The Alabama Crimson Tide enter the 2026 college football season with something they haven’t had in quite some time: something to prove.
Under head coach Kalen DeBoer, Alabama has reached the College Football Playoff and SEC Championship Game, but the Crimson Tide have also lost eight games during DeBoer’s first two seasons. That has created plenty of questions about whether Alabama is still capable of being the dominant program it was under Nick Saban.
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Despite the questions, Alabama remains one of the most talented programs in the country and enters 2026 ranked No. 11 in the preseason AP Top 25.
The question is simple: Can Alabama return to the top of college football?
Kalen DeBoer Is Under Pressure
There is no denying the pressure surrounding DeBoer.
Replacing Nick Saban was never going to be easy, but Alabama’s expectations haven’t changed. The Crimson Tide are still expected to compete for SEC championships and national titles every season.
DeBoer has already shown that he can get Alabama to the biggest stage. Now he has to take the next step and finish the job.
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Another season without serious championship contention could make the pressure surrounding the program even greater.
Keelon Russell Takes Over at Quarterback
One of the biggest storylines entering the season is the quarterback position.
Keelon Russell is expected to take over as Alabama’s starter after Ty Simpson moved on to the NFL. Russell has been one of the most talked-about young quarterbacks in the program, and now he gets his opportunity to lead the Crimson Tide.
Replacing an experienced quarterback is never easy, especially at Alabama.
If Russell can quickly establish himself as a playmaker and consistently make big throws, the Crimson Tide could have the offensive firepower needed to compete with the best teams in the SEC.
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The Talent Is Still There
Even with significant roster turnover, Alabama remains loaded with talent.
The Crimson Tide continue to recruit at an elite level and have brought in talented players through the transfer portal. The biggest question may not be whether Alabama has enough talent, but whether that talent can come together quickly enough.
Alabama’s defense will also be critical.
If the Crimson Tide can return to playing the physical, aggressive defense that Alabama has traditionally been known for, it could take significant pressure off Russell and the offense.
The SEC Won’t Make It Easy
The biggest obstacle might be the conference itself.
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The SEC is loaded with national championship contenders, and Alabama will have to navigate a schedule filled with difficult games. Every week brings the possibility of a major test, and there will be very little room for error.
That’s especially important because the Crimson Tide are no longer viewed as an automatic favorite by everyone.
Some preseason projections have Alabama outside the top 10, while others remain extremely high on the Tide. Phil Steele, for example, has Alabama firmly in the College Football Playoff picture and competing for a national championship.
Championship Contention Is the Goal
For Alabama, simply making a bowl game isn’t enough.
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The Crimson Tide expect to compete for championships.
2026 gives DeBoer another opportunity to prove that Alabama can remain one of college football’s elite programs even after the Saban era.
Russell has the chance to become the next great Alabama quarterback. The roster has enough talent to compete. And DeBoer has already shown that he can get the program to the postseason’s biggest stages.
Now comes the most important part.
Alabama has spent the last two seasons trying to prove it can survive without Nick Saban. In 2026, the Crimson Tide have the opportunity to prove they can build a new era of dominance under Kalen DeBoer.