April views are clouded for any college football program. That is especially so for the Alabama Crimson Tide. For Alabama in 2026, there are more doubts than certainties.
Year three is unlikely to be make-or-break for Kalen DeBoer. His buyout pretty much assures he will get a fourth season in Tuscaloosa. The big question for DeBoer and Alabama is whether 2026 will be a building block to future glory and a sign of decay.
Alabama set a new record last season, being the only three-loss team to make the College Football Playoff. What saved the Crimson Tide was the third loss, which came in the SEC Championship Game. Three regular-season losses would have killed Alabama's Playoff chance.
The same situation exists for the 2026 regular season. Alabama cannot go 9-3 and make the Playoff.
Multiple betting markets have the Crimson Tide's over-under 2026 regular-season win total at 8.5 wins. Georgia and Texas are higher at 9.5 wins. Also at 8.5 are LSU and Texas A&M. Alabama plays three of the four in the regular season. Tennessee is pegged at 7.5 wins, but the Crimson Tide will play the Vols in Knoxville.
For the Playoff, a road win over Tennessee (plus eight other wins) will not be enough. Alabama cannot lose to Georgia, Texas A&M, and LSU. The Tide gets two of three at home, but Lane Kiffin's $40M+ roster should be thriving in November when the Tide travels to Baton Rouge. One recent prediction has Georgia and LSU going 11-1 in the regular season.
Against the Tide's schedule gauntlet, Alabama must succeed with what ESPN's Bill Connelly calls Kalen DeBoer's "least proven roster yet in Tuscaloosa." Connelly is not wrong.
What the Alabama Crimson Tide must accomplish
What must Kalen DeBoer and Alabama accomplish in the 2026 season? Rather than projecting a win total, Alabama's 2026 can be defined by perception. Kalen DeBoer must have a team that competes for a national title. 'Competing' means no bad post-season losses. Alabama had two bad postseason losses last season.
The 2026 Alabama Crimson Tide can lose in the postseason, but it must not lose badly. And of course, there must be a post-season that is not a meaningless bowl game.
For the record, mark me down as one who believes Alabama will prove doubters wrong. I am not worried about the quarterback position. The kicking game should be better than last season. Alabama's defense should also be better. The wild card is the offensive line.