Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team wrapped up spring practice last month, and the post-spring college football window is officially here. With it comes the inevitable wave of debates, “way-too-early” lists, and power rankings. On May 4, 2026, Josh Pate, host of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, released his highly anticipated Post-Spring Commissioner’s Poll, and it is already sending shockwaves through Tuscaloosa.
Despite Alabama winning a playoff game this past season and making a strong public commitment to DeBoer, many pundits are having a problem putting faith in the Crimson Tide.
Alabama Lands at No. 13 in Post-Spring Rankings
In the latest graphic released on X, the Crimson Tide finds themselves sitting at No. 13. While a top-15 ranking is respectable for most programs, it marks a significant departure from the top-five standard the Tide have maintained for the better part of two decades under Nick Saban.
Pate, known for his “no-bias” approach, accompanied the poll with a simple challenge to the teams involved:
“For teams ranked low, prove me wrong. For teams ranked high, don’t embarrass me.”
Is Alabama’s Ranking Fair?
This ranking for the Tide seems a little off. Alabama is one of two SEC programs that won a playoff game last season, joining the Ole Miss Rebels. Coach DeBoer’s squad also returns a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball that was already arguably a top 10 defense in 2025.
When you look at the fundamentals, the logic is hard to ignore: Alabama possesses both a top-10 roster and a top-10 head coach. From a common-sense perspective, ranking a program with those credentials outside the top 10 simply doesn’t add up. It might be a simplified way to view the landscape, but in this case, the simplest approach is likely the most accurate one.
Why the No. 13 Ranking Matters
For Alabama fans, this ranking is a reality check on the program’s national perception in the post-Saban era. While the talent remains elite, Pate’s poll suggests that the benefit of the doubt that Alabama has grown accustomed to receiving has officially expired.
The good news is, this poll isn’t final, and Alabama will have its chance to prove the “Commissioner” wrong when the lights turn on this fall.
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