By Alabama football standards, 2022 was somewhat disappointing. Sure, Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide won 10 regular season games before capping the campaign off in the Sugar Bowl with a win over Kansas State.

But Alabama didn’t win the national title or even make the College Football Playoff. It didn’t win the SEC or appear in the conference championship game.

With Georgia coming off two national titles in a row and appearing as the new dominant power in college football, plus heightened optimism at LSU and Tennessee, the Crimson Tide will be out to prove it still has the ability to win championships this season. Ahead of the 2023 campaign, here’s what college football prognosticator Phil Steele predicted for Alabama in his yearly preview magazine.

Offensive predictions

Steele noted that any of Alabama’s quarterback options will have trouble matching the numbers Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 NFL Draft pick Bryce Young put up. However, he predicts whoever the quarterback is will be throwing to a receiver group that will be the team’s most improved unit.

Overall, Steele called for a regression on offense for the Tide. His computer predicted a drop from 477 yards and 41.1 points per game to 438 and 37.1, which he noted would be their lowest total since 2017.

Defensive predictions

Alabama lost a healthy amount of talent after the 2022 season, most notably Will Anderson to the NFL Draft. The Tide return five starters on defense.

One of those is junior linebacker Dallas Turner, who will play a big role in replacing Anderson after earning freshman All-American honors in 2021. Kool-Aid McKinstrey, who Steele tapped as his 2023 national defensive player of the year prediction, is set to lead the backfield at cornerback, and Steele called for improvement from the line.

Overall, Steele said he expected to see a drop from the Tide defense in 2023.

2023 overall predictions

Even though Steele said he didn’t expect Alabama to capture the 2023 national title, he picked them to win the SEC West in the division’s final season. He noted in his prediction that the Tide will face the two teams that beat them last season, LSU and Tennessee, at home.

Steele projected Georgia will win the SEC East.

Where do Alabama’s positional units rank in the SEC?

Quarterbacks—No. 7

Running backs—No. 4

Receivers—No. 2

Offensive line—No. 4

Defensive line—No. 3

Linebackers—No. 3

Defensive backs—No. 2

Special teams—No. 2

Which Alabama players made Phil Steele’s preseason All-SEC teams?

WR Jermaine Burton—First team

OT JC Latham—First team

LB Dallas Turner—First team

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry—First team

K Will Reichard—First team

RB Jase McClellan—Second team

OG Tyler Booker—Second team

DT Jaheim Oatis—Second team

S Malachi Moore—Second team

DE Justin Eboigbe—Third team

WR Ja’Corey Brooks—Fourth team