Where CBS Sports has Alabama football in post-spring top 25 rankings
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Alabama football wrapped up spring practice earlier this month with its annual A-Day event at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and on Wednesday another national outlet decided where the Crimson Tide stand among both SEC peers and national programs alike heading into the summer.
In CBS Sports’ new post-spring top 25 rankings, Alabama is ranked No. 14. The Crimson Tide are one spot below the Ole Miss Rebels and one spot ahead of the Michigan Wolverines.
Alabama moved up one spot in veteran college football analyst Brandon Marcello’s top 25, the first batch of rankings released by CBS Sports since its initial way-too-early list the day after the College Football Playoff national championship in January.
Marcello said of the Tide’s modest top-15 ranking:
“Alabama is positioned to outperform the top 25’s expectations, but offseason developments have reduced confidence in the Tide heading into Kalen DeBoer’s third season. NC State running back Hollywood Smothers reneged on his transfer commitment, opting instead for Texas. The quarterback position is still up for grabs, though it appears Keelon Russell has the edge over Austin Mack. DeBoer is an elite coach, but it’s still nearly impossible to match the standard still bleeding over from the Nick Saban era.”
ESPN names top under-the-radar player for Alabama entering 2026
📸 Gary Cosby Jr., Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images https://t.co/yQzOOKa6mNpic.twitter.com/PZ2abrOE9i
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) April 30, 2026
In the race to take over for Ty Simpson this fall, Russell’s performance at A-day was impressive. The redshirt freshman from Duncanville, Texas, completed 21 of 33 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns while throwing one interception. Austin Mack was 6-of-12 for 101 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Alabama placed No. 12 in USA TODAY Sports’ post-spring outlook and No. 16 in ESPN’s updated way-too-early rankings for 2026.
Ranking SEC football teams after spring practice 2026
The SEC had 10 teams in CBS Sports’ top 25 post-spring rankings, the most of any conference. The Big Ten was second with eight teams. Here’s a look at which SEC teams were ranked, and where.
- 1. Texas Longhorns (No. 1 overall)
- 2. Georgia Bulldogs (No. 4 nationally)
- 3. Texas A&M Aggies (No. 8 nationally)
- 4. LSU Tigers (No. 9 nationally)
- 5. Oklahoma Sooners (No. 10 nationally)
- 6. Ole Miss Rebels (No. 13 nationally)
- 7. Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 14 nationally)
- 8. Tennessee Volunteers (No. 16 nationally)
- 9. Missouri Tigers (No. 20 nationally)
- 10. Florida Gators (No. 23 nationally)
Alabama football schedule 2026
Alabama will open the 2026 season against East Carolina on Sept. 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Here’s a full look at the Crimson Tide’s 2026 regular-season schedule. Kickoff times and TV channel designations have not been announced.
- Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky
- Sept. 19: vs. Florida State
- Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina
- Oct. 3: at Mississippi State
- Oct. 10: vs. Georgia
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee
- Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M
- Nov. 7: at LSU
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt
- Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga
- Nov. 28: vs. Auburn
Follow us at @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook, for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football moves in CBS Sports post-spring top 25 rankings
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos