Joel Klatt's take on the Alabama Crimson Tide both interesting and disconcerting

Joel Klatt's recent Top 25 rankings have the Alabama Crimson Tide as the SEC's fourth-best team. Klatt has Alabama Football as only the eighth-best nationally. The last time Alabama went into a season, AP Poll ranked below No. 5 was 2008. Viewed through a Crimson prism, a No. 8 ranking is a slap to the face.

Joel Klatt is a smart guy. When he speaks it makes good sense to listen. So what concerns him about the Alabama Crimson Tide? It is not Kalen DeBoer's coaching skills. Klatt defines DeBoer as a "guy I firmly believe in. Kalen DeBoer will work in Tuscaloosa."

Klatt explains that DeBoer's biggest challenge in Tuscaloosa is "changing" Alabama's culture. Not rebuilding the culture, and not introducing a new culture, but injecting what has worked for him into what has been the most successful college football culture this century. My words and not Klatt's, but the task could be described as an 'eye of the needle' challenge. In this case, the metaphor indicates a very narrow opening that is difficult to traverse.

Every indication out of Tuscaloosa suggests Kalen DeBoer's Alabama Football culture is taking hold quickly. Coaches, players, and staff all appear aligned and relishing the buy-in. But culture changes take time. The reality is organizational buy-ins cannot be injected. Time is needed for a culture change to be shaped and developed. As Joel Klatt points out, Alabama has a difficult schedule. Will Alabama's changed culture take hits from some tough losses? No one can be sure what will happen in 2024, but Klatt is right to point out the challenge for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Football program.

Joel Klatt College Football Top 25

• 1) Ohio State Buckeyes; 2_ Georgia Bulldogs; 3) Texas Longhorns; 4) Oregon Ducks; 5) Ole Miss Rebels; 6) Notre Dame Fighting Irish; 7) Michigan Wolverines; 8) Alabama Crimson Tide; 9) Utah Utes; 10) Penn State Nittany Lions; 11) Missouri Tigers; 12) Miami Hurricanes; 13) Florida State Seminoles; 14) USC Trojans; 15) Oklahoma Sooners; 16) Kansas State Wildcats; 17) Oklahoma State Cowboys; 18) Tennessee Vols; 19) LSU Bengal Tigers; 20) Kansas Jayhawks; 21) Arizona Wildcats; 22) Clemson Tigers; 23) Nebraska Cornhuskers; 24) Iowa Hawkeyes; 25) Texas A&M Aggies

Nine SEC teams in Klatt's Top 25 is impressive, especially with five in the top 11 and eight in the top 19. What a season of SEC Football 2024 is going to be. Should Crimson Tide fans be concerned? Not with college football's most talented roster and a team with something to prove.