When it comes to leading Alabama in Year 3 of a coaching tenure, Kalen DeBoer has high expectations to live up to.

Alabama football is in the throes of roster building and months away from spring practice, let alone the start of the 2026 season. But questions remain for the Crimson Tide roster. And holes remain apparent as Alabama continues to form what it wants to showcase come Saturday, Sept. 5 against East Carolina.

A season that ended with Kalen DeBoer's first College Football Playoff win with the Crimson Tide before a blowout in the CFP quarterfinal against the eventual national champion, Alabama finished as the No. 9 team in the country according to the final US LBM Coaches Poll released Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Alabama football was one of the last eight teams standing in college football by way of making the Rose Bowl, but that didn’t stop one coach from dropping the Crimson Tide far away in the final coaches poll of the season.

Yet Navy coach Brian Newberry ranked 20 teams before Alabama in his final US LBM Coaches Poll. While the Crimson Tide finished the season at No. 9 in the final poll, Newberry had Alabama at No. 21 behind teams like Vanderbilt, Virginia, James Madison, North Texas, Old Dominion and his Midshipmen.

Last month, EJ Crowell was named an ALL-USA Football Team first-team running back. Now, he has been named Alabama's Mr. Football.

Explosive speed meets championship drive. This in-state receiver's electrifying talent and deep connection to Alabama are a perfect match for the Crimson Tide.

It's already been a busy offseason for the Alabama Crimson Tide. After losing to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl, head coach Kalen DeBoer has turned his focus to the college football transfer portal.