Many Alabama football fans remember the dismal years that began with Dennis Franchione and continued through the tenure of Mike Shula. The period was most typified by failures on the gridiron.
While Alabama struggled in football, Mark Gottfried's Alabama basketball teams made five straight NCAA Tournaments. Gottfried's peak was an Elite Eight appearance in 2004. The disparity in success between Alabama's football and men's basketball programs was also reflected in each season's preseason rankings.
One measurement is satisfactory for comparison: the preseason AP polls. In 2001, Alabama basketball was preseason ranked No. 25, and Crimson Tide football was preseason ranked No. 25. A staggering difference took place in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Crimson Tide hoops was preseason ranked No. 18, No. 15, and No. 11 in those years. Alabama football was unranked. Real joy from the success of Alabama basketball was no remedy for the gloom about the Alabama football program.
Much has changed for both Alabama sports since those years. Nick Saban's unparalleled success brought championship joy back to Alabama. Alabama basketball regressed before Nate Oats brought the Crimson Tide back not just to relevancy, but further to Alabama basketball's highest level of success.
The two football seasons since Nick Saban have not come close to being as bad as the 2003-2006 interval when Mike Shula teams had six, seven and nine loss seasons.
There is one similarity between then and now. In 2024, Alabama basketball was preseason ranked No. 2. Alabama football was not ranked as high, at No. 5. The preseason norm recurred in 2025, with football ranked No. 8 and basketball ranked No. 15. In 2026 preseason rankings, early looks have Alabama basketball ranked a good bit higher than football. One current ESPN ranking has Alabama at No. 8. That ranking presumes Aden Holloway will be able to play and Amari Allen will return for a second season.
In a post-spring ranking by USA Today Sports, Alabama football is ranked No. 12. Kalen DeBoer is now one of college football's highest-paid coaches. Nate Oats is at the top of college basketball earners as well. Alabama football will always have the most fans. But among many Crimson Tide fans, there is as much, or more, optimism for Crimson Tide basketball.
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