For the Alabama Crimson Tide, disrespect abounds. It has been ebbing and flowing throughout Kalen DeBoer's tenure. The label of Alabama as an underdog was reinforced by embarrassing losses to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and to Indiana in the Rose Bowl. Recent transfer portal exits and misses have stoked the flames. Will Backus wrote that Alabama's 2026 hopes were tied to the Transfer Portal and that "it hasn't taken long for those hopes to unravel."
Central to the theme is the proposition that the Crimson Tide no longer holds a fear factor over opponents. Regardless of the motivations Alabama's detractors have, the Alabama Crimson Tide needs to embrace defining a new reality. The 2026 team has the responsibility to re-establish the Crimson Tide as one of college football's elite programs.
Alabama players and coaching staff can use 'underdog' claims as strong motivation. Having something to prove could propel the 2026 Crimson Tide back to legitimate national championship contention.
Alabama Crimson Tide as a 2026 Underdog
Alabama will be favored in the majority of its 2026 regular-season games. The Crimson Tide will be favored in its first five games against East Carolina, at Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina, and at Mississippi State. The early run of games provides a good opportunity for an inexperienced starting quarterback to mature.
Alabama's game six brings an abrupt change. The second Saturday in October will bring the Georgia Bulldogs back to Tuscaloosa. A 5-0 Crimson Tide will likely be at worst, a small underdog, if not the favorite. The Georgia game is the first of a brutal five-week run during which Alabama hosts Georgia, travels to Knoxville to take on the Vols, and hosts the Texas A&M Aggies. After a bye week, Alabama travels to Baton Rouge to battle Lane Kiffin's first LSU team. Alabama could be an underdog in each game.
Alabama's three-game regular season finish should see the Crimson Tide favored against Vanderbilt in Nashville, followed by home games against Chattanooga and Auburn.
This situation is far from 'gloom and doom.' Alabama football fans are hoping Kalen DeBoer will have players better suited to run his offense, along with an offensive line that provides a solid rushing attack. And that the Crimson Tide defense returns to bullying opponents. If Alabama comes close to achieving those hopes, it should be favored in every game.