Alabama football defended its home stadium successfully on Saturday, avenging last season’s loss to Tennessee with a 37-20 win over the Volunteers . The victory moved the Crimson Tide to 6-1 on the season, 4-0 in SEC play.

As cigar smoke fills the air above Bryant-Denny Stadium, here’s what Saturday’s win means for the rest of Alabama’s season.

Playoff impact

The win means that the Crimson Tide is right on track as far as the College Football Playoff goes. Even if Tennessee had won the game, UA likely wouldn’t have been eliminated from the 12-team field, but beating the Volunteers certainly makes things easier.

For one, provided UT doesn’t fall off a cliff, the win will likely go down as a top 25 victory, something the selection committee will reward. For another, the means Alabama

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