Alabama Lands At Unusual Spot In PFF Preseason Top 25 Poll

Alabama football will look a lot different in two weeks when the team kickoffs their season against Western Kentucky on Saturday, August 31st, and most of that has to do with Nick Saban no longer being on the sidelines.

New head coach Kalen DeBoer comes to the Crimson Tide after taking Washington to the national championship game last season, where they lost to Michigan.

Alabama Football, Kalen DeBoer, Noah Carter — Jan 13, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Kalen DeBoer speaks after being introduced as the University of Alabama new head football coach during a press conference in the North end zone at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Alabama Press Conference-Head Coach Kalen DeBoer Introduction

Losing Saban will be tough on Alabama, but DeBoer is one of the bright young head coaches in college football, so the Crimson Tide shouldn’t lose that much ground with other teams in the SEC.

Alabama is used to being a top-three team in the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll almost every season, and they came in at number five in the first rankings earlier this week.

The AP poll did not seem to drop Alabama too far without Saban, but the Pro Football Focus poll had them a little lower in their preseason Top 25.

Alabama Comes In At Number Seven

Alabama Crimson Tide, Kalen DeBoer — April 9, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer coaches his team during practice in the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility at the University of Alabama.

Max Chadwick had Alabama at number seven in his preseason Top 25, and this to say about the 2024 Crimson Tide:” Replacing the greatest coach of all time isn’t just a tall task; it’s borderline impossible. New head coach Kalen DeBoer has been a winner everywhere he goes, though, and should form an explosive partnership with quarterback Jalen Milroe. With those two leading the way, Alabama should remain in the thick of the playoff race.”

PFF’s College Football Preseason Top 25♨️

(Via: @MaxChadwickCFB | @PFF_Dalton) pic.twitter.com/ZtQowXKtgy

— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 16, 2024

USATSI 19698640 168400517 lowres — Dec 30, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; An Alabama football helmet is displayed at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans in the final lead up to the Sugar Bowl.
Ncaa Football Sugar Bowl Coaches Press Conference

Alabama was ranked behind Georgia, Ole Miss, and Texas out of the SEC schools, which is something they don’t have much experience with.

Georgia was pretty much the only team in recent years that would sometimes be ahead of Alabama in rankings outside of LSU’s great 2019 run.

The Crimson Tide should have no reason to worry about this year’s team, and there is a great chance they will end up competing in the SEC and being named one of the 12 teams in the playoffs.