Alabama Football News

Where Alabama football is ranked in ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25 for 2026 season

by
Justin Smith
January 20, 2026

ESPN released a way-too-early top 25 for the 2026 season after Indiana defeated Miami in the National Championship and listed the Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 21.

The Tide is coming off a 11-4 season where it was eliminated by the eventual National Champions in the second round of the College Football Playoff in the Rose Bowl. ESPN’s Senior writer, Mark Schlabach provided some details about why Alabama is ranked quite low.

“With the way the 2025 season ended — the Tide fell to Georgia 28-7 in the SEC championship game, beat Oklahoma 34-24 in a CFP first-round game and were pummeled 38-3 by Indiana in a quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl — coach Kalen DeBoer is undoubtedly on the hot seat entering his third season in Tuscaloosa,” Schlabach wrote. “His teams went 20-8 in the first two seasons, which isn’t good enough at Alabama. The Crimson Tide ranked 125th in rushing (104.1 yards) and must figure out a way to run the ball. That starts up front, where Alabama has had mediocre play on the offensive line. Keelon Russell and Austin Mack will battle for the quarterback job with Simpson leaving for the NFL draft. There were heavy losses in the front seven on defense after Lawson, Jefferson, Keenan and Overton turned pro.”

Indiana is listed at No. 1. Texas is the highest-ranked SEC team at No. 2. No. 4 Georgia, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 12 Oklahoma and No. 15 LSU are the other five SEC teams ranked above the Tide.

It looks as if DeBoer and company will have their fair share of doubters ahead of the 2026 season.

Justin Smith( Managing Editor, Director of Recruiting )

Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.