Alabama’s positioning at No. 7 in Sports Illustrated’s preseason Top 25 may not have risen to the lightning-speed expectations of a few years ago, but the Crimson Tide remain serious contenders. SI’s analysis emphasizes this ranking reflects both a dose of reality and a reminder of the talent still roaring beneath the surface in Tuscaloosa.
The story begins by highlighting just how remarkable it remains that the Tide—a program that fans once took for granted as preseason No. 1 material—aren’t sitting atop the rankings. The post-Nick Saban era, combined with last season’s inconsistency, has ended that automatic credibility once reserved for Bama. The departure of the winningest coach in college football history casts a long shadow, and 2024’s unexpected stumbles against teams like Vanderbilt, Tennessee (again), and Oklahoma—coupled with missing the playoff—remind us: Alabama is no longer invincible.
Still, SI doesn’t write the Tide off. Instead, the tone shifts to one of cautious optimism. The article notes that the roster is again loaded with future NFL talent, from standout wide receiver Ryan Williams, one of college football’s brightest young stars, to dominant, experienced units up front on both sides of the ball. The overall sense is that the 2024 season might prove to be less of a tectonic shift than a temporary hangover from adjusting to a whole new regime under head coach Kalen DeBoer.
In essence, being ranked seventh reflects both a reality check and a deeply rooted belief. It acknowledges last year’s growing pains—due in part to the coaching transition few saw coming—while stressing that what carried Alabama to the mountaintop in years past still lives there. The talent is still elite, the lines still imposing, and the capacity to dominate is very much intact. What’s more, DeBoer and play-caller Ryan Grubb have the raw material to produce a powerful bounce-back.
To wrap it up, SI presents Alabama as a fascinating blend of vulnerability and vindication. They’re not the preseason titans of previous decades—but therein lies the intrigue. Will the Tide’s roster depth and coaching clarity resurrect that past dominance? Or will familiar SEC foes continue to remind us that Alabama, while still one of the most storied programs, must earn respect anew each Saturday?
