ESPN names Alabama, Kalen DeBoer among most to prove entering 2026

Recently, a group of ESPN college football analysts released their picks for the teams, coaches, and players with the most to prove during the 2026 season. Alabama was featured heavily in this, as each of ESPN's Mark Schlabach, Bill Connelly, Adam Rittenberg, and Andrea Adelson mentioning the Crimson Tide at-least once. The Tide will enter 2026 with a plethora of new faces on both sides of the football.

Alabama lost various playmakers to both the transfer portal and NFL draft this offseason, and the Tide are expected to lean on some of the younger talent on the roster throughout the year. Alabama recorded an overall record of 11-4 and were eliminated by the Indiana Hoosiers in the CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl last season, as the Tide will undoubtedly enter the 2026 campaign with a chip on their shoulder. Both of Schlabach and Connelly mentioned the Crimson Tide as the college football team with the most to prove entering the 2026 campaign, while Rittenberg also named Kalen DeBoer as the head coach with the most to prove.

"DeBoer isn't a hot-seat candidate but faces pressure to deliver a team capable of advancing further in the CFP," Rittenberg said. DeBoer certainly made progress during his second season as the Tide’s head coach in 2025, but he will need to step it up again in 2026 as Alabama will look to secure yet another national championship. Adelson and Connelly also mentioned Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams as the non-quarterback with the most to prove this upcoming season.

Williams had an underwhelming year last season following a breakout true freshman campaign in 2024, but the star route runner finds himself in prime position to bounce back as the Tide’s top receiving option next season. Alabama will kickoff the 2026 campaign against East Carolina on Sept. 5, as the Tide will undoubtedly enter the season as a top team in all of college football with something to prove.