in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, center, speaks as he presents Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford with their Kennedy Center Honors medals in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, center, speaks as he presents Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford with their Kennedy Center Honors medals in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, left, presents Michael Crawford with his Kennedy Center Honors medal in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, left, speaks as he presents Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford with their Kennedy Center Honors medals in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, left, presents George Strait with his Kennedy Center Honors medal in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

FILE - The Hall of Nations at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Nov. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, file)

Kiss band member Gene Simmons speaks to members of the media at the White House, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

President Donald Trump speaks before a concert by Andrea Bocelli in the East Room of the White House walking towards the East Room, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)