In the 2023 debut of the AFCA coaches poll, Alabama football ranked third in the nation. The Crimson Tide starts out the season behind defending national champion Georgia, as well as Michigan.

Alabama received four first-place votes compared to Georgia’s 61. Michigan did not garner any, but No. 4 Ohio State got one.

Last season, Alabama finished fifth in the final coaches poll, behind the four teams that made the College Football Playoff. That finish represented a drop from the beginning of the 2022 campaign for the Crimson Tide, which was ranked No. 1 in the first poll after dropping the 2021 national title game to Georgia, which started last season ranked No. 3.

The coaches poll has been conducted since the 1950 college football season. It is conducted weekly during the season from a panel of 63 coaches, who are chosen by random draw.

Alabama’s Nick Saban was a voter in last year’s poll. He ranked the Crimson Tide No. 2 to end the season, just behind Georgia, one of only two to do so, joining Texas-El Paso’s Dana Dimel.

Each coach’s first-place vote is worth 25 points. After that, the voting places drop one point each, with the No. 2 vote being worth 24, third-place 23 and so on.

While the coaches poll was a factor in the old BCS rankings, it is not taken into consideration for the CFP. The team that finishes the poll ranked No. 1 does receive a trophy after the season.

AFCA coaches poll rankings

1. Georgia, 1,631 points (61 first-place votes)

2. Michigan, 1,510

3. Alabama, 1,489 (4)

4. Ohio State,1,485 (1)

5. LSU, 1,294

6. USC, 1,228

7. Penn State, 1,181

8. Florida State, 1,185

9. Clemson, 1,031

10. Tennessee, 991

11. Washington, 941

12. Texas, 848

13. Notre Dame, 841

14. Utah, 839

15. Oregon, 820

16. TCU, 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, 225

24. Texas Tech, 200

25. Texas A&M, 196