Where CBS Sports has Alabama football in post-spring top 25 rankings

May 1, 2026 - 02:10

CBS Sports has released its post-spring top 25 rankings, and Alabama football finds itself in a position that reflects growing uncertainty around the program. The Crimson Tide, entering Year 3 under head coach Kalen DeBoer, were placed lower than many fans expected, with the outlet specifically pointing to "reduced confidence" in the team's trajectory.

The ranking signals a shift in perception for a program that has long been a fixture near the very top of any preseason list. Under DeBoer, Alabama has yet to fully recapture the dominant aura of the Nick Saban era, and CBS Sports analysts noted that the spring practices did little to alleviate concerns about key areas of the roster. Questions remain about the quarterback position, the offensive line's consistency, and how the defense will adapt to a new coordinator's scheme.

While the Crimson Tide still boast elite talent and a strong recruiting class, the national pundits seem to be taking a wait-and-see approach. The ranking suggests that Alabama is no longer viewed as an automatic playoff lock, but rather as a team with significant upside that must prove it can handle the pressure of a brutal SEC schedule. For DeBoer, the message is clear: the grace period is over, and results will need to match the standard of the jersey.