Just like the Coaches Poll, voters in the AP Poll are taking more of a wait-and-see approach for Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football as National Championship contenders in 2025. In the preseason AP Poll released on Monday, the Crimson Tide comes in ranked No. 8. It's the lowest preseason AP ranking for Alabama since 2008, and the first time in 17 years that the Crimson Tide will begin a season outside of the AP Top 25.
While Alabama is certainly talented enough to compete for a National Championship this season, the ranking is not all that surprising considering where it finished last season.