In the current era of one-season massive roster rebuilds, the duration of two seasons of college football is tantamount to forever. At the end of the 2026 season, Alabama Football will be three seasons into its post-Nick Saban era. What can Crimson Tide fans expect? ESPN's Adam Rittenberg thinks he knows.
Previously, ESPN has provided three-season Power Four Power Rankings projections. Rittenberg's latest projection covers only the 2025 and 2026 seasons. His conclusions are subjective, using the criteria: returning quarterback, likelihood of a multi-year quarterback on the roster, offensive line and defensive line outlook, roster management, star power, and coaching staff.
Alabama football fans will not love Rittenberg's ranking of the Crimson Tide program. Alabama is the fifth-highest ranked SEC football program at No. 10 overall. Nine SEC football teams are in the top 22 of the rankings, led by Texas at No. 1 and Georgia at No. 3. Also ranked in the top 22 are No. 8 LSU, No. 9 Tennessee, No. 15 Florida, No. 16 Ole Miss, No. 18 South Carolina, and No. 22 Missouri. The rest of the SEC is No. 27 Oklahoma, No. 28 Texas A&M, No. 37 Auburn, No. 47 Vanderbilt, No. 52 Kentucky, No. 55 Arkansas, and No. 59 Mississippi State.
Among the other three Power Four conferences, the Big Ten has seven programs in the top 25; the Big 12 and the ACC have four each. Five Big 12 programs are ranked below Mississippi State, as are three Big Ten programs.
Alabama Football Program Ranking
Two main factors reduced the Alabama Crimson Tide's program ranking. One is not having a returning starting quarterback. The other is that Kalen DeBoer must prove themselves by making a College Football Playoff field. Given those criteria, Rittenberg's No. 10 ranking for the Alabama Crimson Tide is more plausible.
Rittenberg did not factor 2025 Strength of Schedules into his projections. However, using his program rankings, the Alabama Crimson Tide will play at least six 2025 teams ranked in the top 27 programs for the next two seasons. Getting through that gauntlet with only a loss or two would indicate that Rittenberg's No. 10 program ranking for the Crimson Tide is too low.