Alabama Ranked Historically Low In Preseason AP Poll

The news that fans nationwide anticipated finally broke this week: the official Top-25 Preseason AP Poll.

There were many conversations regarding who should hold the top spot within the rankings. Debates between Georgia or Ohio State were the predominate favorites. However, the AP Poll ranked Georgia as the preseason No. 1 overall team in the country. On3 provided a tweet with the entire Top-25 preseason rankings .

Within the Top-25 rankings, the SEC would dominate once again, with Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss, Missouri, LSU, Tennessee and Texas A&M all listed, as well as newcomers Texas and Oklahoma. The SEC see a total of nine teams within the Top-25.

Then enters Alabama. Questions lingered where they would rank after the retirement of Nick Saban, the hiring of Kalen DeBoer, and the transfers who would either leave or join the program.

Alabama finds themselves at No. 5. However, as exciting as it sounds, this will be their lowest preseason ranking since 2009, according to FOX College Football on X .

Something fans should consider is: this is still a generous ranking.

Alabama will feature a new head coach and a brand new staff. The unpredictability of this team is often questioned, both positively and negatively. We will not truly see who Alabama is until they get in-game reps, specifically when they will be tested within their tough schedule.

Also, they have a historically and statistical winning head coach. DeBoer is no stranger to winning and being tested. He just led the Washington Huskies to a national championship appearance with a Heisman candidate as his quarterback. His offense is full of fire and the 2024 Alabama team will be the best team DeBoer has ever coached, talent wise.

There is room for both opportunity and failure for this season. But DeBoer's track record cannot be overlooked.

Even Stephen A. Smith provided optimism when discussing Georgia's track record against the Tide.

The unknowns for the Crimson Tide program will soon be resolved. The opportunity is there for DeBoer. And right now, he seems to be on the right track.

Related: College Football Preseason AP Top 25 Poll Released on Monday