College football playoff picture after Week 6: Does Alabama's latest fumble affect its championship hopes? 

The Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) suffered a 40-35 upset loss at the hands of the Vanderbilt Commodores (3-2) on Saturday which will have an impact on the college football playoff picture. Although they still have a good chance of making the playoffs, winning the SEC became a lot more difficult.

The loss to Vanderbilt was not just bad because it was a loss to a team they should have beaten with relative ease, but it was also an in-conference matchup. The SEC standings are determined by in-conference records, with overall records used as a tiebreaker. The loss dropped Alabama's in-conference record to 1-1 and are now seventh in the SEC.

That is important because the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee automatically make the playoffs. The SEC champion will definitely be one of those teams so losing ground in that race is not good.

Can Alabama still make the college football playoffs?

Yes, it is still possible for the Crimson Tide to make the playoffs and it is even likely. Before last week's slate of games, they were ranked first in the nation and although the loss will drop them a few spots, they will still likely be in the top 10.

To make the playoffs, a team must be one of the five highest-ranked conference champions or one of the next seven highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP selection committee. If they do not win the SEC, the Crimson Tide will still likely be selected as one of the seven teams.

However, a loss means the Crimson Tide will not have a chance to earn an open week through the first round of the playoffs as only the top four conference champions earn one.

How difficult is the rest of Alabama's schedule?

More losses to teams of Vanderbilt's caliber could eliminate the Crimson Tide's chances of making the playoffs.

The Crimson Tide play on Saturday against South Carolina, which should be a winnable game. However, the schedule for the rest of the season is difficult as Alabama has games against No. 4-ranked Tennessee, No. 9-ranked Missouri, No. 13-ranked LSU and No. 19-ranked Oklahoma.