CBS Sports has identified the Alabama Crimson Tide as one of only two overrated SEC teams for the 2026 season, pairing the Tide with Texas A&M in a list that raises questions about the program’s preseason expectations.
Analyst Chris Hummer points to the Tide’s offensive line as a primary vulnerability, noting that the unit struggled last year and that the run game ranked near the bottom of the conference in yards per carry.
Adding to the concern, Alabama lost four starting linemen from the previous year and did not secure a high‑profile transfer at running back, leaving only Michael Carroll as the sole returning starter on the line.
Coaching Changes and Position Battles
New offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, who brings NFL experience from stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, is overseeing a competition that includes Jackson Lloyd, a 2025 four‑star recruit slated to start at left tackle, and Racin Delgatty, a Cal Poly transfer who will man the center position.
At the interior, three‑star prospects Mal Waldrop and William Sanders are battling for the left guard spot, while Mississippi State transfer Jayvin James and Texas Longhorns transfer Nick Brooks are vying for the right tackle role.
Despite the influx of talent, the Tide’s preseason rankings reflect modest optimism: they sit No. 11 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 13 in the AP Top 25, while their schedule pits them against East Carolina, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU.
The combination of a weakened offensive line, a thin running back corps and a demanding slate of opponents suggests that Alabama’s offense may be more fragile than the rankings imply.