For the first time in nearly two decades, Alabama football will start a season outside the national elite conversation — at least according to the coaches.
The Crimson Tide opened the 2026 season ranked *No. 11 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll*, and *No. 8 in another version of the poll*. Either way, it marks Alabama’s lowest preseason coaches ranking since *2008*, when Nick Saban’s team was unranked to start the year. That 2008 squad went on to finish 12-0 in the regular season before losing to Florida in the SEC Championship. 2919cf3d
- Where Alabama landed
In the poll released Tuesday, Ohio State came in at No. 1, followed by Oregon at No. 2 and Georgia at No. 3. Texas was No. 4 and Notre Dame rounded out the top five. 2919
Within the SEC, five teams were ranked ahead of Alabama: No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 9 Oklahoma, and No. 10 Ole Miss. Alabama was the sixth-highest ranked SEC team. 2919
Other versions of the preseason coaches poll had Alabama at No. 8, but both reports agree this is the program’s lowest preseason coaches poll spot since 2008. It’s also the first time since 2008 that Alabama will start a season outside the top 10 in the coaches poll. 1e19cf3d48c1
Why the drop?
Context matters. Alabama is entering *Year 3 under head coach Kalen DeBoer*, following the retirement of Nick Saban after the 2023-24 season. 29193f25
The Tide are coming off an 11-win 2025 season that included a College Football Playoff appearance. Alabama beat Oklahoma 34-24 in the first round before getting blown out 38-3 by eventual national champion Indiana in the Rose Bowl. They finished 2024 ranked No. 17 in both polls — their lowest finish since 2007. 2919436b
The big question heading into 2026 is at quarterback. Reports note there’s still no clear starter, with Ty Simpson getting the edge but Austin Mack and Keelon Russell pushing. That uncertainty is likely a factor in the lower ranking. ff48
A familiar script?
Alabama fans have seen this movie before. In 2008, Saban’s second year, the Tide were also unranked in the preseason coaches poll. That team climbed all the way to No. 1 by Week 11. 29193f25
DeBoer acknowledged the challenge after last season’s struggles, saying “it’s going to be an uphill climb for us” to get back into the 12-team playoff. His record against unranked teams with Alabama — 6-4 — is also a far cry from Saban’s 124-4 mark. 3f25
What’s next
Alabama opens the season *August 30 at Florida State*, a team that received votes in the poll. The SEC is loaded again with nine teams in the preseason top 25, so opportunities to climb will come fast — starting with games against Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss, all ranked ahead of the Tide. 1e1948c12919
For a program that has spent most of the last 15 years at No. 1 or No. 2 in August, No. 11 feels foreign. But if 2008 taught us anything, it’s that a low August ranking in Tuscaloosa doesn’t mean much come January. ff48
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