Is Alabama Football in a Favorable Spot in Preseason Coaches Poll?

Crimson Tide has five ranked opponents on its regular-season schedule, but only one of the games will be played on the road.

The University of Alabama football team will begin the 2023 season in a good spot, especially if you believe in rankings karma.

Th Crimson Tide was voted No. 3 in the preseason coaches poll, announced by USA Today on Monday morning. Two of Alabama's recent championship campaigns under Nick Saban, 2015 and 2020, began with a No. 3 ranking.

Two-time reigning national champion Georgia will open the season at No. 1. The Bulldogs were tabbed the team to beat on 61 of the 66 coaches’ ballots. It’s the second preseason No. 1 ranking for the Bulldogs since USA Today began administering the poll in 1991.

Michigan will open the season at No. 2, its highest-ever preseason ranking in the coaches poll. However, the Wolverines didn't receive any first-place votes. 

Alabama landed four first-place votes. No. 4 Ohio State had one. 

Overall, the SEC led all conferences with six teams.

Alabama has five ranked opponents on its 12-team regular-season schedule: No. 5 LSU, No. 10 Tennessee, No. 12 Texas, No. 22 Ole Miss and No. 25 Texas A&M. However, all but the game against the Aggies is scheduled to be played at Bryant-Denny Stadium. 

Rank, Team, Points, First

1. Georgia 1,643 (61)
2. Michigan 1,510 
3. Alabama 1,489 (4)
4. Ohio State 1,485 (1)
5. Louisiana State 1,294
6. Southern California 1,228
7. Penn State 1,181 
8. Florida State 1,1450
9. Clemson 1,0780
10. Tennessee 991
11. Washington 941
12. Texas 848
13. Notre Dame 841
14. Utah 839
15. Oregon 820
16. Texas Christian 655
17. Kansas State 440
18. Oregon State 365
19. Oklahoma 320
20. North Carolina 315
21. Wisconsin 309
22. Ole Miss 303
23. Tulane 250
24. Texas Tech 200 
25. Texas A&M 196

Others receiving votes: Iowa 169; South Carolina 89; Florida 63; Texas-San Antonio 59; Pittsburgh 52; UCLA 42; Kentucky 34; Baylor 28; Troy 25; Arkansas 20; NC State 19; Fresno State 19; Boise State 18; Auburn 18; Minnesota 16; Miami 16; Mississippi State 13; Oklahoma State 12; Missouri 11; Maryland 10; Southern Methodist 8; South Alabama 8; Illinois 7; Wake Forest 6; Air Force 6; Toledo 5; Washington State 4; Houston 3; Duke 2; Brigham Young 2; Arizona 2; Memphis 1; Kansas 1; James Madison 1.

Voters: Tim Albin, Ohio; Blake Anderson, Utah State; Dino Babers, Syracuse; Tim Beck, Coastal Carolina; Terry Bowden, Louisiana-Monroe; Jeff Brohm, Louisville; Neal Brown, West Virginia; Kenni Burns, Kent State; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Jason Candle, Toledo; Curt Cignetti, James Madison; Dave Clawson, Wake Forest; Sonny Cumbie, Louisiana Tech; Ryan Day, Ohio State; Kalen DeBoer, Washington; Jake Dickert, Washington State; Dana Dimel, Texas-El Paso; Stan Drayton, Temple; Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri; Sonny Dykes, TCU; Mike Elko, Duke; Shawn Elliott, Georgia Southern; Jedd Fisch, Arizona; Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M; James Franklin, Penn State; Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame; Hugh Freeze, Auburn; Willie Fritz, Tulane; Alex Golesh, South Florida; Danny Gonzales, New Mexico; Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State; Will Hall, Southern Mississippi; Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky; Tom Herman, Florida Atlantic; Brady Hoke, San Diego State; Dana Holgorsen; Houston; Butch Jones, Arkansas State; Brent Key, Georgia Tech; Rhett Lashlee, SMU; Lance Leipold, Kansas; Mike Locksley, Maryland; Mike MacIntyre, Florida International; Gus Malzahn, Central Florida; Chuck Martin, Miami (Ohio); Joey McGuire, Texas Tech; Jeff Monken, Army; Jim Mora, Connecticut; Billy Napier, Florida; Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh; Brian Newberry, Navy; Barry Odom, UNLV; Brent Pry, Virginia Tech; Matt Rhule, Nebraska; Nick Saban, Alabama; Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati; Kirby Smart, Georgia; Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee; Mark Stoops, Kentucky; Jon Sumrall, Troy; Lance Taylor, Western Michigan; Jeff Tedford, Fresno State; Jeff Traylor, Texas-San Antonio; Mel Tucker, Michigan State; Kyle Whittingham, Utah, Ken Wilson, Nevada; Kevin Wilson, Tulsa.

See Also: Nick Saban's Thoughts on Conference Realignment: Prioritize Student-Athletes