Alabama football makes a move in ESPN post-spring top 25 rankings
Alabama is on the move in ESPN's way-too-early top 25 post-spring rankings. Are the Crimson Tide in a better or worse position than before?
Spring practice wrapped up this week for Alabama football , and the Crimson Tide made a fairly decent move up ESPN's post-spring top 25 rankings . Alabama jumped to No. 16 in veteran college football reporter Mark Schlabach's rankings, a five-spot rise since ESPN's initial way-too-early 2026 rankings after the College Football Playoff National Championship in January.
The Crimson Tide are ranked one spot below Penn State and one spot ahead of Washington . Alabama's five-spot jump trails only that of the Nittany Lions and the Utah Utes, who each rose seven spots overall. But the Tide also trail quite a few SEC teams in Schlabach's rankings: Georgia , Texas , Ole Miss, Texas A&M , LSU and Oklahoma .
Year 3 is crucial for coach Kalen DeBoer, and Schlabach echoes many a sentiment when he says a third straight four-loss season won't be good enough at Alabama post-Nick Saban. "Kalen DeBoer's teams went 20-8 in his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide, which might be fine at other FBS programs, but isn't good enough at Alabama. The Tide have to become a more physical and disciplined team in 2026.
They ranked 125th in rushing (104. 1 yards) and must figure out a way to run the ball. Former NFL assistant Adrian Klemm was hired to coach the offensive line.