Alabama Football: Week Five SEC Power Rankings

Alabama football regained a position familiar to Crimson Tide fans at No. 1 in the AP and Coaches Polls. Check out how the entire SEC fared in the latest ‘Bama Hammer’ Power Rankings.

Week five was unusual in terms of Alabama football. While the Crimson Tide regained the top ranking in the national polls, its defense was found wanting by many Tide fans. Being ranked No. 1 is normal, but for Alabama football, giving up 31 points to a team that may struggle for bowl eligibility – abnormal is a better word.

As the Bama Hammer SEC Power Rankings show, a team good enough to be ranked No. 1 in the nation is certainly good enough to be No.1 in the SEC. However, in our staff calculation based on a maximum of 84 points, Alabama football actually slipped back one point from last week.

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide – 83 points (last week, 84 points) 

I don’t care. Alabama football looked average on Saturday and it still beat an SEC team by 28 points. Nick Saban certainly has good reason to be wary of his team five games into the season, but as the offensive running game continues to get better, you have to think this is a team that can take the air out of the ball when a youthful defensive front seven needs a break. At least that’s the hope.

And what else can be said about wideout Devonta Smith’s Alabama football, record-breaking day against the Rebels? 11 catches (11 targets), 274 yards and five touchdowns. It was a thing of beauty and it looks like this offense is more than willing to pick up the slack for its defensive counterpart. As long as Tua is continuing to make good decisions in and out of the pocket and he has a healthy offense around him, even the best defenses are going to struggle. This Crimson Tide team can still be a great one.

Alabama football has a BYE week this Saturday before traveling to College Station to face the Aggies.