Alabama football fell short of winning a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2021, but ESPN knows the reputation of Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
Bryce Young, a junior quarterback, returns as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Alabama also picked up major offensive pieces from the transfer portal in Jermaine Burton (wide receiver), Jahmyr Gibbs (running back), and Tyler Steen (offensive lineman). The Tide returns both coordinators — Bill O’Brien and Pete Golding — and it’s coming after a national title.
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According to ESPN, Alabama is ranked No. 1 in its Football Power Index preseason 2022 rankings. The Tide carries an FPI ranking of 28.9 and it is projected to win 11.3 games. ESPN has Alabama with the highest percentage to win the Southeastern Conference (49.6) and a CFP national title (30.1). The Crimson Tide defeated Georgia in the SEC title game in 2021.
Nine SEC teams in the ESPN FPI Preseason Top 25.
More than any other conference 💪 pic.twitter.com/CCS7tseb2Q
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 14, 2022
Alabama has its spring game on Saturday, but Saban eyes national championship No. 8 for his career.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
