Where ESPN ranks Alabama's returning production for 2026 season
Despite some key losses, Alabama does have a number of key players returning next season. Here is where ESPN ranks that production.
The Alabama Crimson Tide were recently listed as the No. 90 team in the FBS in terms of returning production for the 2026 season, per ESPN’s Bill Connelly . Alabama lost a plethora of talent to both the NFL draft and transfer portal this offseason.
The Tide ranks No. 90 overall in returning production out of 138 total FBS teams, as Alabama will more than likely turn to a multitude of younger and inexperienced playmakers on both sides of the football next season. Alabama will retain 48% of its overall production from last season, with 35% returning on offense, as well as 61% on defense, per Connelly.
The Tide are ranked as the No. 119 program in the FBS in returning production on offense, while Alabama is listed as the No. 32 team in terms of returning defensive production.
The Tide will undoubtedly begin the 2026 campaign as a top 25 team in the nation despite losing various key playmakers this offseason, as Alabama is expecting multiple players from both the classes of 2025 and 2026 to have breakout seasons in Tuscaloosa next year. Alabama will kickoff the 2026 campaign on Sept. 5 against East Carolina, as the Tide will have a plethora of new faces on both sides of the football next year.