Where Alabama Was Selected in the SEC Media Poll Before the Season
Before a microphone was passed at SEC Media Days in Atlanta, the preseason media poll quietly but clearly reshaped expectations across the league. For the first time in years, Alabama did not emerge as poll favorite; instead, Texas earned that distinction, with Georgia a close second. Alabama was projected third—an outcome that, while not catastrophic, signals a major shift in the SEC’s perceived power structure.
On July 18, 2025, after a week of interviews and photo ops, the 204 voters from the national sports media cast ballots for both a conference champion and a projected order of finish. Texas captured an eye-opening 96 first-place votes and amassed 3,060 points—positioning it as the preseason favorite to secure the SEC title. Georgia followed with 44 votes and 2,957 points. Alabama placed third, with 29 first-place votes and a total of 2,783 points. LSU (2,668) and South Carolina (2,109) rounded out the top five
That third-place projection represented a marked departure from Alabama’s standing in the Saban era. From 2007 onward, Alabama regularly contended for the No. 1 preseason spot, often earning the largest share of first-place votes. For instance, just a year earlier, in 2024, Alabama was picked second in the preseason poll, trailing only Georgia despite receiving 12 first-place votes and 2,891 points Now, under Kalen DeBoer, the Tide find themselves positioned behind two national title contenders entering the season.
This outcome represents more than just a ranking—it encapsulates broader perceptions about Alabama’s state in 2025. A 9–4 finish in 2024 marked the program’s worst campaign in almost two decades, prompting external reassessment from media, rival coaches, and fans. The preseason poll acts as the first official barometer of that reassessment: third place may not undermine optimism completely, but it underscores a shift from unquestioned dominance to contested excellence.
The “points” system in the poll further illustrates the separation. Alabama trailed Texas by 277 points and Georgia by 174. That considerable difference reflects not merely a minority opinion but a consensus that Texas and Georgia enter the season with stronger resumes and higher expectations. The nearly 300-point gap suggests a gap of multiple full ballot rankings rather than minor statistical differences.
Delving deeper into the context, Texas’s surge to the top is rooted in its impressive turnaround. The Longhorns reached the SEC Championship Game in their first conference season and played in a College Football Playoff semifinal, earning widespread respect. Their haul of 96 first-place votes is historic for a team new to the SEC and positioned them as a legitimate threat to the Tide’s years-long supremacy . Meanwhile, Georgia’s continued run of excellence, including securing multiple SEC titles and national championships under Kirby Smart, solidified its second-place projection—underscoring a clear “Big Three” above the rest.
The media poll also carries symbolic weight for Alabama’s internal culture. When heads of staff and star players take the stage at Media Days, the projected order of finish becomes a backdrop to their messaging. Positioned behind Texas and Georgia, the coach and players are already positioned to defend their place as a returning playoff hopeful, rather than parade as the preordained best. The narrative they carry into the season must now contend with external skepticism.
That skepticism isn’t mere conjecture. One analyst for CBS sports characterized DeBoer’s first year as falling short of expectations—a description once unimaginable for an Alabama coach. Similarly, observers at Media Days suggested the SEC itself, particularly its football legacy, is being tested after two straight national title droughts. Michigan and Ohio State claimed titles in 2023 and 2024, leading many to question whether the SEC still leads the sport. Alabama’s third-place projection feeds into that broader conversati
That said, placing third isn’t a rebuke. Alabama still received 29 votes as a potential SEC champion—roughly 14 % of ballots—a figure that underscores persistent respect for the program’s pedigree and potential. By comparison, LSU received 20 votes, Georgia 44, Texas 96, and South Carolina five . Ultimately, while Alabama may no longer dominate preseason speculation, a significant cohort still believes in its capacity to win the league.
The broader standings projection, from Texas first to Mississippi State sixteenth, also reflect the uneven field Alabama navigates. With conference realignment gone, and power shifting among programs, the projected top five reads like a trifecta of Texas, Georgia, Alabama, then LSU and South Carolina. For Alabama, that means each week could present slippery matchups in which expectation is no longer the one constant.
In contrast, Alabama’s standing in previous years reinforces how rare its new position feels. For instance, in 2023, it was the West Division and SEC Championship favorite with 165 first-place votes, and ranked No. 2 overall in the media poll behind Georgia’s 181 votes. For 2024, it was again firmly in the top three, ahead of perennial middle-tier programs. Now, by 2025, they find themselves behind both Georgia and an ascendant Texas, a testament to the shifting landscape
Alabama’s response to this projection inevitably shapes the season’s narrative. At Media Days, Kalen DeBoer acknowledged the shortfall and projected a message of growth—from missing the playoff to striving for championship status. Choosing to highlight returning captains like Deontae Lawson and OL Kadyn Proctor, and emphasizing continuity and culture, suggests the program recognizes the challenge and seeks to control the story moving forward
Yet public perception is slow to shift. That third-place line in the preseason standings will sit with fans and bettors alike. Should Alabama stumble early, or lose key matchups to Texas or Georgia, the media poll will take on greater weight—reshaping expectations to reality. Conversely, a resounding start could neutralize the early doubt and signal that the Tide remain atop the hierarchy, regardless of preseason positioning.
Expectations are also shaped by the broader power mosaic in college football. With the Big Ten claiming two consecutive titles, the SEC’s grip has loosened, and Alabama’s ranking becomes part of that narrative. Critics frame the third-place tag not as a failure, but as a sign the league faces competition internally and nationally—and that Alabama must requalify its dominance rather than assume it
For supporters, this poll should signal both alarm and opportunity. A warning that the program must evolve and perform, and a challenge that narrative expectations will be measured in wins and resilience rather than historical inevitability. From a recruiting standpoint, finishing third doesn’t threaten Alabama’s drawing power—but failing to exceed it could create momentum for rivals to build upon.
Belief in the program remains rooted in infrastructure—coaching staff, facilities, alumni, NIL, and a consistently elite recruiting pipeline. Alabama secured a top-three SEC recruiting class despite falling short of program standards, an encouraging sign that talent remains on campus If DeBoer and staff capitalize on that talent to redefine identity and execution, they can rewrite expectations in real-time.
Ultimately, preseason polls are best seen as opening gambits rather than final diagnoses. Alabama’s third-place projection indicates shifting balance in the SEC, and demands a response through preparation and performance. Texas and Georgia have legacies and talent primed for title contention—but Alabama’s presence near the top affirms they remain contenders until proven otherwise.
So where was Alabama selected in the SEC preseason media poll before the 2025 season? Third overall, behind Texas and Georgia, with 29 votes to win the conference and 2,783 points in the overall predicted standings. That positioning carries implications—expectations recalibrated, narrative adjusted, pressure increased. But it remains high enough to keep the Tide in elite conversation. A challenge rather than condemnation; a starting point rather than verdict.
Alabama is no longer assumed the top dog, but no one expects them to fade. The next months will test whether this projection becomes reality or reads as worst-case fodder. Either outcome will reflect not just on DeBoer’s second year, but on the evolving landscape of the SEC and college football at large.
