The Alabama Crimson Tide are set to enter the 2026 season as one of the top teams in college football, with ESPN’s Mark Schlabach the latest across the sport to echo that thought.
Schlabach recently released his 2026 preseason college football rankings, with the ESPN analyst ranking Alabama as the No. 16 team in the country to begin the year. The Crimson Tide are the seventh-highest ranked SEC team in the preseason as well, per Schlabach’s power rankings.
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Alabama is coming off a 11-4 overall (7-1 SEC) season which saw the Crimson Tide reach the CFP quarterfinals in year two under head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Entering 2026, the Crimson Tide are ranked as a consensus Top 25 team nationally in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Poll, and will have a new-look roster headlined by a new starter at quarterback in sophomore Keelon Russell. The Crimson Tide do return some prominent names from a year ago headlined by Ryan Coleman-Williams, Bray Hubbard, Zabien Brown, and Yhonzae Pierre, among others.
Alabama is set to open the 2026 season at home Saturday, Sept. 5, against East Carolina. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
Following the opener, Alabama will travel to Kentucky in Week 2, as well as host Florida State in Week 3.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Where ESPN ranks Alabama in preseason college football power rankings
