Answering the who question about the Alabama Crimson Tide not having one of the SEC's top offenses is easy. It is Brad Crawford of CBS Sports. Crawford recently ranked 10 high-powered college football offenses for the 2025 season. Five of the 10 were SEC football teams. The Alabama Crimson Tide was not included.
Crawford chose his "high-powered offenses - guaranteed to score points" primarily based on projected scoring offense, total offense, and points per play. He considered only Power Four teams and placed "emphasis on portal additions and proven returning talent."
The five SEC football teams ranked by Crawford are LSU (No. 2), Texas (No. 3), Oklahoma (No. 6), Ole Miss (No. 7), and South Carolina (No. 9).
There is some justification in excluding the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama does not return a proven quarterback, and the same is true of the Tide's right tackle slot. The Crimson Tide was more selective than many teams in roster-building through the Transfer Portal. Per 247Sports, LSU had the top 2025 portal class. Ole Miss was No. 4 and Oklahoma was No. 12. The Alabama Crimson Tide was ranked No. 21.
Taking a broader and more in-depth look at college football offenses, Phil Steele's position rankings provide a counter to Crawford's projection. In Steele's four offense position group rankings (receivers and tight ends are grouped together), Alabama is ranked low at only quarterback. Steele has the Tide's QB group at No. 36. His top four are LSU (No. 1), Texas (No. 2), South Carolina (No. 3), and Oklahoma (No. 4). Steele has Crawford's other top offense, Ole Miss is ranked No. 41 for quarterbacks.
Certainly, having a winner at quarterback is important, but how much more important is it than a top offensive line? Phil Steele rates Alabama with the FBS's No. 9 offensive line position group. Far below are Crawford's top five: Texas at No. 26, Oklahoma at No. 35, LSU at No. 43, Ole Miss at No. 54, and South Carolina at No. 69.
In rating receivers, Steele has LSU at No. 3, Alabama at No. 4, and Texas at No. 5. Ole Miss is No. 17, Oklahoma No. 35, and South Carolina No. 45. Steele has Alabama at No. 7 in running back groups. Above the Tide are Texas at No. 3 and Oklahoma at No. 5. LSU is No. 12, South Carolina is No. 47, and Ole Miss is No. 63.
Overall Alabama Crimson Tide Offense Rates Higher
Using the four offensive position groups and the Steele rankings, only Alabama and Texas have three top-10 ranked units. LSU and Oklahoma have two ranked in the top ten. Ole Miss and South Carolina have one each.
Crawford could be correct on his Scoring Offense and Total Offense projections because his five top SEC offenses will need to score more points than Alabama. Oklahoma has a highly rated defensive line, and Texas has the same at linebacker. But among the six SEC teams, only Alabama is rated in Steele's top 10 at the three defensive position groups. Alabama should do well in points per possession, but the Crimson Tide defense will allow games to be won with less offensive production than Crawford's five teams.
The Alabama Crimson Tide will have no middle-of-the-pack SEC football offense in the 2025 season.