SEC Football: Preseason power rankings for 2023 season
By Matt Melton
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
Coming off yet another 10+ win season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama enters year No. 17 under head coach Nick Saban sitting at No. 2 in our 2023 preseason SEC football power rankings.
As to what last season included, Alabama would finish the year at 11-2 overall, as well as 6-2 in SEC play, to miss the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019. Concluding the year with a win in the Sugar Bowl, this was Alabama’s 15th consecutive 10+ win season, with their overall and SEC win totals being the lowest since the aforementioned 2019 campaign in which the Crimson Tide had the same record.
Returning for Alabama this season are multiple names on the offensive side of the ball, headlined by JC Latham, Jase McClellan, Ja’Corey Brooks, Jermaine Burton, and more. Alabama also returns multiple prominent names on defense as well, a group that includes Kool-Aid McKinstry, Dallas Turner, Jaheim Oatis, and Deontae Lawson, among others.
Having also brought in the nation’s No. 1 2023 recruiting class, Alabama has multiple freshmen who should have key impacts this season, headlined by the likes of Caleb Downs, Justice Haynes, Kadyn Proctor, and more. The Crimson Tide also have a few impact transfers new to the program as well such as CJ Dippre, Trey Amos, and more.
Alabama will officially open the 2023 season at home during Week 1 against Middle Tennessee.
