Alabama Football Faces 2025 Season With Lowest AP Poll Ranking Since 2008 Yet Crimson Tide Faithful Maintain Championship Level Expectations
For the first time in over 15 years, Alabama football begins a season outside the top five in the Associated Press poll. The 2025 preseason rankings have the Crimson Tide sitting lower than any point since 2008, a statistic that instantly caught the attention of fans and pundits alike. For a program defined by dominance in the modern era of college football, this feels unusual, almost jarring. But if history — and Alabama’s track record — has taught us anything, it’s that underestimating the Crimson Tide is a dangerous game.
Nick Saban’s dynasty has been built on setting an impossibly high standard, year after year, regardless of roster turnover or preseason perception. Alabama is used to starting at the top and staying there, with multiple national championships to prove it. But this season brings a different narrative. Some see the lower ranking as a sign of change in the sport’s balance of power, while others believe it’s simply a reflection of uncertainty following a wave of player departures, coaching staff adjustments, and an untested starting quarterback in Ty Simpson stepping into the spotlight.
The last time Alabama opened a season ranked this low, it was the second year of the Saban era. Back in 2008, the Tide were still climbing toward the heights they would soon reach. That season ended up serving as the launchpad for one of the most dominant runs in college football history, culminating in six national championships between 2009 and 2020. For some fans, the memory of that turnaround is a reason to embrace this moment, seeing it as an opportunity for history to repeat itself.
Still, for a program accustomed to being the team everyone is chasing, this preseason ranking will be viewed by many as a sign of disrespect. It’s fuel for a locker room that has no shortage of motivation already. Players and coaches will no doubt use it as a rallying point, an “us against the world” mentality that often brings out the best in championship-caliber teams. Alabama under Saban has thrived in moments where outsiders doubted them — and the fans are counting on that again.
Around Tuscaloosa, the conversations are as animated as ever. Sports radio callers debate whether the ranking is fair, citing last season’s ups and downs, a couple of late-game struggles, and the lack of proven production at certain positions. Others argue that preseason polls are meaningless once the games begin, pointing out that Alabama has more than enough talent to climb quickly once the wins start stacking up.
Social media has been flooded with mixed emotions. Some Alabama fans express frustration, feeling the national media is too quick to write off the Tide. Others are leaning into the underdog role, enjoying the rare chance to see their team come from behind in the rankings rather than defend a preseason No. 1 spot. Memes and posts reflect this split — half defiant, half optimistic — but all united in the belief that Alabama football will still be a force in 2025.
Part of the ranking drop can be attributed to changes in the roster. The departure of several key starters to the NFL, along with transfers, has left question marks at multiple positions. Ty Simpson’s promotion to starting quarterback is exciting but unproven, and in the unforgiving SEC, experience often dictates early respect. The offensive line is also in a transition phase, and while Alabama has recruited elite talent, fans know that building cohesion takes time.
Defensively, there are still plenty of reasons for optimism. The Tide return a solid core of experienced players, especially in the front seven, and the secondary remains one of the most athletic units in the conference. However, the defense will need to gel quickly, particularly with early-season matchups against explosive offenses on the schedule.
The schedule itself could be a factor in the ranking. Alabama faces a grueling slate that includes Georgia, LSU, and Texas, along with rivalry games that always seem to bring out unexpected drama. Preseason pollsters likely took this into account, knowing that even a top-tier team could be tested heavily right out of the gate. For fans, that means they won’t have to wait long to see whether this ranking is an underestimation or an early warning sign.
Inside the program, the message will be simple: the rankings don’t define the season. Saban has always emphasized controlling what you can control — preparation, execution, and consistency — rather than chasing outside approval. The players will no doubt hear that repeatedly between now and the season opener, and many veterans are already speaking publicly about using the ranking as a motivator rather than a distraction.
Among the fan base, confidence remains high, even if the preseason buzz is slightly muted compared to past years. Many Alabama supporters have seen enough over the past decade and a half to know that the Tide’s performance in September often looks different by November. The thought of entering the College Football Playoff conversation as a team that had to climb its way up the rankings appeals to some fans, who believe it could make a potential championship run even sweeter.
And make no mistake — championship expectations haven’t disappeared. Even with the lower starting point, Alabama still has one of the most talented rosters in the nation. The incoming recruiting classes remain loaded, the depth chart is stacked with four- and five-star prospects, and the coaching staff has been retooled to bring fresh energy. For the faithful in Tuscaloosa, the ranking is just another storyline in what they believe will be another season of contention.
It’s also worth noting that preseason polls are often poor predictors of how the season will play out. Plenty of teams start high and fade quickly, while others rise from outside the top 10 to compete for national titles. Alabama has been on both sides of that equation, and Saban’s program has made a habit of peaking at the right time. Fans are quick to remind each other that the real rankings that matter are the ones released in late November.
What will be fascinating to watch is how the players respond on the field. A lower ranking gives them the chance to play with a chip on their shoulder, to approach each game with something to prove. It can be liberating for a team to no longer carry the weight of being the consensus preseason favorite, replacing it instead with the hunger to prove doubters wrong. Alabama, for the first time in a while, has that dynamic in its corner.
As opening weekend approaches, the anticipation is building. The Walk of Champions will still be packed, Bryant-Denny Stadium will still be deafening, and the expectations will still be sky-high — regardless of what a preseason poll says. The Crimson Tide faithful will be there in force, ready to see whether Ty Simpson can command the offense, whether the defense can make a statement, and whether the 2025 squad can turn a perceived slight into a season-long rallying cry.
In a way, this ranking has injected a different kind of energy into the program and its supporters. Instead of defending a throne, Alabama is chasing it — a role it hasn’t played in well over a decade. For a fan base that’s used to front-running, this could be a refreshing twist, and perhaps the spark that sets the tone for another championship run.
The last time Alabama started this low, they shocked the college football world and began a dynasty. Now, in 2025, with Saban still at the helm and a roster brimming with potential, the stage is set for another statement season. The preseason ranking might say otherwise, but in Tuscaloosa, belief runs deeper than numbers on a poll.
Alabama football may be starting from its lowest Associated Press poll position since 2008, but it’s still Alabama football — and that means anything is possible. The opponents may see a number next to the Tide’s name that suggests vulnerability, but the fans know better. They’ve seen this story before, and they’re ready to watch it unfold again.
