Everything felt different the moment Nick Saban walked away. You could almost hear a collective gasp from Tuscaloosa to the furthest corners of the SEC. For years, the Alabama ranking in football was basically a permanent fixture at the #1 or #2 spot, like some kind of cosmic law. But honestly, watching the 2025 season unfold under Kalen DeBoer, we've seen that the "fall of the empire" might have been a bit exaggerated.
The Tide just finished their 2025 campaign with an 11-4 record. That sounds like a disaster if you’re used to the Saban era where two losses meant the world was ending, but in the new 12-team playoff era? It's just... different. Alabama spent most of the year hovering around that #4 to #11 range, eventually landing at #11 in the AP Poll following a rough exit in the Rose Bowl against Indiana.
What happened to the dominance?
Let’s be real: the SEC is a meat grinder now. You’ve got Texas and Oklahoma in the mix, and the schedule is just brutal. Alabama actually beat Georgia in the regular season—a 24-21 thriller in September—but then they got handled by the Bulldogs 28-7 in the SEC Championship. That’s the kind of whiplash that defines the current Alabama ranking in football. One week you're the king of the mountain, the next you're fighting to stay in the top ten.
The ranking fluctuated like a heart monitor all season. They started at #8, plummeted to #21 after a Week 1 loss to Florida State, and then clawed their way back to #4 by late October. It’s been a rollercoaster. Fans aren't used to seeing "11" next to the name, but that’s the reality of a transitional period.
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The Kalen DeBoer era by the numbers
DeBoer had massive shoes to fill. Massive. We’re talking about replacing the greatest of all time. But 11-4 in year two isn't exactly a failure. He took them to the CFP Quarterfinals.
- Wins against the elite: Beating #5 Georgia and #8 Oklahoma (twice!) showed that the talent is still there.
- The Indiana disaster: Losing 38-3 to Indiana in the Rose Bowl was a gut punch. It’s the kind of scoreline that makes people question the ranking entirely.
- Consistency: Despite the losses, Alabama remained ranked in the Top 25 for 100% of the season.
There's this weird tension right now. On one hand, Alabama is still a national powerhouse. They just won a playoff game on the road against Oklahoma! On the other hand, the blowout loss to Indiana suggests the gap between Alabama and the very top tier—teams like Indiana and Georgia—has widened slightly.
Recruiting is the secret sauce
If you’re worried about the Alabama ranking in football falling off a cliff in 2026, look at the recruiting trail. DeBoer is currently sitting with the #3 class in the country. They’ve got 21 commits, including three 5-stars. Texas and Georgia are the only ones ahead of them.
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Basically, the talent pipeline isn't clogged. The Tide is still pulling in the elite athletes who want to play on the biggest stage. As long as that keeps happening, Alabama will stay in the conversation. They might not be the undisputed #1 every single week, but they are far from irrelevant.
Why the 2025 ranking matters for the future
Most people get this wrong: they think a #11 finish is a sign of decay. In reality, it’s a sign of a program finding its footing in a new landscape. The 12-team playoff changed the math. You can lose three or four games and still be "Alabama."
The Tide's SOS (Strength of Schedule) was ranked 5th in the nation this past year. When you play that many ranked teams, your ranking is going to take hits. But the committee and the AP voters still respect the brand. They know that a 4-loss Alabama is often better than a 1-loss team from a weaker conference.
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Moving forward into 2026
If you're tracking the Alabama ranking in football for next season, keep an eye on the portal. DeBoer has shown he’s not afraid to mix veteran transfers with his high school recruits. The offense under Ryan Grubb has flashes of brilliance, but they need more consistency to get back into that top 5 "safe zone."
To keep tabs on where the Tide stands as we head toward the 2026 kickoff, you should:
- Monitor the final AP and Coaches Polls: While the CFP is the one that gets you in the bracket, the AP Poll still dictates the national narrative and "prestige" ranking.
- Check the 2026 Preseason Rankings: Expect Bama to start somewhere between #6 and #9. They’ve lost some key pieces, but the recruiting class is too good for them to drop further.
- Watch the Spring Game: This is where the depth chart—and the hype—starts to build. The performance of the incoming 5-star freshmen will be the biggest story of the offseason.
The days of Alabama being a "lock" for the #1 spot might be over for now, but being a "lock" for the Top 12 is a pretty great consolation prize. They are still the team everyone wants to beat, and as long as they're in the playoff mix, they're dangerous.