The University of Alabama football program is in a familiar spot for the first time since 2009.
USA Today unveiled its Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll and Alabama debuts at No. 5.
Nick Saban had the Crimson Tide ranked in the same position heading into his third season as head coach. Alabama parlayed the moment into winning a Southeastern Conference Championship, a BCS National Championship, and crowning the school’s first-ever Heisman Trophy winner in Mark Ingram. Kalen DeBoer, the Tide’s new head coach, has his sights set on big things.
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Two SEC schools are ahead of Alabama — Georgia and Texas — and the Crimson Tide plays the Bulldogs in week five of the regular season at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama faces Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 28 coming off a bye week.
It could wind up battling Texas for an SEC Championship or meet the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff.
Alabama has its lowest preseason ranking since ’09, but that does not matter to DeBoer.
He wants this team focused on dominating fall camp in preparing for the season. National media has undervalued the Tide this summer; however, Alabama looks to show everyone it still runs college football in the fall.
Below are the top 25 preseason teams via USA Today.
1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Texas
5. Alabama
6. Ole Miss
7. Notre Dame
8. Michigan
9. Penn State
10. Florida State
11. Missouri
12. LSU
13. Utah
14. Clemson
15. Tennessee
16. Oklahoma
17. Kansas State
18. Oklahoma State
19. Miami (FL)
20. Texas A&M
21. Arizona
22. North Carolina State
23. USC
24. Kansas
25. Iowa
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
