Alabama debuts at No. 4 in 2023 Associated Press Top 25 poll
General

Alabama debuts at No. 4 in 2023 Associated Press Top 25 poll

Posted on by admin

According to the Associated Press, Alabama is the fourth-best football team in the country.

The organization released its first poll of the 2023 season on Monday. The Crimson Tide was listed behind Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State.

Overall, Nick Saban’s group earned zero top votes, the Bulldogs had the most with 60. It’s the Tide’s lowest preseason rank since 2009 (No. 5). Alabama finished two overall points behind the Buckeyes.

The Crimson Tide kicked off last year’s first AP poll with the top spot. It held it for two weeks before Georgia overtook it following the Tide’s 20-19 win at Texas. Alabama would reclaim the No. 1 rank on Oct. 2 before falling to third a week later. After its second loss to LSU, the Tide dropped to 10th, its lowest ranking since 2015.

Alabama finished the year with a Sugar Bowl win over Kansas State and was fifth in the AP behind Georgia, TCU, Michigan and Ohio State.

At SEC Media Days in Nashville on July 21, Alabama was picked to finish atop the SEC West and was given the second-best odds for the conference title. The initial AFCA coaches poll placed the Tide third with the two-time national champion Bulldogs and Wolverines ahead of UA.

Alabama holds the record for most times ending the season with the No. 1 ranking (12). The last time it did so was in 2020′s national championship season.

Both Michigan (two) and Ohio State (one) each received first-place votes. LSU rounded out the top five.

Associated Press preseason Top 25

  1. Georgia (60)
  2. Michigan (2)
  3. Ohio State (1)
  4. Alabama
  5. LSU
  6. Southern California
  7. Penn State
  8. Florida State
  9. Clemson
  10. Washington
  11. Texas
  12. Tennessee
  13. Notre Dame
  14. Utah
  15. Oregon
  16. Kansas State
  17. TCU
  18. Oregon State
  19. Wisconsin
  20. Oklahoma
  21. North Carolina
  22. Ole Miss
  23. Texas A&M
  24. Tulane
  25. Iowa

Received votes: Texas Tech 101, South Carolina 73, UCLA 66, UTSA 64, Arkansas 22, Boise St. 17, Pittsburgh 16, Kentucky 14, Louisville 10, Troy 10, Kansas 10, Auburn 7, Minnesota 6, Toledo 4, Duke 4, Mississippi St. 4, Florida 4, Illinois 3, Baylor 3, Coastal Carolina 3, South Alabama 1, NC State 1, James Madison 1, Liberty 1.

RELATED: What Nick Saban took away from Alabama football’s 1st fall scrimmage

Nick Saban jokes about handling players with tough love

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].